Through tireless work, creativity, and resilience, Black folks continue to move culture, industry, and community forward. At The Root, we make it our mission to recognize that brilliance—and as the The Root 100 enters its 16th year, we’re doing it bigger, bolder, and with a fresh twist.
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This year’s list is stacked with icons who’ve been in their bag all 2025 long. Whether it’s Ryan Coogler putting Black history on the silver screen or former Vice President Kamala Harris rolling up her sleeves to help with wildfire relief in California, the Root 100 is shining a light on the full spectrum of Black excellence.
But here’s the shake-up: we’re ditching the old ranking system. No “most” or “least” influential—because let’s be real, everyone on this list is exceptional. As The Root’s owner, Ashley Allison, told The Breakfast Club:
“Everybody on the list is exceptional in what they do, and it doesn’t matter if you’re 1 or 100—you’re doing it.”
And she’s absolutely right.
Our team spent months deep in research, making sure the list reflects the wide range of Black Americans putting in the work—whether in boardrooms, classrooms, studios, or the streets that raised them.
Now that the list is live, go ahead and dive in. Celebrate the cultural heavyweights like Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar, political powerhouses like Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Kamala Harris, and business titans like Marvin Ellison.
That’s just a taste, though. You’ll have to peep the full Root 100 to see if your faves made the cut.
Because one thing’s for sure: Black excellence is alive, thriving, and unstoppable.
Straight From 
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