the root 100
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Ibram X. Kendi on Using His Influence to Ensure That All Black Lives Matter
“There’s just nothing to me better than when the people that you love the most—and I just love Black people–you know, send you love letters. And that’s really what The Root 100 is.” — Ibram X. Kendi, Director of Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research, 2020 The Root 100 Honoree text Calling Ibram X. Kendi,…
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'I Really, Really See You': Yamiche Alcindor Pinpoints Exactly Why Lists Like The Root 100 Matter
“It’s humbling and I’m so grateful to be on this list with so many amazing people that are doing amazing work, including my friends, Nikole Hannah-Jones of the New York Times, as well as Trymaine Lee of MSNBC.” — Yamiche Alcindor, Journalist, 2020 The Root 100 Honoree text As I write this Kinja post, my…
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'Black People Are America's True Founding Fathers': The Root Presents: It's Lit! Launches With 1619 Project Creator Nikole Hannah-Jones
“I just want people to know the date 1619,” is what New York Times investigative journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones told her editor when pitching the journalistic opus we now know as The 1619 Project. Launched in August 2019, the landmark issue compiled some of the greatest writers and thought leaders of our time to commemorate the…
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![Megan Thee Stallion Is Performing on the SNL Premiere Hosted by Chris Rock—Oh, Did Something Else Happen? [Updated]](https://assets-server.theroot.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25180718/zpyzp9iujcxpegjldkdz-300x169.jpg)
Megan Thee Stallion Is Performing on the SNL Premiere Hosted by Chris Rock—Oh, Did Something Else Happen? [Updated]
Megan Thee Stallion is having a stellar season. In addition to the huge success of “WAP” and her Revlon deal, this week alone was packed with flourishing news for Thee Stallion, including being named one of the Time 100 Most Influential People of 2020 (and rocking a fierce cover courtesy of 2020 Root 100 honoree…
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Black Excellence, Opulence, Decadence: Celebrating 10 Years of The Root 100
“How do you live out your black excellence?” I enjoyed listening to all of the interviewees’ responses to my question as I hosted the green carpet event for the 2019 Root 100 gala. Some furrowed their brows before answering, others took a beat, while my favorites shot back, “great question!” At events like The Root…
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The 2019 Root 100: How Well Do You Know These Figures of Black Excellence?
The Root’s video team, including host and producer Felice León, went on a mission to test the black cards of one of the black meccas in America: Harlem. We wanted to see how much 125th Street residents knew about some of the top nominees recognized in The 2019 Root 100. How do you think they…
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'There Was Silence. It Was Understood': Reflections About 'yasiin bey: Negus,' the Listening Installation at the Brooklyn Museum
A few weeks back, I wrote a piece that was critical of “yasiin bey: Negus,” the traveling art exhibit/listening installation curated by yasiin bey, the artist formerly known as Mos Def. My overarching point (perhaps fairly called “mean” in the comments on the actual piece, and disregarded as closed-minded on Facebook) was that the idea,…
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We Did That: The 2019 Root 100 Gala Celebrated a Decade of Black Excellence
In the increasingly fickle world of journalism, longevity is no small feat. So to be celebrating 10 years of being the leading online source of black thought, news, opinions, and excellence was a serious undertaking for The Root crew’s at our 2019 Root 100 gala—a serious undertaking that was a hell of a lot of…
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The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: I Don't Wanna Be A Race-Baiter No More
What happens to a race hustle, deferred? Does it get whippedLike a slave in the sun? Or shot, Like a suspect who tried to run?Does it splatter, like MLK’s jawOr leave a stain on the Audobon Ballroom floor? Maybe it just sags,Like a black boy’s jeans… Or is it just a white man’s dream? Today,…
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Stacey Abrams Delivers Inspiring Acceptance Speech for The 2019 Root 100
Last night was beautiful. Yet another gala for The Root 100 in the books. I’m honestly still recovering, as is most of the staff, I’m sure. But I had to push through this recovery process to share the gift that is Stacey Abrams with the masses. Leader Abrams topped The Root 100 this year and…