2011 The Root 100 List
The 100 most influential African Americans in 2011.
31
- Influence: 77.8
- Reach: 17.3
- Substance: 4.5
- Media Mentions: 0
- Internet Mentions: 0
- Twitter Followers: 0
Drake
- Rapper who will release his second studio album, 'Take Care,' on his 25th birthday, Oct. 24.
- Job: Rapper, singer and songwriter
- Sector: Entertainment/Media
- Twitter: Drake
- Location: Toronto and Memphis, Tenn.
- Age: 24
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32
- Influence: 76.8
- Reach: 11.0
- Substance: 7.0
- Media Mentions: 0
- Internet Mentions: 0
- Twitter Followers: 0
Jason Moran
- Musician who won Jazz Artist of the Year, Jazz Album of the Year and Pianist of the Year in the DownBeat Critics Poll.
- Job: Musician and composer
- Sector: Entertainment/Media
- Twitter: morethan88
- Location: New York City
- Age: 36
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33
- Influence: 76.6
- Reach: 12.8
- Substance: 6.0
- Media Mentions: 0
- Internet Mentions: 0
- Twitter Followers: 0
Kevin Liles
- Entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded Make It Happen Summer Business Academies.
- Job: Entrepreneur, consultant and philanthropist
- Sector: Business
- Twitter: KEVINLILES1
- Location: New York City
- Age: 43
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34
- Influence: 76.3
- Reach: 12.3
- Substance: 6.2
- Media Mentions: 0
- Internet Mentions: 0
- Twitter Followers: 0
Colson Whitehead
- Novelist to release 'Zone One' in October.
- Job: Author
- Sector: Entertainment/Media
- Twitter: colsonwhitehead
- Location: New York
- Age: 42
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35
- Influence: 75.2
- Reach: 15.0
- Substance: 5.0
- Media Mentions: 0
- Internet Mentions: 0
- Twitter Followers: 0
Kirk Franklin
- Gospel artist who hosts BET's 'Sunday Best' and released his latest album, 'Hello Fear.'
- Job: Gospel musician, singer and choir director
- Sector: Entertainment/Media
- Twitter: kirkfranklin
- Location: Arlington, Texas
- Age: 41
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36
- Influence: 73.9
- Reach: 18.5
- Substance: 4.0
- Media Mentions: 0
- Internet Mentions: 0
- Twitter Followers: 0
LeBron James
- NBA superstar who helped advance the Miami Heat to the finals.
- Job: Basketball player
- Sector: Sports
- Twitter: KingJames
- Location: Miami
- Age: 26
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37
- Influence: 72.7
- Reach: 12.1
- Substance: 6
- Media Mentions: 0
- Internet Mentions: 0
- Twitter Followers: 0
Ta-Nehisi Coates
- Editor's blog is named one of Time magazine's best blogs of the year.
- Job: Senior editor, the Atlantic
- Sector: Entertainment/Media
- Twitter: tanehisi
- Location: New York City
- Age: 36
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38
- Influence: 72.6
- Reach: 18.2
- Substance: 4.0
- Media Mentions: 0
- Internet Mentions: 0
- Twitter Followers: 0
Alicia Keys
- Singer who is co-producing the Broadway play 'Stick Fly' and working on a new album and recently released the 10th-anniversary edition of her first album, 'Songs in A Minor.'
- Job: Singer
- Sector: Entertainment/Media
- Twitter: aliciakeys
- Location: New York City
- Age: 30
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39
- Influence: 72.5
- Reach: 12.1
- Substance: 6.0
- Media Mentions: 0
- Internet Mentions: 0
- Twitter Followers: 0
Tristan Walker
- Businessman whose development skills helped Foursquare attract more than 10 million users.
- Job: Director of business development, Foursquare
- Sector: Business
- Twitter: tristanwalker
- Location: Palo Alto, Calif.
- Age: 27
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40
- Influence: 72.1
- Reach: 10.3
- Substance: 7.0
- Media Mentions: 0
- Internet Mentions: 0
- Twitter Followers: 0
Mara Brock Akil
- Television writer and producer who signed multiyear deal with BET Networks.
- Job: Writer and producer, 'The Game'
- Sector: Entertainment/Media
- Twitter: AKILPRODUCTIONS
- Location: Los Angeles
- Age: 41
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