The Root is expanding its original programming with “America Amended,” a six-part docuseries examining constitutional rights through the experiences of Black Americans.
The series premieres Sunday, Oct. 11, at noon Eastern on The Root’s YouTube channel. It arrives about a year after Ashley Allison’s Watering Hole Media acquired The Root, returning the news and culture publication to Black ownership.
Led by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Trymaine Lee, “America Amended” investigates the connection between the rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and their impact on daily life.
Each episode focuses on a constitutional amendment, a U.S. city, and the people and institutions connected to the issue.
The series begins in Detroit with the First Amendment and examines voice and expression. Atlanta serves as the setting for an episode on the Second Amendment and questions surrounding the right to bear arms and public safety.
In Milwaukee, the series examines the 13th Amendment, the abolition of slavery, and its exception involving punishment for a crime. Houston is paired with the 14th Amendment and issues involving citizenship and belonging.
Philadelphia serves as the backdrop for an examination of the 15th Amendment and voting rights, while Jackson, Mississippi, anchors an episode about the 19th Amendment, Black women’s political participation, and access to the ballot.
The project continues Allison’s push to expand The Root beyond written journalism into original video, events, interviews, and other programming. Allison acquired the publication through Watering Hole Media in October 2025.
“America Amended” is designed to connect constitutional history with current questions about who is able to exercise those rights and what barriers continue to exist.
The full six-episode series will be available through The Root’s YouTube channel. Watch the trailer for “America Amended” on YouTube today.
