Lamont sat down with Chris Haley, a distinguished historian, filmmaker, and author whose career is dedicated to illuminating the often-overlooked chapters of African American history. Chris is also the nephew of Alex Haley, the acclaimed author and writer of Roots, whose groundbreaking work helped bring African American history and genealogy to the forefront of the national conversation. As the Director of Research, Education, Outreach and the Study of the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland at the Maryland State Archives, Chris has pioneered efforts to digitize and provide public access to hundreds of thousands of records, earning him the prestigious 2024 Diversity Award from the Society of American Archivists. This was a powerful conversation about history, preservation, genealogy, and the responsibility we have to make our stories accessible for generations to come. At Roots 101, we believe in teaching the future so we don’t repeat the past.