How ‘The Root’ Team Geared up for The Root 100 Celebration

In a whirlwind week of The Root 100 Honoree Event festivities, event collaborator and automaker Genesis rolled out the red carpet.

The Root 100 2024 Honoree Event was an evening to remember! Our annual gala spotlighting the 100 most influential Black Americans just went down at New York City’s Apollo Theater. We laughed, we posted on socials, we were moved by speeches and musical numbers.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Biggie and Diddy’s Strange Friendship: Revisiting the Most Defining Moments

Just as moving were the vehicles that got us there: the Genesis GV80.

On the red carpet, the Genesis GV80 made a stunning cameo. Attendees, influencers, and notable talent posed with the vehicle, sliding into the elegant cabin to soak up luxurious details from every angle. From the car’s panoramic sunroof, the lights of uptown New York shone brightly, almost as brightly as the GV80’s standard 27-inch OLED navigation display. The interior ambient lighting and open-pore wood accents set the mood for a night blending modern and classic styles. In summary, the GV80 stole the spotlight.

When it was time to head to the afters, a fleet of Genesis vehicles chauffeured our celebrity guests, hosts, and influencers there in safety and style.

It was the perfect cherry on top of a week of The Root and Genesis collaboration, which began with a visit to Genesis Studio at Hudson Yards where we got to test drive the vehicles. This was followed by a trip to Genesis House, the automaker’s NYC-based cultural space curating design, hospitality, and technology. Alongside Friends of Genesis guests, we were hosted as “son-nim”, which means “honored guest” in Korean, and enjoyed a dinner inspired by recipes of ancient Korean royalty at their in-house restaurant, and visited the immersive light installation STARSCAPE inspired by “Dongji,” the Korean celebration of the Winter Solstice.

We captured some of the standout moments from this week’s festivities. Click to check them out!

Kicking off the week with a gourmet dinner

Photo: RobinLori Photography for Genesis USA

Jocelyn “Joz” Wang, Head of Multicultural Marketing and Corporate Branding at Genesis Motor America, Michael Clark, Head of Multicultural Partnerships at G/O Media and celebrity guests at The Root 100 reception dinner. In attendance were actor and comedian Flex Alexander, actress Carla Renata, chef Esther Choi, comedian and Executive Producer of SHERRI with Sherri Shepherd Jawn Murray, celebrity stylist Paul Wharton, actor and content creator Ryan Alexander Holmes, TV producer and entrepreneur Mona Scott-Young, actor Alyx Fabrega, and athlete and entrepreneur Josh Dixon.

Mixing and mingling

Photo: RobinLori Photography for Genesis USA

Joz Wang and Jawn Murray explore the selection of art books at Genesis House.

Taking the Genesis GV60 for a spin

Photo: RobinLori Photography for Genesis USA

Actress, film critic, and singer Carla Renata gets behind the wheel of a Genesis GV60.

Pulling up to the function

Photo: RobinLori Photography for Genesis USA

A cavalcade of Genesis sedans and SUVs chauffeured notable attendees to the Apollo Theater for showtime at The Root 100.

Snapping the perfect pic

Photo: RobinLori Photography for Genesis USA

Mona Scott-Young and Paul Wharton arrive in style with the Uyuni White Genesis GV80 on the red carpet of The Root 100 gala.

Always looking fresh

Photo: RobinLori Photography for Genesis USA

Jawn Murray makes himself comfy lounging against a Uyuni White GV80 with the Apollo Marquee making a cameo.

In the club, we all fam

Photo: RobinLori Photography for Genesis USA

Team Genesis and team The Root have a lovely pow wow just before showtime.

Serving pap walk realness

Photo: RobinLori Photography for Genesis USA

Mona Scott-Young and Paul Wharton stepping out of a Genesis sedan and onto the red carpet at The Root 100 Honoree Event. The perfect throwback aughts paparazzi photo.

After the show it’s the afterparty

Photo: RobinLori Photography for Genesis USA

Kyle Hiroto and Joz Wang from Team Genesis enjoying a post-show moment at The Red Rooster in Harlem.

This article is a collaboration between Genesis and G/O Media Studios.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

A Peek Inside NBA Star Anthony Davis' $40 Million Bel-Air Mansion

A Peek Inside NBA Star Anthony Davis’ $40 Million Bel-Air Mansion

We’re taking a look inside the sprawling 8-bedroom Bel-Air estate of NBA player Anthony Davis …
15 Times Stephen A. Smith Disappointed Black Folks

15 Times Stephen A. Smith Disappointed Black Folks

Before Stephen A. Smith gets serious about a potential 2028 presidential run, he still has to answer for these shocking and disappointing incidents …
How Trump Now Targeting Cuba Can Be More Detrimental than You Think

How Trump Now Targeting Cuba Can Be More Detrimental than You Think

The Trump administration has shut off oil flow to Cuba in an attempt to put pressure on the communist country to make some significant political changes …
Exclusive: The Honey Pot Co. CEO Beatrice Dixon Shares Her Ancestral Recipe for Empire Building in New Memoir

Exclusive: The Honey Pot Co. CEO Beatrice Dixon Shares Her Ancestral Recipe for Empire Building in New Memoir

The Root spoke with The Honey Pot CEO Beatrice Dixon about her inspiring new memoir …
Rapper Lil Jon Break Silence After His Son's Tragic Death

Rapper Lil Jon Break Silence After His Son’s Tragic Death

Lil Jon spoke out earlier this month about the death of his son and now he’s sharing his reflections and an update with his fans …
Oklahoma Cop Caught Beating a Black Man on Video—But Police Chief Says It's Not What It Looks Like

Oklahoma Cop Caught Beating a Black Man on Video—But Police Chief Says It’s Not What It Looks Like

After a clip of a Black man being punched in the head by an Oklahoma cop went viral, the police chief is speaking out, and what he says may shock you …
Not McSteamy! Why Black Women Are a Mess Over Eric Dane's Death

Not McSteamy! Why Black Women Are a Mess Over Eric Dane’s Death

Black women are taking to social media to share their grief over “Euphoria” and “Grey’s Anatomy” star Eric Dane …
Inside the Wild $1 Million Designer Clothes Heist Allegedly Staged by a Black Fashion Model and His Crew

Inside the Wild $1 Million Designer Clothes Heist Allegedly Staged by a Black Fashion Model and His Crew

A $1 million designer heist, disguises and a balcony getaway: Police finally have a suspect in the cinematic robbery of SoHo’s 4Gseller boutique …
Was Heathcliff in 'Wuthering Heights' Really Black?

Was Heathcliff in ‘Wuthering Heights’ Really Black?

Jacob Elordi’s portrayal of the infamous Heathcliff in the new ‘Wuthering Heights’ movie has fans speaking out about the character’s alleged Black origins and Hollywood’s whitewashing …
How this New Supreme Court Ruling on Tariffs Is Great News for Black Consumers Badly Hit by Trump's Economic Policy

How this New Supreme Court Ruling on Tariffs Is Great News for Black Consumers Badly Hit by Trump’s Economic Policy

After the Supreme Court ruled against Trump’s blanket tariff policy, Black consumers– the most impacted Americans– are picking up the pieces …
Naomi Campbell is In the Epstein Files Hundreds of Times -- Here's Her Response to That

Naomi Campbell is In the Epstein Files Hundreds of Times — Here’s Her Response to That

Supermodel Naomi Campbell’s name appeared in nearly 300 documents of the Epstein Files. And now, she’s speaking out about it! …
Trump Calls Out Obama For Talking About Aliens...Only to, Um, Do This

Trump Calls Out Obama For Talking About Aliens…Only to, Um, Do This

Donald Trump calls out Obama for making a “big mistake” by talking about aliens… but then decides to release government files on UFOs …
Inside Frederick Douglass' Final Home in DC

Inside Frederick Douglass’ Final Home in DC

Take a peek inside the home of one of the greatest African American men in history, Frederick Douglass …
Why <i>That</i> Pepsi Incident From Over 40 Years Ago is Blamed for Michael Jackson's Downfall

Why That Pepsi Incident From Over 40 Years Ago is Blamed for Michael Jackson’s Downfall

TMZ’s new documentary takes a deeper look at Michael Jackson’s infamous 1984 Pepsi commercial fire and the possible link it had to his demise years later …
Who NYT Says Is Facing the Biggest Fallout From The Epstein Files

Who NYT Says Is Facing the Biggest Fallout From The Epstein Files

The New York Times is tracking and documenting the names of those caught up in the fallout of the Epstein Files. Here are the ones you should know …
Activist Ms. Shirley's Cause of Death FINALLY Revealed

Activist Ms. Shirley’s Cause of Death FINALLY Revealed

News of Ms. Shirley’s cause of death comes in the middle of American Heart Month, the February initiative raising awareness about cardiovascular disease …
Former Prince Andrew in Cuffs: Is This the Official End of White Privilege?

Former Prince Andrew in Cuffs: Is This the Official End of White Privilege?

Prince Andrew is the first notable figure arrested after the Epstein files were released, and the potential fallout is probably lot worse than you think …
Tyra Banks Is 'ANTM's' Biggest Villain, But Jay, Miss J and Nigel Need to Be Called Out

Tyra Banks Is ‘ANTM’s’ Biggest Villain, But Jay, Miss J and Nigel Need to Be Called Out

America’s Next Top Model judges Miss J, Jay Manuel and Nigel Barker all played a role in the show’s unhealthy ecosystem, and they should be called out, too! …
Huge New Development in Case of Florida Father Whose Unlicensed Teen Killed 4 People After He Let Him Drive

Huge New Development in Case of Florida Father Whose Unlicensed Teen Killed 4 People After He Let Him Drive

A Florida father learned his fate after his unlicensed teen ran a stop sign and slammed into a car— killing a grandmother and her 3 grandchildren …
WATCH: Celeb Publicist Records the Scary Passenger Incident That Forced His Delta Flight to Turn Around

WATCH: Celeb Publicist Records the Scary Passenger Incident That Forced His Delta Flight to Turn Around

A passenger tried to enter the cockpit of a Delta flight before passengers jumped on him to subdue him for law enforcement. And it’s all on video …