Today, The Washington Post launched “The Root”—an online magazine geared towards African American readers. Founded by writer and Harvard professor, Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Post Co. Chairman Donald E. Graham, The Root looks to follow in the footsteps of Slate Magazine (an online magazine founded by Microsoft, and later bought by The Post in 2004), however, featuring news and commentary from a black perspective.

The Root is a daily online magazine that provides thought-provoking commentary on today’s news from a variety of black perspectives. The site also hosts an interactive genealogical section to trace one’s ancestry through AfricanDNA.com, a DNA testing site co-founded by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., who is also The Root’s Editor-In-Chief. The Root aims to be an unprecedented departure from traditional American journalism, raising the profile of black voices in mainstream media and engaging anyone interested in black culture around the world.

Post Launches Site With African American Focus