Although The Root 100 Gala is over, we’re still celebrating the best Christmas party of the year with an inside peek into the celebration! New York City’s Gotham Hall hosted the festivities, where The Root honored 100 trailblazers and change-makers from across industries. The evening was filled with joy, great music and a packed dance floor where the city showed up and out to celebrate Black excellence. Take a look into the star-studded night that has us still on Cloud 9!
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Honoree Tamron Hall Sitting Pretty
Honoree Tamron Hall was spotted enjoying the vibes at The Root 100 Gala!
Roland Martin All Smiles on Carpet
Roland Martin, who also introduced Doug E. Fresh who gave an impeccable performance, walked the carpet and posed for the cameras!
Joyelle Nicole Johnson Hosted The Evening
The evening was hosted by comedian Joyelle Nicole Johnson, who set the tone for an evening filled with smiles.
Non-stop Dancing!
All night long, New York stylist Rick Ramsey took over the dance floor!
Joyelle Nicole Johnson Poses for a Flick
Not only was Johnson a hilarious host who kept the vibes high all night, but she did so in a fierce floral two-piece suit.
Honorees Gathered Together
On the red carpet, Root 100 honorees Pastor Jamal Bryant, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and activist Tamika Mallory came together to celebrate each other’s achievements.
Watering Hole Media’s Brandon Sharp Looking Sharp With New Root Owner Ashley Allison
Watering Hole Media’s Special Advisor Brandon Sharp posed for a photo with The Root‘s new owner Ashley Allison.
The Root Was Dolled Up for the Night
Staff and freelance writers for The Root were pictured dolled up and in party mode because when you work hard, you deserve to play hard.
Doug E. Fresh and 803Fresh Pose for the Camera
Performer Doug E. Fresh and honoree 803Fresh posed for the camera!
Go Martell!
Of course, along with writers, sponsor Martell posed for a group photo and took a well-deserved break from the office for a night of fun!
Ashley Allison Led The Night
The Root owner, Ashley Allison, gave an inspiring speech as she asked everyone in the room what their life assignment is. A challenging question that reminds us to always consider how we can do our part to uplift the Black community.
Fawn Allison
Joining Allison at the party was her mom, Fawn Allison. Together, they were a beautiful mother-daughter duo.
The Root‘s Michael Clark and Martell
The Root‘s Michael Clark was all smiles as he posed with Pernod Ricard’s Jasmin Goldstein, Sean McCloud and Martell team.
Rashad Robinson
Civil rights leader Rashad Robinson introduced owner Ashley Allison to the stage with a speech that celebrated Black ownership and amplifying Black voices in media.
803Fresh Performance
803Fresh surprised folks with a performance that got the party started and made it a night to remember.
Flawless Fashion
These two attendees put on their Sunday’s best for the Gala!
Making Space For The Next Generation
At The Root, we always want to make sure that we are celebrating and supporting the next generation of Black icons. This year, 13-year-old journalist Samara Osae was invited to interview attendees on the red carpet.
Honoree Marc Lamont Hill
Root 100 honoree Marc Lamont Hill graced us with his presence at the event looking dapper!
Sparkles Galore
We loved seeing all the sparkles on people’s outfits. It was really a glitzy event!
Kéla Walker
Martell’s Kéla Walker dazzled while interviewing attendees on the red carpet, before sending them off into the main event.
Martell Sponsor
Jasmine Goldstein, a rep for Root 100 sponsor Martell, gave a toast for the night! Martell’s incredible and delicious drinks kept everyone smiling. Also, Martell gifted honorees with a bottle of Blue Swift in their party bags. Other Root 100 goodie bags and swag bags were also filled with gifts from companies such as Cécred, Stanley 1913, Carol’s Daughter and Bask & Lather.
The Root’s Phenix Halley
The Root‘s very own staff writer Phenix Halley enjoyed the sounds of the night!
Media Royalty
The royal family of the media industry, Abby Phillip, Tamron Hall, Don Lemon, and Gayle King shared a wholesome moment together on stage.
Susan L. Taylor
Speaking of media royalty, former Editor-in-Chief of Essence magazine, Susan L. Taylor, graced us with her presence at the gala in an elegant all-white outfit with a gorgeous patterned scarf.
Janai Nelson and Sherrese Clarke
Honorees Janai Nelson and Sherrese Clarke both looked stunning as they shared a moment on the carpet.
Vibes Were High All Night
The vibes were high all around. Businesswoman Sheresse Clarke wasn’t too shy to bust out some moves on the dance floor.
DJ Aktive
DJ Acktive kept the party lit all night as he mixed tunes that you had to tap your foot to, at the very least.
Selfie Time!
The Root Editor-in-Chief, Tatsha Robertson and freelance contributor B. Kadijat Towolawi, posed for a picture together as a night of partying kicked off!
Joshua Doss
Political pollster Joshua Doss looked incredibly classy on the red carpet in a three-piece suit. We’re loving the no-tie look!
Tonya Matthews
Tonya Matthews attended the event in a beautiful patterned dress perfectly encapsulating the New York cool aesthetic.
Mara Brock Akil
Inside the event, Root 100 honoree Mara Brock Akil looked effortlessly glamorous in an all black outfit.
Harriette Cole
Author, journalist, businesswoman and 2024 Root 100 honoree Harriette Cole looked incredible as she joined us at the gala.
Glamorous Glamazon
Style influencer Glamazon gagged us all in her zebra print fur coat!
Maurice Mitchell
Root 100 honoree Maurice Mitchell showed up to the party looking fly and ready to accept his award for being a leading example of a strong community leader.
Doug E. Fresh’s Hype Performance
803 Fresh wasn’t the only artist who gave the audience what they wanted. Rapper Doug E. Fresh took the stage, showcasing a level of talent that blew our minds!
Rep. Jasmine Crockett a Vision in Red
Rep. Jasmine Crockett let her hair down for a dance and a laugh on the dance floor!
Glowing All Night
Whew! Black excellence and Black beauty were on display all night! We loved seeing the array of colorful, sparkling gowns.
Rashad Bilal & Troy Millings
On the event floor, honorees Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings were snapped looking fresh in their monochrome fits.
Grooving All Night
No one held the wall during this party as DJ Aktive kept everybody moving and grooving!
More Folks Dancing
More staff from Watering Hole Media enjoyed their night and the tunes that DJ Aktive was playing.
Jolanda Jones and Nicole Collier
Root 100 honorees and Texas state representatives Jolanda Jones and Nicole Collier entered the gala dressed in beautiful gowns, making them look like the boss ladies they are.
Watering Hole Media’s Aundrea Cline-Thomas All Smiles
Watering Hole Media’s Program Director Aundrea Cline-Thomas is all smiles throughout the evening!
Making Memories
Attendees took gorgeous selfies to remember the evening.
Glam Squad
Everybody who attended The Root 100 gala looked and dressed like a star. It was truly a gorgeous night!
All-Black Everything
Attendees wore their best posing on the carpet, including one attendee who wore a classic all-Black everything look!
Ashleigh Shanti
Chef and Root 100 honoree Ashleigh Shanti showed everybody that she knows how to cook up a good fit even when not in her culinary whites.
803Fresh
Before he kicked the party off with a performance, 803 Fresh looked fly on the red carpet in a bright red velvet jacket and a whole lotta bling that twinkled for the cameras.
Deanté Kyle
Honoree Deanté Kyle was the very definition of cool as he entered the gala wearing black shades and a fly business casual fit.
Danielle Belton
Rawr! Journalist Danielle Belton strolled into the party looking fabulous in a leopard print dress. We’re loving it!
April Verrett
Root 100 honoree April Verrett also showed up to the gala, looking glamorous and ready to join in the celebration of Black excellence.
Shannon LaNier
News anchor and TikTok influencer Shannon LaNier was all smiles as he posed for the camera on the red carpet.
Celebrating Watering Hole Media Staff
Of course, the Root 100 gala wouldn’t have gone as smoothly if it weren’t for the staff at Watering Hole Media, who helped to keep everyone organized.
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