Rooted

Following a catastrophic derecho that left thousands of residents in Gary, Indiana, without power for days and, in some cases, weeks, questions are mounting about utility accountability, climate resilience, and infrastructure equity. Journalist Jan Barnes examines how years of rising utility rates, aging electrical systems, and extreme weather combined to create a crisis in one of America's most historically Black industrial cities. As state regulators investigate the utility's response and residents pursue legal action, the Gary blackout has become a powerful case study in climate justice, grid reliability, and the growing energy burden facing communities of color across the United States. The story raises urgent national questions: Who gets restored first when disaster strikes, and is America's electric grid prepared for an era of increasingly severe weather?

Teamwork, discipline, belonging. Those are the promises of youth sports. But for some student-athletes, the game comes with racism, intimidation and lasting trauma. GBH News investigative reporter Chris Burrell joins Paris Alston to discuss his reporting on racial harassment, bullying and accountability in Massachusetts high school athletics, including allegations of racist abuse directed at Black athletes. Together, they examine where competition crosses the line into harm, the role coaches and athletic officials play in preventing it, and whether current efforts to address hate in school sports are making a difference.

Black horror is evolving beyond survival stories rooted solely in racial trauma. As filmmakers reimagine the genre, Black characters are no longer just confronting racism as the monster. They're claiming space for joy, redemption, community, and even a little coziness amid the chaos. From the legacy of Blacula to the cultural impact of Get Out and Sinners, the conversation asks a chilling question: what happens when Black audiences get to be scared without being scarred?

For Spike Lee, the biggest question isn’t “What is Black?” but “Who gets to decide?” He pushes back on stereotypes, questions who controls the culture, and argues that better representation starts with giving more Black creators a seat at the table.

Student debt was supposed to be a bridge to opportunity. For millions of borrowers, it’s become a decades-long financial roommate that never moves out. As repayment rules shift again, the debate is no longer just about loans. It’s about who bears the cost of higher education, how debt shapes economic mobility, and why Black borrowers often face the steepest path to repayment.

Political philosopher and democracy scholar Danielle Allen joins Rooted to discuss whether ballot initiatives are one of the most effective tools for political change, particularly for Black communities seeking greater influence over public policy. Host Paris Alston explores the role of direct democracy in advancing voting rights, criminal justice reform, and civic engagement while examining the financial barriers, organizational challenges, and election rules that shape ballot campaigns in Massachusetts. 

Allen also shares how she tapped her own retirement savings to help launch a statewide initiative, highlighting the difficulties grassroots movements face in competing with well-funded interests. As debates over voter participation, election reform, and political representation continue, the conversation asks whether Americans can use direct democracy to drive change when traditional political systems fall short.

Can AI help fill church pews without replacing the people in them? Paris Alston talks with Rev. Chris Hope about his new app “100 Days,” an AI-powered tool designed to support new Christians during the critical first months of their faith journey. This episode explore the tensions between innovation and tradition, trust and skepticism, and whether AI can help religious institutions engage a generation that increasingly lives online while still preserving the value of community.

In this episode created by GBH News interns, Ava Francin and Autumn Greene, Rooted explores the psychology of the BBL. Host, Paris Alston discusses the obsession with the butt and why the hourglass figure distinguishes desirability amongst Black women and the effects of an idealized body image in the Black community with Dr. Salomé Wilfred.

Part 2 of Chains to Change follows the fight for freedom through the experiences of Black Bostonians who served their country, built strong communities, and challenged the barriers that stood in the way of equality. From historic neighborhoods to enduring landmarks, their stories reveal how generations of residents shaped Boston's civic, cultural, and political landscape while pushing the nation to live up to its founding ideals. Stay until the end for a conversation with Reverend Chris Hope, Executive Director of The Loop Lab, who shares behind-the-scenes insights into the research, storytelling, and community connections that helped bring these histories to light.

Produced by The Loop Lab and hosted by GBH News Rooted, Chains to Change uncovers the stories that often get left out of Boston's revolutionary narrative. As America marks 250 years since independence, the struggle for freedom is traced through the lives of Black Bostonians who fought on the battlefield, built thriving communities, challenged inequality, and pushed the nation closer to its ideals. The journey moves through iconic landmarks, where monuments, neighborhoods, and historic sites illuminate generations of activism, resilience, and community building. Together, they tell a fuller story of Boston, one where freedom has always been contested, expanded, and reimagined by those determined to make the promises of America real.