the root 100 2017
-
Lena Waithe’s The Chi Expertly Gives the People of Chicago Humanity and Backstories
The Chi is the type of TV show Chicago deserves. If you leave it to the media, the limited picture that’s painted of Chicago turns anyone who’s never been there away from ever coming to Chi-town because of the seemingly limitless examples of violence that plague the city. But we can’t allow the media to…
-
Watch: Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins on Race’s Importance in Narratives
“It blew my mind the first time I saw a black character on an HBO show that wasn’t in jail. Diversity is important because the world is diverse.” —Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Branden Jacobs-Jenkins was recognized on The Root 100 this year for his work changing narratives through the theatrical arts. In 2016, Jacobs-Jenkins was awarded a…
-
Watch: NFL Star Michael Bennett Refuses to Stay in His Lane
“If you’re silent about the issues … then you’re telling a lie; you’re just a part of the crime.” —Michael Bennett The Root 100 honoree Michael Bennett is not only an NFL star as a Seattle Seahawks defensive end but also an activist, author and philanthropist. Here’s why sports does not define him and why…
-
Watch: Why Black Thought of the Roots Believes Art Should Represent the Times We Live In
“There’re so many people in the world that aren’t able to process what it is that they’re seeing and experiencing, and that’s our job.” —Black Thought, The Roots The Root 100 honoree Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter of the Roots shares why he believes art should represent the times we live in.
-
Watch: The Root 100 Gala Was the Blackest Event on TV
On Sunday The Root 100 gala aired on Fusion TV. Hosted by The Root 100 honoree Angela Rye and A.J. Calloway, the gala—which took place Nov. 9 in New York City—featured other honorees such as Franchesca Ramsey, Yamiche Alcindor and S. Lee Merritt, along with special guests Common, Rapsody and many others. In case you…
-
Watch: How Mayor Lumumba Is Rewriting the Story of Jackson, Miss.
“If we see an opportunity for change, then I believe we should be as radical as the circumstances dictate we should be.” —Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba The Root 100 honoree Chokwe Antar Lumumba, the youngest mayor in Jackson, Miss., history, talks about how he plans to bring about change in the above video.
-
Watch: Maxine Waters Honored With The Root 100 Gladiator Award
U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) was honored with The Root 100 Gladiator Award for Public Service on Nov. 9 at The Root 100 gala. Rep. Waters, the first-ever recipient of the award, has tirelessly resisted white supremacy and spoken out against the current presidential administration. The award acknowledges her political career and her work in…
-
Watch: The Root 100 Gala Co-Host A.J. Calloway Celebrates the Obamas
The Root 100 gala co-host A.J. Calloway breaks down why Barack and Michelle Obama are the epitome of black excellence. The Root 100 prime-time special airs on Fusion TV on Sunday, Nov. 19, at 9 p.m.
-
Watch: Raquel Willis on Bringing Your Black Transgender Identity to Work
“Right now is the time to be your most different, most radical, most unique self—and you should own that.” —Raquel Willis Raquel Willis was recognized on The Root 100 this year for her unapologetic voice and dedicated work to elevate the transgender community. Watch above for her personal story about how hiding her true identity…
-
Watch: Angela Rye Makes Power Moves at The Root 100 Gala
“I was being Taylor Swift and you just Kanye’d me,” Angela Rye said, scolding her The Root 100 gala co-host, Extra’s A.J. Calloway. Only someone as strong-willed as Rye could use “Kanye” as a verb. But what else do you do when you’re having your shining moment and A.J. Calloway comes up, attempting to take that…