Audra A. Diptée, Ph.D.

 author, historian & educator

Specialization in the history of colonialism and imperialism in the Caribbean and Africa.

In our battle for a better future, we need to critically apply historical thinking and methodologies. – Audra A. Diptée

There is a difference between “using history” and critically applying historical thought.  To better advance social justice in this world, we need to do less of the former and much more of the latter. – Audra A. Diptée

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Chained in Paradise

How History was used to Change the Future

(A Caribbean Story)

In 2011, the British policy called Operation Legacy became public knowledge.  It was a covert and an elaborate policy implemented in at least 37 former British colonies between the 1950s and the 1970s.  Its objective was to destroy colonial documents, clandestinely remove others back to Britain, and to even alter some documents that were left behind in those colonies which were on the verge of attaining political independence. It also involved developing a parallel filing system so that the incoming political leadership remained unaware that any documents were missing.

This book looks at the impact of Operation Legacy in the Caribbean.  It argues that British efforts to control the ways in which history was written was, in fact, an attempt to control the Caribbean future …

Curious about what were in these secret documents?

Sign up below for a sneak peak of research findings, to get sample chapters, and to follow progress on a project that traces how the powerful used history to change the Caribbean future …