the root 100
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When 'Diversity & Inclusion' Is Disrespectful and Insulting: Kerby Jean-Raymond Calls Out Business of Fashion for Tokenizing and Appropriation
Sometimes, “a seat at the table” just means “sit there and make us look good while we pick your brain, exploit your culture and give you little to no credit.” At least, that’s what Kerby Jean-Raymond, designer and founder of Pyer Moss and a creative director at Reebok is alleging of fashion analysis and news…
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Countdown to The Root 100: Who's No. 1? Here's a Preview of the Top Honorees in Entertainment, Arts and Sports
A quick Google search reveals that gifts for 10-year anniversaries should be made of either tin or aluminum, a testament to the resilience and strength of a relationship. So it is fitting that as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Root 100—our annual list of the most influential African Americans, age 25 to 45—we…
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Ready for a Sequel? The #BlackPantherChallenge Creator Is Raising Funds for Girls to See Captain Marvel!
As big a blockbuster as Black Panther was last when it premiered last February, it was an even bigger moment for over 70,000 underserved kids who got to see it for free, thanks to Frederick T. Joseph and the #BlackPantherChallenge. Joseph initially created the hashtag and accompanying GoFundMe with the modest goal of raising 10,000 dollars…
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Brown Girls and Beyond: Sam Bailey Is Adding New and Needed Voices to Our Narrative
Has there ever been a better time to be a black female content creator? Conventional logic would say no; after all, filmmaker Ava DuVernay just inked a $100 million dollar deal with Warner Bros., while Shonda Rhimes has moved her evolving empire of successful series to Netflix in a deal reportedly worth $150 million. And…
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Knockouts: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson and More Kill It at the Creed II Premiere
Black excellence was once again on display last night in New York City. And while the cast of Creed II was conspicuously missing its prequel’s writer and director, Ryan Coogler, sequel writer (and Root 100 honoree) Cheo Hodari Coker was on hand, as was sequel director Steven Caple, Jr. Of course, star Michael “Bae” Jordan,…
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So You Think You Know The Root 100?
Every year The Root honors the best and the blackest on an esteemed list that we call The Root 100. If you’re just hearing of The Root 100, then get with it. While you might recognize the names Tarana Burke and London Breed do you really know who these people are and their many accomplishments?…
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The Root 100 Gala Takes the Cake, Yet Again, as the Best and Blackest Night of the Year
“We had a lot of competition in the beginning, a lot of imitators but they’ve fallen away. And The Root’s still here.” – Henry Louis Gates Jr., The Root Co-founder text Every Root 100 gala is special, but this year was particularly momentous. Along with celebrating our 100 honorees, The Root also celebrated its 10th…
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The Hangover: We've Finally Recovered from The Root 100 Gala (and Gee, Did We Clean Up Nice)
What do you get when you put hundreds of well-dressed black folk, a great DJ, an open bar, and boundless black excellence into a trendy event space in New York City ? Well, if you’re me, you likely get a weeklong hangover, but you also get The Root 100 gala, our annual celebration of the…
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We Created ‘Melanated News’ for The Root 100 Gala, but We Couldn’t Resist Sharing All This Glorious Blackness
Melanated news here! Get your melanated news here! The Root 100 gala was a glorious event brimming with blackness. If you missed it, then sorry boo, I can’t help you. Our gala was turnt. But in the midst of the acceptance speeches, swag surfs and other celebratory festivities, your homies at the video team created…
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The 2018 Root 100 Gala Celebrates Another Year of Black Excellence!
We celebrate black excellence every day here at The Root, but there’s one event where we celebrate the most influential black Americans of the year: our annual Root 100 gala. 2018’s list of luminaries, nominated in part by our faithful readers, span all walks of life: from activists to artists, singers to scientists, politicians to…