Tara Roberts

Tara Roberts is the host of National Geographic’s Into the Depths, where Tara sets off on the journey of a lifetime to meet the divers, marine archaeologists, descendants of those brought over on ships, and historians investigating the lost stories of the slave trade. Tara's featured on the cover of National Geographic's March magazine. Follow her on Instagram here.

When was the idea for this podcast born?
The vision for this project came to me a few years ago when I was visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Tucked within the second floor is a photograph of Black women scuba divers, all smiling radiantly on a boat. There are moments in life when an undeniable spark comes alive within, and seeing this photo was one of them—who were they? Why were they diving? What was their mission? I was determined to know more. Upon further research, I discovered they were members of the group, ‘Diving With A Purpose.’ DWP is a phenomenal organization dedicated to the finding and documenting of slave shipwrecks, predominantly pertaining to the transatlantic slave trade. Their work was so inspiring, I knew that their story needed to be heard, and I needed to help tell it—from there, I decided to embark on the journey of a lifetime; I quit my job, got certified in diving, and Into the Depths was born.

What do you hope people get from this show?
For all who listen, I hope the podcast awakens a sense of curiosity and agency within. So often, history is told from a singular advantage point—it’s largely communicated from a perspective that is unique to the one telling it. Working on this project has shown me that we all possess the power to ensure such history is reflective of the multiple perspectives involved in it. I hope that in listening to the stories touched on in ‘Into The Depths,’ people feel inclined to take part in the discovery and telling of this untouched portion of our history.

What did making Into the Depths teach you about yourself?
For most of my adult life, I felt a sense of trepidation when it came to engaging with the way Black stories are often told. So often, the recanting of our history is rooted in the trauma and the pain of all that we’ve endured—for me, there was a hesitation with this mode of storytelling, as I feared re-traumatization. When I began working with ‘Diving With A Purpose’, however, I realized there was a story to be told that had the power to honor the souls lost during the Transatlantic Slave Trade in an entirely unique way. In being able to help tell such a story, I awakened a healing within that I didn’t realize I needed. There’s an incredible sense of closure in being able to acknowledge this portion of our history that has so often been treated as a footnote. An estimated 1.8 million Africans died in the middle passage crossing, and yet, as we look around today, who’s honoring them? What’s being done to ensure that their passing is remembered? For me, being able to say, “I’ve found you, I will remember you, and I will honor you” granted me a sense of peace. 

Is Into the Depths the story you set out to tell or did it change?
When I first became aware of ‘Diving With A Purpose,’ I had envisioned my role as one of support—I thought perhaps I could help them raise money, or something of a similar nature. However, as I learned more about the magnitude of their work, I realized that my role could transform into one of a story-teller. I wanted to ensure that work as transformative as this, was fully appreciated and told in its fullness. As I began to tell this story, I found that there were three distinct stories that needed to be told under the umbrella of one: the story of “Diving With A Purpose,” the story of the shipwrecks and my own personal story that was developing through this project. I had always set out to tell the world about “Diving With A Purpose,” but in doing so, I was taken on a new, beautiful path: one of self-discovery that felt important to explore.

How did it feel to get the story out into the world?
From the moment I saw the photo of the Black women divers in the Smithsonian, I knew that I had a role to play in getting these incredible stories out in the world. Now that those stories are available for all to hear, I feel an immense pride to have been able to work with such a transformative organization and truly incredible people. I feel inspired to have heard and seen the work being done, and I am hopeful that the work that still needs to be done will be properly resourced and widely supported. 

Thanks, Tara!