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 <a href="mailto:Rooted@wgbh.org">Rooted@wgbh.org</a>. Find more content and subscribe to our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/gbhnews">YouTube channel</a>.

Entering the 2025-2026 school year, Massachusetts, like many states, struggles with dwindling literacy rates among its youth. To better understand the issues happening in and outside the classrooms, Paris invited GrubStreet Black Teaching Fellows, Jonathan Todd and Toni Bee, to unpack their teaching methodologies and experiences working with the underserved youth of the greater Boston area.Find more content and subscribe to our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/gbhnews">YouTube channel</a>.

Entering the 2025-2026 school year, Massachusetts, like many states, struggles with dwindling literacy rates among its youth. To better understand the issues happening in and outside the classrooms, Paris invited GrubStreet Black Teaching Fellows, Jonathan Todd and Toni Bee, to unpack their teaching methodologies and experiences working with the underserved youth of the greater Boston area.
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No shade, but why aren't the kids reading?

A raw, cultural breakdown of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl takeover — from the unity message and Latino representation debate to the nostalgia‑heavy ads that fell flat. Our roundtable featuring equity and justice reporter Trajan Warren, eXpozedtv and #GrindCon founder Katiria Colon, and Auzzy Byrdsell of The Boston Globe dig into the moments that hit, the ones that missed, and why this performance still has everyone talking.

A raw, cultural breakdown of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl takeover — from the unity message and Latino representation debate to the nostalgia‑heavy ads that fell flat. Our roundtable featuring equity and justice reporter Trajan Warren, eXpozedtv and #GrindCon founder Katiria Colon, and Auzzy Byrdsell of The Boston Globe dig into the moments that hit, the ones that missed, and why this performance still has everyone talking.

Bad Bunny shut the whole Super Bowl down — the culture, the unity, the backlash

Black families love to joke that “we’re losing recipes,” but what we’re really losing—and sometimes finally confronting—are the unspoken histories baked into every pan of mac and cheese. In this episode, Paris Alston digs into the generational drama simmering beneath our traditions, then sits down with Sarah Amos to unpack the chaotic, brilliant legacy of her father, Wally “Famous” Amos. And if that weren’t enough flavor, chef Rhonda Perscip brings receipts—and fritters—from a culinary lineage that survived emancipation, migration, and everything in between. This one’s about food, family, and the fire it takes to rewrite a recipe without repeating the trauma.

Black families love to joke that “we’re losing recipes,” but what we’re really losing—and sometimes finally confronting—are the unspoken histories baked into every pan of mac and cheese. In this episode, Paris Alston digs into the generational drama simmering beneath our traditions, then sits down with Sarah Amos to unpack the chaotic, brilliant legacy of her father, Wally “Famous” Amos. And if that weren’t enough flavor, chef Rhonda Perscip brings receipts—and fritters—from a culinary lineage that survived emancipation, migration, and everything in between. This one’s about food, family, and the fire it takes to rewrite a recipe without repeating the trauma.

Losing Recipes, Keeping Trauma: The Family Secrets Behind Our Favorite Dishes

The 2026 Grammys rolled out 3,800 new voters, diverse nominees, and a whole lot of “we promise we’ve changed” energy — but in a world where careers are built on TikTok loops and viral sandwiches, does the gramophone still mean anything? Paris Alston breaks down a night where Bad Bunny used his moment to call out ICE, Kendrick Lamar made history while amplifying lesser-known artists, and the Recording Academy tried once again to prove it understands the culture it’s been catching up to for decades. From shrinking ratings to rising resistance, this episode asks the real question: when the music industry evolves faster than the institutions that reward it, who are the Grammys even for anymore?

The 2026 Grammys rolled out 3,800 new voters, diverse nominees, and a whole lot of “we promise we’ve changed” energy — but in a world where careers are built on TikTok loops and viral sandwiches, does the gramophone still mean anything? Paris Alston breaks down a night where Bad Bunny used his moment to call out ICE, Kendrick Lamar made history while amplifying lesser-known artists, and the Recording Academy tried once again to prove it understands the culture it’s been catching up to for decades. From shrinking ratings to rising resistance, this episode asks the real question: when the music industry evolves faster than the institutions that reward it, who are the Grammys even for anymore?

3800 New Voters, Same Old Question: Do the Grammys Still Matter?

Black folks have always had a complicated relationship with water—from West African aquatic cultures to the terror of the Middle Passage, from segregated pools to Flint and Jackson. In this episode, Paris Alston dives deep with National Geographic explorer Tara Roberts, who documents slave shipwrecks the world pretends not to care about, and champion rower Arshay Cooper, who’s reclaiming the healing power of water for young Black men. Together, they expose how water has been used against us—and how we’re taking it back.

Black folks have always had a complicated relationship with water—from West African aquatic cultures to the terror of the Middle Passage, from segregated pools to Flint and Jackson. In this episode, Paris Alston dives deep with National Geographic explorer Tara Roberts, who documents slave shipwrecks the world pretends not to care about, and champion rower Arshay Cooper, who’s reclaiming the healing power of water for young Black men. Together, they expose how water has been used against us—and how we’re taking it back.

We’re Not Afraid of the Water—We’re Afraid of What America Put in It

Tech giants are cashing in on our data while Black communities face the environmental fallout of data centers and the job‑shifting wave of AI. Paris Alston talks digital sharecropping, climate justice, and the real cost of automation with activists and experts who are pushing back—NAACP’s Abre’ Conner, journalist Willie Blackmore, and tech ethicist Rev. Chris Hope. From polluted neighborhoods to biased algorithms, they break down what’s at stake and how Black folks can reclaim power in a rapidly changing world.

Tech giants are cashing in on our data while Black communities face the environmental fallout of data centers and the job‑shifting wave of AI. Paris Alston talks digital sharecropping, climate justice, and the real cost of automation with activists and experts who are pushing back—NAACP’s Abre’ Conner, journalist Willie Blackmore, and tech ethicist Rev. Chris Hope. From polluted neighborhoods to biased algorithms, they break down what’s at stake and how Black folks can reclaim power in a rapidly changing world.

Data do it! AI’s Harsh Trade-Off for Black America

Kendrick Lamar has taken aim at his rival Drake’s biracial identity. President Trump did the same against his rival former Vice President Kamala Harris. Bridging identities and cultures has been part of the Black experience for centuries, so what’s it like for a generation moving into adulthood? Paris Alston talks culture, Frederick Douglass, and the end of racism with two twenty-somethings navigating biracial backgrounds in a supposedly post-racial America.

Kendrick Lamar has taken aim at his rival Drake’s biracial identity. President Trump did the same against his rival former Vice President Kamala Harris. Bridging identities and cultures has been part of the Black experience for centuries, so what’s it like for a generation moving into adulthood? Paris Alston talks culture, Frederick Douglass, and the end of racism with two twenty-somethings navigating biracial backgrounds in a supposedly post-racial America.

What it’s like to be young and biracial in America today?

Braids are a way to get 'hang time' but there's new evidence that synthetic hair often contains chemicals - including lead and benzene -  associated with cancer.  Zina Thompson of Zina’s Hair Salon,  Shellee Mendes of Salon Monet and Dr. Joyce Imahiyerobo-Ip of Vibrant Dermatology &amp; Aesthetics joined Paris Alston at the roundtable to discuss the evidence, risks and lack of regulation on hair products.

Braids are a way to get 'hang time' but there's new evidence that synthetic hair often contains chemicals - including lead and benzene -  associated with cancer. 
Zina Thompson of Zina’s Hair Salon,  Shellee Mendes of Salon Monet and Dr. Joyce Imahiyerobo-Ip of Vibrant Dermatology & Aesthetics joined Paris Alston at the roundtable to discuss the evidence, risks and lack of regulation on hair products.

Should Black women stop using synthetic hair?

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.

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.

Why Rep. Ayanna Pressley is pushing for reparations now

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?

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?

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

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.

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.

Why are Black survivors still invisible in the Digital Age?

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 &amp; 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 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/gbhnews">YouTube channel</a>.

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.

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

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 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/gbhnews">YouTube channel</a>.

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.

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

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 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/gbhnews">YouTube channel</a>.

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.
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Edges of Empowerment: The Politics of Black Hair

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 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/gbhnews">YouTube channel</a>.

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.

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

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 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/gbhnews">YouTube channel</a>.

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.
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Has Hip-Hop lost the plot?

With executive orders aimed at withholding federal funding from jurisdictions with sanctuary policies and a call from Attorney General, Pam Bondi, for several cities to comply with ICE in civil deportation, Paris Alston speaks with Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune about how these issues impact Black immigrants.Find more content and subscribe to our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/gbhnews">YouTube channel</a>.

With executive orders aimed at withholding federal funding from jurisdictions with sanctuary policies and a call from Attorney General, Pam Bondi, for several cities to comply with ICE in civil deportation, Paris Alston speaks with Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune about how these issues impact Black immigrants.
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What does 'sanctuary' mean to Black immigrants?

NPR’s first national race-relations correspondent—discussed his retirement and the legacy of a career defined by fearless reporting on race, justice, and inequality. Martin, a multi-award-winning journalist,, shared personal reflections on his journey from Detroit to Boston, the formative experiences that shaped his voice, and his commitment to storytelling.Find more content and subscribe to our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/gbhnews">YouTube channel</a>.

NPR’s first national race-relations correspondent—discussed his retirement and the legacy of a career defined by fearless reporting on race, justice, and inequality. Martin, a multi-award-winning journalist,, shared personal reflections on his journey from Detroit to Boston, the formative experiences that shaped his voice, and his commitment to storytelling.
Find more content and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

First. Fierce. Fearless. NPR’s First Race Correspondent Looks Ahead

In this powerful episode of GBH News Rooted, host Paris Alston sits down with Imari P. Jeffries and José C. Massó III to explore the vibrant spirit of Hispanic Heritage Month and the transformative energy behind the Embrace Con Salsa Festival. Together, they unpack how joy, music, and cultural celebration serve as acts of resistance—especially in communities of color facing systemic challenges like ICE crackdowns. This conversation is a tribute to resilience, heritage, and the power of coming together in defiance and delight.Find more content and subscribe to our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/gbhnews">YouTube channel</a>.

In this powerful episode of GBH News Rooted, host Paris Alston sits down with Imari P. Jeffries and José C. Massó III to explore the vibrant spirit of Hispanic Heritage Month and the transformative energy behind the Embrace Con Salsa Festival. Together, they unpack how joy, music, and cultural celebration serve as acts of resistance—especially in communities of color facing systemic challenges like ICE crackdowns. This conversation is a tribute to resilience, heritage, and the power of coming together in defiance and delight.
Find more content and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Joy as Resistance: Embrace Con Salsa & the Power of Celebration

Black women lose over $1 million in lifetime earnings due to pay disparities and are routinely charged more for everyday goods—just for being who they are. In The Double Tax, Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman breaks down this brutal economic reality with sharp analysis and lived insight. She joins Paris Alston on Rooted to unpack the data, the history, and the truth behind why women of color are overcharged and underpaid.Find more content and subscribe to our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/gbhnews">YouTube channel</a>.

Black women lose over $1 million in lifetime earnings due to pay disparities and are routinely charged more for everyday goods—just for being who they are. In The Double Tax, Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman breaks down this brutal economic reality with sharp analysis and lived insight. She joins Paris Alston on Rooted to unpack the data, the history, and the truth behind why women of color are overcharged and underpaid.
Find more content and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Black Women's Unemployment: The Real Recession Indicator

You've already got the news, but have you gotten to the root of it? Join Paris Alston weekly on Rooted where she explores topics in Black culture, navigating the news through nuance and politicizing pop culture.Find more content and subscribe to our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/gbhnews">YouTube channel</a>.

You've already got the news, but have you gotten to the root of it? Join Paris Alston weekly on Rooted where she explores topics in Black culture, navigating the news through nuance and politicizing pop culture.
Find more content and subscribe to our YouTube channel.