The Root has officially come home. The pioneering Black news and culture outlet is now Black-owned once again, thanks to CNN commentator and former Obama-Biden White House official Ashley Allison, who purchased the site through her company, Watering Hole Media, The Root reports. For Allison, the move isn’t just business, it’s personal.
“This isn’t about making more content but rather about making meaning of this moment,” she explained. “The Root has always been about preserving culture and creating clarity in a world full of distractions. Owning the power to tell our own stories is a rich tradition The Root is committed to upholding.”
Founded in 2008 by esteemed historian and scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. and former Washington Post publisher Donald E. Graham, The Root quickly made its mark as one of the first major online platforms dedicated to Black history, culture, and experiences. Long before mainstream outlets made room for our voices, The Root was a place where Black perspectives weren’t just included, they were central. From the groundbreaking “Root 100” list to the sharp wit of Damon Young and Panama Jackson’s Very Smart Brothas column, the site became a hub where intellect and everyday culture collided. Writers like Ta-Nehisi Coates, Jemele Hill, Melissa Harris-Perry, and Cornel West all sharpened this generation’s discourse while keeping it unapologetically Black on The Root.
Over the years, the publication changed hands, moving from The Washington Post Company to Univision in 2015, then to G/O Media in 2019. Now, history comes full circle with Allison becoming the first Black woman to own the outlet, a historic milestone that adds her to the short list of Black women leading major media companies.
“It’s time to stand in courage, to be unapologetic about who we are as Black people, the role we have played in this country, and the role we will continue to play,” Allison said. “The Root is not going to shy away from the hard stories, the hard questions, and the hard answers.”
Her company, Watering Hole Media, has already built a reputation for creating powerful cultural and political programming, gaining momentum during the 2024 presidential election. With The Root now under her leadership, Allison plans to expand the platform into immersive multimedia and experiential formats while still honoring the written word and journalistic excellence.
Strategic advisor Rashad Robinson underscored the importance of this shift.
“This is an exciting moment in the media landscape, with so much potential to make Black voices an even stronger force in the big fights taking place in our country right now,” he said. “The Root provides an infrastructure for growing Black talent and supports a drumbeat of reporting on issues that would not otherwise gain momentum.”
For Gates, seeing The Root back in Black ownership is a full-circle moment. “I am so very proud of Ashley Allison for leading The Root into its next exciting chapter, and for returning The Root to its roots,” he said. “When Donald and I launched The Root, my vision was to create a platform to showcase the full complexity of Black life with depth, intelligence, and, most importantly, unapologetic honesty.”
In a letter to readers, Allison shared her gratitude and excitement for what’s next.
“The Root has always been a part of my journey, not just as a media outlet, but as a home for stories that reflect the fullness of who we are as Black people,” she wrote. “This moment is not just about me, it’s about us. It’s about carrying forward the tradition of telling our stories with depth, authority, and unapologetic honesty.”
With Allison at the helm, The Root is set to evolve while staying true to what made it essential in the first place: truth-telling, culture-shaping, and centering Black voices in every conversation.
Cover photo: Former Obama Official Ashley Allison Makes History as First Black Woman to Own The Root/ Photo credit: The Root