GBH News Rooted explores the Black women’s unemployment crisis, examining federal job cuts, DEI rollbacks and workplace discrimination. Journalist Sydney Madden discusses her documentary And Counting and why Black women’s struggle to find work signals a warning for the entire economy. Aba Taylor, President and CEO of YW Boston also joined us for this conversation.

Can white parents raising Black children fully prepare them for the realities of racism, identity and belonging? On this episode of GBH News Rooted, host Paris Alston examines the controversy surrounding transracial adoption with Erik Mohn, author of Stranger in My Own Story, and child and adult psychiatrist Dr. Cecil R. Webster, Jr. Together, they explore the challenges Black adoptees face growing up in white families, the importance of cultural connection and what adoptive parents can do to nurture their children's racial identity.

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.