Delta Sigma Theta Soror Ashley Allison Acquires The Root, Returning the Outlet to Black Ownership

Ashley Allison, a Spring 2003 initiate of the Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. at The Ohio State University, has officially acquired The Root, bringing the influential media outlet back under Black ownership for the first time in years.

Allison, a Democratic political strategist, CNN commentator, and former Obama White House official, purchased The Root through her company, Watering Hole Media. The move makes her the first Black woman to own the publication, which was founded in 2008 by Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Donald Graham as a digital hub centered on Black voices, history, and culture.

“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,” said Rashad Robinson, The Root’s strategic advisor, in a statement published by the outlet. “The Root provides an infrastructure for growing Black talent and supports a drumbeat of reporting on issues that would not otherwise gain momentum.”

From its inception, The Root has amplified rising Black thinkers, writers, and cultural critics, featuring voices such as Ta-Nehisi Coates, Melissa Harris-Perry, Jemele Hill, and Demetria Lucas. It became known for its annual Root 100 list and signature cultural commentary, creating a space where intellectual depth and everyday conversation about Black life coexisted.

Allison emphasized that the acquisition is not just a business move but a cultural investment. “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. The Root is not going to shy away from the hard stories, the hard questions, and the hard answers,” she said. “We will be a place that tells the truth, helps make sense of the moment, and guides people to resources that help them make the best decisions possible.”

According to CNN, the publication has changed hands several times over the past decade, moving from The Washington Post Company to Univision in 2015, then to G/O Media in 2019. Now, with Allison at the helm, The Root is set to enter a new era of multimedia growth, in-person experiences, and partnerships designed to strengthen its influence.

In a statement, Allison underscored her vision: “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.”

Henry Louis Gates Jr., who co-founded the site, praised the acquisition: “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.”

Through this acquisition, Allison joins a short list of Black women media owners guiding major national outlets. Her leadership signals a pivotal new chapter not only for The Root but for Black media more broadly—at a time when, as she puts it, “journalism is under attack and audiences are seeking independent sources for news.”