Is anyone actually 100% Black? Henry Louis Gates Jr. on DNA, race, and power

Paris speaks with renowned historian and public intellectual Henry Louis Gates Jr. about race, identity, and how history continues to shape American life. Gates challenges long‑held assumptions about Blackness, explaining why race is not a biological fact but a social construct rooted in power and history. Drawing on genetic ancestry research, he unpacks what DNA reveals about African American identity, including the lasting impact of slavery and racial hierarchy. The conversation also surfaces often‑erased stories of Black and Indigenous people in early American history, particularly during the Revolutionary War, and examines why these narratives remain contested today amid debates over education and memory. Rooted is brought to you by our sponsor, Britebound—helping middle and high school students to explore their passions, try out career paths, and make confident decisions about their future. To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/britebound  Subscribe to the Rooted YouTube channel:    •GBH News Rooted     • Rooted - Shorts & Extras   Follow Rooted on Instagram   / rootedgbh   Listen to Rooted on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0hVZTdc... Follow Rooted on Threads https://www.threads.com/@rootedgbh Follow Rooted on TikTok   / rootedgbh   Subscribe to the Rooted newsletter https://www.wgbh.org/tv-shows/gbh-new... Support GBH and help shape a future where facts matter, stories unite us, and everyone has access to quality media. Join us. Fund the Future: https://bit.ly/FundtheFutureYT