GBH News Rooted

GBH News
  • 4.2 (5)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Paris Alston hosts this weekly series that serves up Black intellect, culture and joy.  Rooted covers Black news and culture from down the block to around the diaspora. In a global news cycle that’s always cooking up new headlines, Rooted brings you the recipes you don’t want to lose: the stories, the voices, the dialogue that keep us connected. Tell us what you think and what you’d like to hear on future episodes at Rooted@wgbh.org.  Find more content and subscribe to our YouTube channel. 

  1. Why Rep. Ayanna Pressley is pushing for reparations now

    3D AGO

    Why Rep. Ayanna Pressley is pushing for reparations now

    The Trump administration is dismantling DEI programs, the Republicans control congress, and Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley says the time is right for reparations. Why now? And what would a reparations law look like? Paris Alston sat down with Rep. Pressley to ask about the timing of a reparations bill and the Democrats response to Trump 2.0.

    18 min
  2. Black Stories, White Comfort: Who’s Still Controlling the Narrative?

    12/17/2025

    Black Stories, White Comfort: Who’s Still Controlling the Narrative?

    From Harlem Renaissance rebels to Hollywood stereotypes, Black storytelling has always been a battleground for power. Today, the pen, the lens, and the mic are finally in Black hands but what does that mean when the legacy of racial violence still hangs over us, literally and figuratively? In this  episode of Rooted, playwright Zora Howard unpacks her haunting new work Hang Time, inspired by real-life tragedies and the urgent need to see Black men beyond headlines and hashtags. Then, filmmakers Dan Algrant and Don Wright take us inside their documentary Cathedrals, a raw reckoning with race, memory, and who gets to tell the truth about America’s housing projects. This isn’t just art it’s a fight for voice, visibility, and ownership. Are we ready to confront the stories we’ve ignored? Or will we keep walking by?

    27 min
  3. Why are Black survivors still invisible in the Digital Age?

    12/10/2025

    Why are Black survivors still invisible in the Digital Age?

    Every minute, someone is abused and tech is at the center of it all. From stalking through smart devices to survivors fighting back with screenshots, this episode exposes how technology is both weapon and lifeline. Featuring raw stories, expert insights, and a fight for justice you won’t hear anywhere else.

    27 min
  4. Who Holds the Keys? Conservatorships, Mental Health & Black Men’s Autonomy

    12/05/2025

    Who Holds the Keys? Conservatorships, Mental Health & Black Men’s Autonomy

    Inspired by Gucci Mane’s candid Breakfast Club interview, Rooted dives deep into the complex world of conservatorships and Black men’s autonomy over their lives when living with a mental health condition. Featuring owner of the estate planning firm Life & Legacy Counselors, Aimee Griffin; clinical social worker and executive director of Fathers' Uplift, Dr. Charles Daniels; as well as marriage and family counselor Rob Badgett; we explore the fine line between safeguarding assets and safeguarding autonomy. How do legal control, cultural stigma, and mental health intersect and what does it mean for families and communities? Find more content and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

    27 min
  5. Beyond the Headlines: Who Gets to Tell America’s Story?

    11/26/2025

    Beyond the Headlines: Who Gets to Tell America’s Story?

    As the political climate intensifies under the Trump administration, journalists and media leaders from historically Black-owned outlets and public media’s equity and justice units explore what it means to tell diverse stories in an era of disinformation, censorship, and cultural backlash. This episode examines how legacy and emerging voices are fighting to preserve truth and representation. Find more content and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

    27 min
  6. Edges of Empowerment: The Politics of Black Hair

    11/19/2025

    Edges of Empowerment: The Politics of Black Hair

    Paris speaks with a panel of experts to explore how Black haircare serves as a powerful tool for community care, social activism, and civil liberties in America. Find more content and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

    27 min
  7. How to make inclusive elder care for the BIPOC LGBTQ+ community?

    11/12/2025

    How to make inclusive elder care for the BIPOC LGBTQ+ community?

    A year after New England's first affordable, inclusive LGBTQ+ living facility is created, very few people of color are residents. Paris unpacks the inequities that the BIPOC queer senior citizens face with queer theologian Reverend Irene Monroe, author and cultural critic Tre Johnson, public health expert Dr. Angelique Harris, and LGBTQ Elders of Color executive director Paul Glass. Find more content and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

    27 min
  8. Has Hip-Hop lost the plot?

    11/05/2025

    Has Hip-Hop lost the plot?

    With its roots in voicing the unheard concerns of oft forgotten communities, Hip-Hop has grown into the most profitable genre in the music industry. As Notorious B.I.G. once said, "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems". Between RICO cases, sex trafficking suits, and controversial presidential endorsements one could wonder if Hip-Hop continues to service its origins. Paris unpacks this with her guests. Find more content and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

    24 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.2
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Paris Alston hosts this weekly series that serves up Black intellect, culture and joy.  Rooted covers Black news and culture from down the block to around the diaspora. In a global news cycle that’s always cooking up new headlines, Rooted brings you the recipes you don’t want to lose: the stories, the voices, the dialogue that keep us connected. Tell us what you think and what you’d like to hear on future episodes at Rooted@wgbh.org.  Find more content and subscribe to our YouTube channel. 

Information

  • Creator
    GBH News
  • Years Active
    2006 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ©2018 WGBH Educational Foundation
  • Show Website
    GBH News Rooted

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