"Who Do You Think You Are" Series 13, Episode #3: Liz Bonnin

[Guyana]

I was also interested to see that her Indian forebears took a "western" name in addition to their given name, but that no family name was used. I recall that during my time in British Guiana in the 1950s,  many locals of Indian extraction, caste unknown, used only one given name, but others, including the "rebel", whose actions had caused us to to be posted there, also some well-known sportsmen (Sonny Ramadhin) had both given and family names.

[ThrelfallYorky]

I think many of us, when we discover slave owners, or Slave Ship Captains, in our ancestry, feel rather uncomfortable, to say the least.
Most of us have, even if we didn't start off with a good grasp of History, gained a great deal more of knowledge of world history as our researching develops.
I've always regarded a good education, wherever it is gained, as being more about knowing, or being able to work out where to find information, than having a sort of haversack of facts concealed about one's person, learned in youth and unmodified in later life! Surely one learns some new thing each day - and many of us say / do something totally unintentionally that pops us into an awkward situation from time to time. If anyone's education stopped the day they left University, that would be so sad.
I've recorded this episode, and am really looking forward to watching it. All I knew of the woman previously was the impression from a few chance sightings of programmes of a rather "talking down" popular science presenter, who I always felt was aiming at the "Yoof" market. It sounds as if she has a far richer hinterland than that.

[Guy Etchells]

I was replying to Guy's post which implied all Scottish educated people knew a lot about history which I believe to be incorrect. I believe a lack of historical knowledge is down to induvidualsee paying no attention to what they are taught about history and current affair rather than a product of where they were educated.

I myself  Scottish. I'm truly sorry my words have been seen as offensive. I was not trying to say that Scottish people are stupid as my words appear to have been taken to mean. I was trying to illustrate that anyone any where can be ignorant of certain areas of knowledge.

Obviously I can add a complete inability to put my point across effectively to my complete lack of manners and intelligence I shall now remove myself from RC and try and remove myself from society. Although this may take a few attempt as due to my lack of intelligence and ability I've failed in the past.

I

PharmaT, I was not commenting about Rootschatters but was commenting on the lack of knowledge displayed by Liz Bonnin.
From what I heard she had some knowledge that her ancestors could have owned slaves yet it seems she did not take time to do any basic research on the subject of slavery.

That is where the Scottish education system comes into play; unlike the English system the Scottish system tends to teach children how to discover information for themselves rather than being taught facts and figures.
That style of education allows the pupil to carry on learning after he/she has left school and indeed throughout the rest of their life.
However as you say not all people take advantage of the education they receive.

Cheers
Guy

[hurworth]

I think many of us, when we discover slave owners, or Slave Ship Captains, in our ancestry, feel rather uncomfortable, to say the least.
Most of us have, even if we didn't start off with a good grasp of History, gained a great deal more of knowledge of world history as our researching develops.

I think it is good that we are finding it, and that it's not being swept under the carpet. 

I've wondered about the British economy at the time and the improvement in lifestyle with the industrial revolution.  I don't think the industry magnates would have become as wealthy as they did without the very cheap raw materials that were produced on plantations, so the use of slaves was financially benefitting many people that you wouldn't consider to be involved in the slave trade.

I've known for quite some time that family members were planters.  I was more surprised to find that the cousin of the wife of one of them was very involved in abolishing slavery.

[stonechat]

I enjoyed the program
I had seen her  on TV though I couldn't remember where. wildlife programs so that would be it.

These sort of program where the subject is such a variety of ethnic origins often provide a good watch

[ankerdine]

I think Liz Bonnin joined forces with Professor Brian Cox and Dara O'briain on some of those very successful science programmes on the BBC.

She is a television presenter with a very clear voice and explains complicated theories very well.

Judy

[healyjfch]

I loved Liz Bonnin's programme.
The really special part was where her Slave owner ancestor had a slave partner and the offspring of this union also did the same. The marriage certificate & 6 children was an eyeopener.

On the slave front, Oliver Cromwell had Irish people sent to Barbados to work on Plantations
circa 1650. They were nicknamed Red legs because they got sun burnt easily.

jfch

[stonechat]

She is on TV right now on operation snow tiger

[Leiper48]

I thought the programme was one of the best I have seen. I have seen Liz Bonnin on TV and wonderered what her ancestry was, the programme told that excellently. Ancestors from Africa, India and France, brought together in the Americas. Truly a citizen of the world. The descendant of slaves and slave owners, who are we to judge the values of 150 years ago?