A picture is worth 1,000 words, and in the case of two enslaved African Americans, their portraits set off a historic chain of events and ended a 15-year battle over ownership. Renty and Delia were photographed in 1850, making their pictures the oldest believed of any enslaved American in history. Now, their stories are being told the right way.
Harvard University finally settled a 15-year legal battle with Tamara Lanier, an educator who claimed the university was illegally in possession of delicate photos of her enslaved ancestors, according to BBC. Lanier is said to be the great-great-great granddaughter of “Papa” Renty, so when she found out Harvard held the only photo of her ancestor, she had to take action.
The two daguerreotypes– unique, early photos produced on a silver-coated copper plate– were taken in South Carolina, where Renty and his daughter Delia worked as slaves. But although the photos traveled a long way from South Carolina to Harvard University, it’s Renty and Delia’s faces that tell a more horrific account.
Renty– an older man with a short, grey afro and facial hair– stands tall in his portrait. He’s shirtless, emphasizing his bony yet chiseled torso, likely from malnutrition and harsh labor conditions he endured. His face? Stoic, without emotions. But his eyes almost look glossy, like he’s in pain and seen way too much in his short lifetime.
Delia has her father’s eyes. She’s also shirtless, showing off her pronounced collarbone and broad shoulders. Despite her young age, Delia looks mature as she poses in a chair for the photo.
In 2019, Tamara Lanier officially sued Harvard University over the school’s ownership of portraits of her ancestors, Renty (left) and Delia (right).
The images were captured by a Harvard professor for a racist study, according to The Hill. In her complaint against Harvard, Lanier claimed her ancestors did not give their consent to the photoshoot, meaning Harvard’s ownership of the photos was illegal. The portraits were rediscovered at the university in 1975, according to BBC. Lanier wanted Harvard to relinquish ownership of the photos. Now, she finally got her wish.
“I think it’s one of one in American history, because of the combination of unlikely features: to have a case that dates back 175 years, to win control over images dating back that long of enslaved people — that’s never happened before,” attorney Joshua Koskoff told AP News.
The public can finally view Renty and Delia’s portraits. They will be transferred to the International African American Museum in South Carolina, the state where Renty and Delia called home.
“This is a moment in history where the sons and daughters of stolen ancestors can stand with pride and rightfully proclaim a victory for reparations,” Lanier told AP News. “This pilfered property, images taken without dignity or consent and used to promote a racist pseudoscience will now be repatriated to a home where their stories can be told and their humanity can be restored.”
Cardi B. is making a strong case that her soon-to-be ex-husband Offset’s request for spousal support needs to be denied. In fact, she’s blasting the notion completely by revealing to her fans just how much she’s been footing the bill for everything when it comes to their kids–and the truth is jaw-dropping!
As we previously told you, Offset submitted the request last week which sent the internet into a tizzy once the news was made public, even though he didn’t ask for a specific amount. Cardi herself even responded at the time in a Twitter live session the following day after hearing Offset called into “The Breakfast Club” and alleged that the “Bodak Yellow” rapper was trying “to take everything from him” so that’s why he’s seeking the money.
She also said that she wanted him to “die slow” in bed while thinking of her, called him a “b*tch,” “mentally disturbed,” and said that the only thing she’s ever asked him to do was spend time with their children as she’s been footing all of their bills alone for the last year.
Cardi B address Offset asking for spousal support from her in their divorce.😳 pic.twitter.com/vFVgDoNyKo
However, what you might’ve missed in that same Twitter Live session is the complete breakdown Cardi gave when it comes to the monetary responsibilities she’s been covering (with no help from Offset allegedly) when it comes to her kids. And because we know you don’t have time to listen to her whole rant, we’ve picked up the main, high-ticket items she’s been paying for over the last year. Check the break down:
Their home in Atlanta: cost unknown
A Driver for the kids: $10,000/a month
Her daughter, Kulture’s school tuition for the year: $45,000
Her son, Wave’s school tuition: $35,000
Her cousin/babysitter: $3,000/a week
Her nanny: $500/a day
Her kid’s tutoring: $2,000/a week
Kulture’s piano lessons: $900/a week
Kulture’s gymnastics and Wave’s boxing classed: cost unknown
Personal chef: cost unknown
24-hour security for her, her kids: cost unknown
As it stands, given all of these costs, Cardi said that she’s been forking out at least $50,000 a month to keep things going with no help from Offset or anyone else.
Look, I understand she has a level of wealth that us regular folks don’t have but 50 grand month is such an INSANE thing to fathom. The fact that she’s been taking care of all of this without help from her “husband” is astounding in more ways than one. The next time I feel like complaining over $8 eggs, I’mma just be quiet.
As “Sinners” gears up to hit streaming platforms on Tuesday, director Ryan Coogler is addressing fervent social media chatter about a potential sequel. And what he said may come as big surprise.
Talks of a forthcoming second iteration of the film blew up over the weekend after a reputable Hollywood production listing site showed that “Sinners 2” was on the docket. This, in turn sent social media into a frenzy with many buzzing in anticipation over what was to come. However, when that listing found it’s way back to Warner Bros., they shut down the unsubstantiated claims saying in that it simple “isn’t true.”
This claim also caused Coogler’s previous sentiments about a followup to the film to resurface and we hate to break it to some of the diehard fans who were itching for a part two: Coogler isn’t interested.
“I’ve been in a space of making franchise films for a bit, so I wanted to get away from that,” Coogler explained as noted by Variety. “I was looking forward to working on a film that felt original and personal to me and had an appetite for delivering something to audiences that was original and unique.”
He continued: “I wanted the movie to feel like a full meal: your appetizers, starters, entrees and desserts, I wanted all of it there. I wanted it to be a holistic and finished thing. That was how I was asked all about it. That was always my intention.”
And you know what? He has a point. “Sinners” doesn’t need a sequel because it tells a complete story from start to finish. I understand the desire from fans who want to go deeper into that world and get more insight into the lore, but sometimes some things are better left alone. There have been numerous examples of films that where the original was better than the sequel and given the high standard “Sinners” set on its own-God forbid a part two be subpar.
It’s really OK to leave things where they are and for them to end the way they end with no additional continuation or even a backstory. By doing that, you run the risk of muddying what’s already been presented and re-contextualizing it in a way that may not land as good as it did the first time around. Let us enjoy this film for what it is and what it meant to the culture. And more importantly, let’s let Coogler make the art he wants to make without always feeling like he has to stay in that one world forever.
Even with the volcano of sexual assault allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs, he’s not the only disgraced mogul fighting for his life. Harvey Weinstein was shunned from Hollywood after he was handed a 23-year prison sentence for sex crimes. But though Diddy has not been convicted on his charges, it seems Weinstein and him have one sinister thing in common… and yes, it’s worse than you think.
On Friday (May 30), former model Crystal McKinney, was named in an amended lawsuit against Weinstein. She alleged the Hollywood film producer raped her and her friend in 2003. And if her name sounds familiar to you, it’s probably because the same woman sued Combs for the same thing just last year.
McKinney alleged the Bad Boy executive sexually assaulted her during a Men’s Fashion Week event in 2003. That same year, she said Weinstein attacked her and her friend in a hotel in New York City.
The lawsuit against Weinstein was filed back in February using the pseudonym A.P. McKinney, according to Fox News Digital. The filing claimed a modeling company executive set up a meeting to “discuss a potential business opportunity” between the woman and Weinstein. McKinney said she brought her friend — named Jane Doe in the suit — along, but things allegedly took a turn from business into something more traumatic.
During their meeting, Weinstein allegedly “told them that he wanted to get to know both of them better,” the filing said. This led to their meeting being moved from a public lounge to Weinstein’s hotel room. McKinney claimed that’s when the executive “plied the women with alcohol, ordering them bottles of Boulevardier and Dom Perignon, several gimlets for Plaintiff, and vodka cocktails for Jane.”
The woman said Weinstein grabbed her breasts, spilling her drink all over her and forcing her to run to the bathroom. Doe allegedly came to check on her, but the women were interrupted when the now-73-year-old bursted in the room and “exposed himself to the women before entering the [bath]tub,” the complaint read.
McKinney alleged she and her friend were coerced into complying with Weinstein’s alleged requests for them to join him in the tub. “They felt backed into a corner and feared that he would retaliate against them if they refused his sexual advances,” reads the lawsuit.
Weinstein allegedly watched as he “directed” the women to engage in sexual activities with each other. “At some point, Weinstein dragged the intoxicated women out of the tub and into the bedroom,” the complaint stated. “Weinstein, then, pushed Plaintiff onto the bed, and raped her.”
After the alleged assault happened, one of Weinstein’s employees told the two women to leave immediately, according to the suit.
In response to the bombshell filing, Weinstein’s lawyer, Imran H. Ansari, said, “Harvey Weinstein categorically denies the outlandish and fantastical claims made against him by Crystal McKinney in her complaint.” Currently, he’s serving 16 years in a California prison after being convicted of sex crimes in the state, according to the Guardian. This is separate from his 23-year sentence in New York. In 2024, his New York City conviction was overturned and is expected to be retried.
Meanwhile, the trial against Diddy continues. He’s facing racketeering and human trafficking charges. With allegations against Weinstein stealing some spotlight from Diddy, the 73-year-old’s downfall could be a glimpse into Diddy’s future, if convicted.
With a combined estimated net worth of over $400 million, tennis legend Serena Williams and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, could easily give their daughters, Olympia and Adira anything their little hearts desire. But rather than constantly showering their girls with lavish gifts, the couple is doing their best to make sure their kids understand the value of hard work – and the importance of having a good lawyer.
Although Adira, who will celebrate her second birthday in August, is still a little too young for chores, Williams and Ohanian have already started teaching her 7-year-old big sister Olympia that you have to work for the things you want – and they’ve even inked the terms of her weekly allowance in a family contract.
Ohanian shared the news of the deal in an April 24 video post on X, giving a special shout out to her momager Serena who negotiated some pretty good terms on her behalf.
“Yes, Olympia’s got a contract. $7/week allowance—negotiated by her mom (who somehow got her weekends off). Feed the dog, clothes in the hamper, make her bed, get paid. We’re trying to build the muscle: work = reward. Good things come when you work for it,” he tagged the post.
In the video, Ohanian explained that although he and his uber-famous wife are multimillionaires now, that wasn’t always the case, which is why it’s so important to them to make sure their kids stay grounded.
Yes, Olympia’s got a contract. $7/week allowance—negotiated by her mom (who somehow got her weekends off).
Feed the dog, clothes in the hamper, make her bed, get paid.
We’re trying to build the muscle: work = reward. Good things come when you work for it. pic.twitter.com/J4MWgbDEQ9
“Neither Serena nor I grew up with wealth, so we’re both trying to navigate how to create the circumstances for her to be able to be a functional adult while also having the resources that we couldn’t have imagined,” he said.
Ohanian shared that Olympia got one of her first lessons in what it’s like to have to wait for pay day when she was trying to save for a $125 Tamagotchi watch.
“I need her to feel that little bit of pain of like, ‘Ugh, I gotta wait two more weeks for that paycheck and then start to remember that “because I do this work, I get this money,’” he said.
June is Pride Month, a time to honor the impact the LGBTQ+ community has had on our culture throughout history. Although it’s been over 50 years since the Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969, there’s still lots of work to on the road to equality and understanding – particularly when it comes to literature.
Books with LGBTQ+ themes are the most frequent targets of book challenges. According to the American Library Association’s list of “Most Challenged Books,” seven of the 13 most frequent targets were challenged for having LGBTQ+ content, making it more important than ever to make sure we continue to read and share their work as widely as possible.
Here are some of the books that should be on your reading list this Pride Month.
“All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto” by George M. Johnson
Amazon.com
The New York Times Bestseller, “All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto,” was one of the most talked-about books of 2020and the target of many banned books lists around the country. The collection of deeply personal essays explores everything good and bad about Johnson’s experience growing up as a Black queer boy.
“The Prophets” by Robert Jones, Jr.
Amazon.com
Fans of historical fiction will love “The Prophets,” Robert Jones, Jr.’s beautiful bestselling debut novel that centers around two young men whose love helps them deal with the pain of slavery – until a fellow slave, trying to gain favor with the slave master, exposes their romantic relationship and turns the community against them.
“Sister Outsider” by Audre Lorde
Amazon.com
“Sister Outsider” is a collection of some of the most essential essays and speeches by writer and activist Audre Lorde. Originally published in 1984, Lorde reflects on the intersectionality of race, sex, sexual identity and class in a way that challenges people to use differences as catalyst for change rather than a way to create division.
“Giovanni’s Room” by James Baldwin
Amazon.com
James Baldwin’s “Giovanni’s Room” is a beautifully written novel set in 1950s Paris that should be on everyone’s required reading list. David, an American man meets and proposes to a young woman, but finds himself involved in an affair with a male Italian bartender. You’ll find yourself drawn into the story as David struggles with his sexual identity while navigating the two relationships.
“My Government Means to Kill Me” by Rasheed Newson
Amazon.com
From the writer-producer of hit television series, “The Chi” “Bel-Air” and “Narcos” comes “My Government Means to Kill Me,” a novel that centers around Earl “Trey” Singleton III, a young man from a wealthy Indianapolis family who comes to New York in the 1980s seeking independence from his overprotective parents. But volunteering at a home hospice for AIDS patients he sees firsthand the impact on marginalized communities – something that gives him a new perspective on life.
“Coffee Will Make You Black” by April Sinclair
Amazon.com
April Sinclair’s “Coffee Will Make You Black” is the story of a young black woman growing up on the south side of Chicago during the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. After Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination, she struggles to find confidence in her race and her sexuality.
“These Heathens” by Mia McKenzie
Amazon.com
Set in the 1960s South,“These Heathens” follows Doris Steele, a teenager who leaves her small Georgia town for a weekend in Atlanta to have an abortion after her teacher, Mrs. Lucas, and her best friend Sylvia agree to help her find a doctor. While there, Mrs. Lucas and Sylvia expose her to people who would raise eyebrows in her town, but who seem completely comfortable in their own skin – something makes Doris question what she really wants out of life.
“The Gilda Stories” by Jewelle Gomez
Amazon.com
In “The Gilda Stories,” Jewelle Gomez takes you into the world of a black lesbian vampire. Gilda escaped from slavery in the 1850s and has been looking for friendship and community for over 200 years. When she joins a family of benevolent vampires, she finds herself on an adventurous and dangerous journey full of loud laughter and subtle terror.
“Lot” by Bryan Washington
Amazon.com
“Lot,” Bryan Washington’s debut collection of short stories received lots of notoriety. It was a New York Times Notable Book of 2019 and one of Barack Obama’s “Favorite Books of the Year.” The stories are written from the perspective of the son of a Black mother and Latino father growing up in Houston. He struggles to find his identity while keeping the rest of his family from learning the truth about his sexuality.
“The Death of Vivek Oji” by Akwaeke Emezi
Amazon.com
“The Death of Vivek Oji” is a 2021 Stonewall Book Award-winning novel about family and friendship which centers around the life and death of a young Nigerian man who struggles to find acceptance while growing up in a culture that does not accept him.
“The Black Flamingo” by Dean Atta
Amazon.com
Stonewall Book Award Winner, “The Black Flamingo” was voted by Time Magazine as a Best YA Book Of All Time. The book tells the story of a young boy finding his way as a mixed-race gay teen in London. While trying to find where he fits in, he discovers the Drag Society and finds the place where he can be free to be The Black Flamingo.
“Cinderella is Dead” by Kalynn Bayron
Amazon.com
“Cinderella Is Dead” takes a modern twist on the classic fairy tale, giving you all of the romance without the sexism. As a young girl goes up against a patriarchal system, she turns the idea of happily ever after on its head. Shelf Awareness Pro called this novel “A queer dystopian fantasy that questions written history and societal expectations.”
“Rainbow Milk” by Paul Mendez
Amazon.com
“Rainbow Milk” is a novel which follows a young man, struggling with both his racial and sexual identity, who comes to London to find freedom from his family and his restrictive Jehovah’s Witness upbringing.
“Every Body Looking” by Candice Iloh
Amazon.com
In Candice Iloh’s novel, “Every Body Looking,” Ada is leaving home for the first time for her freshman year at a Historically Black College. While she’s getting used to her newfound freedom, she finds dance and begins exploring her sexuality. But as she begins to struggle with issues from her past, Ada will have to decide to ultimately take control of her life.
Popular streamer DDG is back in the headlines, but this time, it has nothing to do with his sour relationship with Halle Bailey — it has everything to do with another member of his family and some legal action just might be coming as a result. We’ll explain.
Over the weekend, gamers, celebs and fans all converged to Houston over the weekend to attend the annual DreamCon event. While the event mostly went off without a hitch, things hit a snag for DDG when an male attendee walked by and insulted him, calling him “Doo Doo Garbage,” a popular play on his name that’s recently picked up on social media.
Upon hearing it, DDG’s brother DuB and his cameraman began fighting the man, exchanging jabs in the middle of the event to much commotion. See the fallout below.
Full video of the Fight involving DDGs brother Dub & a hater at Dream Con just came out 👀 pic.twitter.com/gIHpwCOhXq
The video subsequently went viral online with many pointing to the streamer’s hostile circle and the altercation as another mark against him in the ongoing custody battle he’s going through with the aforementioned Bailey. Others felt like the incident was a stain on the event. In the aftermath, a man who appears to be the same one who verbally accosted DDG spoke out in a separate video, giving his POV about what happened.
“[We] see DDG walking by, and it’s whatever. I heard about DDG before, I heard the name, I heard the term ‘Doo Doo Garbage.’ I’m thinking it’d be funny, just a little joke,” the man explained. “So I call him ‘Doo Doo Garbage’ from around the way. His homeboys stop, come back, his brother DuB tries to press me about what I said. ‘What you say?’ ‘Doo Doo Garbage.’ Pushed the shit out of me.”
The man also said that he was consequently banned from that event and isn’t sure if he’ll be able to attend next year. He also threatened to take legal action against DDG and/or his brother over what transpired.
And while the online chatter both online and from the man involved appear to be something serious, according to DDG himself–it may have all been just for clicks. In a followup stream that showed him exchanging pleasantries with fellow popular streamer Kai Cenat at DreamCon, DDG downplayed what happened and told Cenat that the ordeal was all a skit.
“Why you out here fighting?” Cenat asked.
“We ain’t fighting, it was a skit,” DDG said before changing the topic of the conversation.
As that clip began circulating online, it apparently got back to man who was involved and he pushed back on the narrative, saying that it wasn’t a skit.
Additionally, DDG’s brother also responded in a later stream to the man saying he was looking at taking legal action against him.
“You cannot sue nobody for trying to fight me and be–he was a b*tch. Like you try to fight me and you was a b*tch. And it didn’t go the way your brain thought it was gon’ go. And y’all was six deep, shut yo b*tch ass up,” he said. “Boy if that nigga try to sue, I’ma tear his ass up in court.”
What the mayor wants to do are needed in the City. But the mayor should not call them reparations because they are not.
The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre killed at least 300 people, injured over 800 and reduced one of the most prosperous Black neighborhoods in America to smoldering ash. Monroe Nichols, the first Black mayor of Tulsa, recently announced a project named Road to Repair that he hopes will make a dent in the enduring disparities caused by the massacre. Let’s talk about what he is trying to do…and why it is not enough.
The mayor announced that he was opening a $105 million charitable trust that is to be used for housing, scholarships, land acquisition and economic development for north Tulsans. The trust will be made up of private money that will be raised over the next year.
Today, we turn a page in Tulsa's history.
For 104 years, the Tulsa Race Massacre has left a wound on the very soul of our city – hampering progress, opportunity, and hope. And while we can't undo the past, we can seek righteousness in this moment. That's why earlier today, I… pic.twitter.com/g4OrQekrus
— Mayor Monroe Nichols (@monroefortulsa) June 1, 2025
To be sure, something needs to be done for Black people who live in Tulsa. The city is one of the most segregated in the country, and it has a crime rate so high that is has become a fixture on the A&E show The First 48.
Much of this stems from the aftermath of the massacre. The Greenwood district, and North Tulsa as a whole, was a thriving neighborhood filled with Black owned businesses, homes and schools. Black people who lived in there were enjoying the proceeds of the oil that was found nearby. But all that was destroyed in two days when, what a federal report called “a coordinated, military-style attack” not the work of an uncontrolled mob descended on the city. This brings us to why this is insufficient.
Our museum collects materials to help fill the silences in our nation’s memory around events such as the Tulsa Race Massacre and its reverberations, preserving and sharing stories of Black communities in Oklahoma, centering the testimonies of survivors and their descendants. pic.twitter.com/drpocOuJT8
For decades survivors and descendants of Greenwood residents have demanded that something be done about what happened to them. In 2021, the city FINALLY apologized for its role in the massacre. And he last two known survivors, Lessie Benningfield Randle and Viola Ford Fletcher, tried to get reparations through the courts, but the Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed their case last June.
Today the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down the case of the Tulsa Race Massacre survivors who had filed for reparations. This is what one of the survivors told me just before they made this final appeal. pic.twitter.com/Zn1g9AEg6p
So, this is the mayor’s attempt to address the city’s biggest sin. But this is ain’t it.
The survivors, the actual people who are still living with scars they received at the hands of evil white folks who destroyed Greenwood, get no money. Nothing. Nor will they get land or homes to make up for what they lost in the attack. The survivors are well into the twilight of their lives, and they deserve top notch medical care. That is the least that the city could provide for free, but this plan would not address that either. What the mayor announced are things that Black people need in that city, but they are not what he claims they are.
Reparations are supposed to make amends for wrongs that were committed. The way this is usually done is through financial payments and other forms of assistance to those who have been wronged. This is not that.
These are vague attempts to make the city better using the word reparations. Scholarships and land investments are needed, but will they make right the wrong that was done to the Black people of Greenwood? Or are these merely things that will make white people feel better about what happened without really forcing them to address what happened in the Summer of 1921?
These are not reparations. The survivors and Black people of Tulsa deserve better than this.
In the first public appearance after being pardoned by President Donald Trump, reality television star Todd Chrisley got real about what he experienced behind bars. As a rich white man, it’s no secret Chrisley likely has privileges most folks don’t– especially Black folks.
According to him, this was extra apparent when he went to prison.
“I have met some wonderful men. I have listened to some horrific stories about things that have gone on in our system,” Chrisley said during a Friday (May 30) news conference. “Being in the prison system, anyone that says that it’s a fair shake — it’s not… I dealt with young African-American males in the prison that I was in that were not treated the same.”
The “Chrisley Knows Best” star continued saying Black inmates “were denied programming. They were denied access to certain things.” He added, “I was not denied that, but we know why I wasn’t denied that.” Many saw Chrisley’s remarks as proof he’s using his privilege for good, advocating for Black men.
You know what … hell yeah. As many black people online happy for him he better use his voice to speak out for the black men behind them bars https://t.co/ggBLFn57jR
“You know what … hell yeah,” @magictouchmamii wrote. “He better use his voice to speak out for the black men behind them bars.” Chrisley and his wife, Julie, were pardoned by Trump after being convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion in 2022, according to PEOPLE.
@The_Jermaine added, “Todd a real one. Who knew?” But while some Black folks were giving the TV star props for using his platform correctly, others saw it as performative. In fact, Black users on X called out other Black Americans for praising Chrisley for doing the bare minimum.
You know what … hell yeah. As many black people online happy for him he better use his voice to speak out for the black men behind them bars https://t.co/ggBLFn57jR
“He’s right, but I’m not applauding him for saying this like other black folk are.” @EasyE124 said. Black activists have been pushing the need for prison reform for generations. Folks like former Black Panther leader Angela Davis and the executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, Bryan Stevenson, focused their careers on fighting for change within the American prison system… but when a white man finally does it, he’s the one that makes headlines.
“This is the guilt of a yt man that’s trying to correct his wrongs by being a yt savior to blk people,” @clarinetpro87 claimed. “There is a long list of black activists that do prison reform work but don’t get the credit.”
“A black man says this, and he’s an ashy hotep that makes excuses. A white man says this, and y’all sending cookout invites,” @i_am_arlandf tweeted. “Y’all are still slaves.”
You easy negros. This is the guilt of a yt man that’s trying to correct his wrongs by being a yt savior to blk people. There is a long list of black activists that do prison reform work but don’t get the credit. Todd & Julie should be in prison. https://t.co/dH3x9E16Ih
Another user, @NitaDear, said people are “so easily impressed by human beings having human decency.” @Chirleeee even noted that Chrisley’s “got a mixed race granddaughter so I would hope he has a basic amount of empathy towards those who don’t look like him.”
@yeezy_rondo said Chrisley simply speaking up about the clear injustices isn’t enough. “Instead of applauding simple advocacy lets applaud actual ACTIONS towards these issues,” he wrote.
Chrisley continued the conference saying the unbalanced treatment of Black men in prison should start a greater conversation. “I think that that is a much bigger picture that we all as a society as a whole need to look at: that we are one,” he said.
Accidents happen. Mistakes happen. Life happens. But there’s a difference between handling things that’s out of one’s control and totally dropping the ball — but that’s exactly what organizers of this year’s Roots Picnic did in Philadelphia.
The first day of Roots Picnic 2025 was nothing short of a disaster. The annual two-day music festival (now in its 18th year in Philly) was impacted by rain delays that’s typical. However, the level of incompetence, poor communication, and lack of reliable hospitality to its thousands of attendees made countless people on the internet refer to it as the “Philly Fyre Festival.”
To make matters worse, this event isn’t cheap. During a time when prices are going up and quality isn’t necessarily improving nationally (unless you’re going to see Beyoncé on tour), expectations for the Roots Picnic to deliver was an understatement. A one-day General Admissions pass is $125, a 2-Day VIP Silver pass is $799, and a 2-Day VIP Gold pass is $1,399. When you’re charging people that much money for an event that’s taking place rain or shine, things gotta be on point.
As a 2-Day VIP Silver pass holder, it was anything but that for me. For starters, it was clear the organizers chose a venue that they weren’t fully prepared to adjust for the weather. Rather than communicate that upfront, attendees such as myself, were waiting in lines for over three hours as they constantly pushed back the timing of when gates opened. I arrived on the ground around 2 pm and didn’t enter until roughly 7 pm.
#RootsPicnic is officially the Philadelphia Fyre Festival.
Still in line…I got a VIP pass and it's 5 pm.
Someone has already gotten arrested and escorted out.
I've gone through rain, winds, and now sunshine for hours…incompetence is an understatement.
During that entire time, the “VIP” line was pretty much another crowded General Admissions line where folks just simply rushed towards the front without much staff assistance or security helping to steer the lines. People were getting arrested for publicly urinating during the long wait, some attendees had medical emergencies, communication was very few and far in-between. There were no water and snacks provided or even accessible restrooms available to accommodate the hundreds who braved through various temporary monsoons of rain, wind, and chills. There were tense moments that led to confrontations, loud frustration, and some threats of people plotting an insurrection on the festival like it was January 6.
It’s one thing to blame mother nature and another thing to simply lack the compassion, decency, and hospitality to treat people who spent their hard money for an experience that was more than lackluster. Once I arrived (5 hours later), my “VIP” experience was a flop. A mostly uncovered section of mulch with one main private food vendor who had a line bigger than the various General Admission sections around me.
Mud was everywhere and the wait had a lot of people looking rightfully agitated and disgruntled. Someone near me called the messy scene a “Black Woodstock” – I called it “Hoodstock.” A lot of us had to laugh to keep from crying at how disorganized the whole thing was. It wasn’t until Sunday morning (Day 2 of Roots Picnic) that organizers had up a formal “apology” for the day before.
But still, it’s not about the what…it’s the how. Anyone who’s gone to a live event understands how rain works. However, rain was on the forecast for days in Philly and the lack of communication and foresight involved – while charging people all that damn money is ridiculous.
Either way, I decided to reclaim my peace and not go for Day 2. Fool me once…and never again.
Last week, on May 23rd, Jean Renee Byrd was on her way to see her daughter walk across the stage at her high school graduation, but collapsed just 200 feet from making it inside the school, wrote her family in a GoFundMe campaign.
Byrd’s passing came as a shock to her family, who had just celebrated her youngest son’s graduation ceremony from middle school three days prior, per the GoFundMe campaign.
According to WXII, a television station based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Marquan Matthews, Byrd’s son, who is also the creator of the GoFundMe campaign, was already inside the ceremony and rushed out to perform CPR on his mother until the paramedics arrived.
Jean Byrd had a “constant battle with heart issues, dealing with 2 previous heart attacks, which made her a fighter,” wrote Matthews in the GoFundMe description.
Byrd’s daughter, Meilean Byrd, was walking across the stage as Matthews performed CPR on their mother. “I thought it was like a car accident, so I wasn’t really scared,” Meilean said through tears, according to PEOPLE.
A guidance counsellor was waiting to escort her to the hospital as she returned to her seat, per WXII.
“We never thought that on this day, a day filled of joy, would be the worst day of our lives. As my sister was graduating high school, our mother is lying on the ground fighting for her life,” Matthews wrote in the description of the GoFundMe campaign.
To respect their mother’s wishes, her children are using the GoFundMe campaign to raise the money to bury their mom in Philadelphia with her family and other family members.
“Many lives were positively impacted by the love and resilience of our mother,” Matthew wrote in the campaign description. “Mommy, we love, I’m lost without you, and I pray you give me the guidance you did once on this earth to make you proud. Rest in paradise, my beautiful lady.”
At the time of this article, 73 percent of the $35K target has been raised for the burial service.
Patti LuPone felt the swift backlash online after she shaded fellow Broadway vets Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis in an interview. After being canceled left and right, LuPone broke her silence with an apology, addressing her unnecessary and unprovoked comments. But now, folks online say it’s a little too late.
For context, LuPone sat down with The New Yorker, reflecting on her ill-feelings towards both women. After calling Lewis a “b*tch” and saying McDonald was “not a friend,” over 600 Broadway community members slammed the Tony winner’s “misogynistic” and “bullying” toward her fellow performers.
“For as long as I have worked in the theatre, I have spoken my mind and never apologized. That is changing today,” she began in her post. “I regret my flippant and emotional responses during this interview, which were inappropriate, and I am devastated that my behavior has offended others and has run counter to what we hold dear in this community.” She added how she “hopes to have the chance to speak to Audra and Kecia personally to offer my sincere apologies.”
The “Gypsy” star also wrote how “deeply sorry” she was for using “demeaning and disrespectful words,” particularly toward Lewis. “She calls herself a veteran? Let’s find out how many Broadway shows Kecia Lewis has done, because she doesn’t know what the f*ck she’s talking about,” she scoffed in her feature. “She’s done seven. I’ve done 31. Don’t call yourself a vet, b*tch!”
She also addressed the open letter that circulated on social media and was sent to various news organizations, organized by a group called Theater for Change, demanding “accountability, justice, and respect.” LuPone admitted how she “wholeheartedly agree with everything that was written in the open letter shared yesterday. From middle school drama clubs to professional stages, theatre has always been about lifting each other up and welcoming those who feel they don’t belong anywhere else. I made a mistake, I take full responsibility for it, and I am committed to making this right. Our entire theatre community deserves better.”
Folks took to X and TikTok to voice their disdain for the actress’ unacceptable behavior.
“The apology just reeks of PR interference,” one person wrote, while a second person said “F*@k her she’s not sorry…she just felt the backlash.” A third person wrote “too little too late. This will be her legacy,” as a fourth TikToker described how it “Didn’t take her long to realize she ain’t as big as she thought.”
Even white folks under her Instagram post wasn’t buying it.
“hey fellow white ppl this is not our apology to accept!!! idk why yall are in here saying “we forgive you thank you patti🥹” this apology is not for us!! period the end!!,” one white person said. Others actually accepted her apology and praised her for taking accountability. Supportive comments included: “That’s My Patti. I knew you would want to make it right when seeing it through a different lens!,” “It’s a great apology imho – she takes full responsibility, acknowledges the harm of her actions, and promises to do better. Hope more celebs take notes,” and “Glad she made an apology statement and (at least claims to) acknowledged the harm of her words.”
Patti LuPone shows that if you’re a white theatre icon with a gay fanbase, lots of people will excuse your misogyny and racism away as being catty diva like no you’re actually just petty and racist
LuPone, known for playing bold, resilient women in musical theater, began her career in 1972. She has received numerous accolades, including three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, two Grammy Awards, plus two Emmy Award nominations. She was inducted to the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2006.
The American leg of the Cowboy Carter Tour is over, but the internet still can’t get enough of Rumi Carter. In fact, Beyoncé’s youngest daughter has been cracking everybody up since her very first adorable appearance on the Cowboy Carter Tour, and just when you thought the cutie couldn’t get any funnier, there is this resurfaced video.
A recent TikTok post with a unique angle of Rumi entering the stage has everyone talking and laughing. The angle provides a perfect view of back stage, including white-clad little Rumi, her nanny and a view of the giant crowd of fans in the background. The video is particularly interesting because Rumi had been spicing up her entrance during the NJ/NY post…dipping her cowboy hat to the crowd, and throwing it backstage before she joined her mom and sister.
However, on the May 28th New Jersey show, Rumi did her entrance, but it didn’t go as smoothly as it had been, at least not for her nanny. The perfectly-angled clip, which has been circulating on TikTok, shows Rumi’s nanny scrambling to catch the hat after Rumi threw it a bit too hard, and folks can’t stop cheesin’ at it.
“Lmao this lady prob has a whole PHD in childcare or something to get this job and Rumi got her catching hats,” wrote one TikTok user.
In the clip, you can see Rumi do a double-take to watch the hat fly much further than she intended, and her nanny, unable to catch the hat, sits back at her post as the hat flops on the ground away from her.
The moment that really sparked comment was when Rumi watched as the nanny struggled to catch the hat. Some folks on TikTok think that Rumi was wondering how her nanny didn’t catch that hat.
“Rumi,” wrote one user with laughing emojis, “why she fling it so hard and kept looking back like how you ain’t catch that. The Carters are comedy!!!”
“If they don’t give this lady a raise,” wrote another user.
Some users are calling for the nanny to speak up about what it’s like working with Rumi.
“I need this woman’s side on the documentary,” wrote one user.
Rumi has just about everybody in stitches, and her moments on stage have quickly managed to become one of the most anticipated stage appearances of the show.
As one TikTok user wrote in the comments, “They need to just rename the tour “Rumi Carter Tour!” My internet niece has taken over the show!”
The internet is mourning the passing of Brian McKnight‘s estranged son Niko after a brave fight with cancer. After Claude McKnight, Niko’s uncle and Brian’s brother, announced Niko’s death in a May 29 TikTok, folks online dragged the “Back at One” singer to hell and back for his alleged neglect from his late son’s life. The father and son’s reported estrangement is an unspeakable tragedy all around for many reasons. Now, let’s learn from the fallout of their family.
Niko, who was only 32 years old, was a musician and photographer. His uncle Claude described him as “one of those amazing kids who was quirky and curious and ridiculously talented.”
Fans had been following Niko’s health journey since he shared his cancer diagnosis on Instagram in January 2024, captioning his post, “your boy got the big C • it’s beeen one hell of a ride so far but things are looking better now than they were before so cheers to that.”
I’m devastated at my nephews passing. If you comment please do do in love, and NOT at what you may have heard about the relationship my brother had/has with his kids. Thank you 🙏🏾 #nephew#cancersucks#rip#love#family
It’s been no secret that Brian McKnight had a falling out with his former wife Julie and how that disagreement extended down to their children.
In 2024, he went so far as to call his children by her “products of sin.” This is a 180 degree turn from how he talk about his kids when they were younger. He even wrote a song entitled “Niko’s Lullaby” on his second album “I Remember You”dedicated to the son that just passed away.
McKnight only acknowledging his kids with his current wife, and accepting her children as his own while seemingly turning his back on his biological children made the Black community scorn the singer. Some outright calling him a deadbeat dad.
Here’s three things Black men can learn about fatherhood to help keep the family together.
Don’t Let Anger Keep You From Your Children
Despite his smiling Instagram reels, Brian McKnight is seemingly holding a great deal of anger. We do not know what he’s angry about, but the fact remains that he allowed his anger to keep him away from Niko.
Black men, never let anger keep you from having a relationship with your children. Whether you are angry with their mother or with them, you need to understand that life is unpredictable. You never know what the day holds. You may think you have time to fix things with them, but tomorrow is not promised.
Older folks used to say, “Don’t sleep with anger.” They were on to something.
Don’t Leave Misunderstandings Unresolved
When Niko died, there must have been things that Brian wanted to resolve with his son. He will never again get that chance. The lesson here is simple, but profound. Something that is so simple it is almost embarrassing to write: Black men do not leave things unresolved with your children.
You may have had a falling out with their mother. But those kids are still yours.
Look, you don’t have to like everything that they do. You may tell them something clearly, and then they do the exact opposite. Let’s just be honest. Kids can be frustrating. But that does NOT mean you should let anything get in the way of you showing how much you love and support them.
You should never (ever) let anything stop you from showing unconditional love to you kids. Black kids are being raised in a world that tells them they are not good enough. It teaches them to hate their skin and the hair that grows naturally out of their heads. They should find in you love, warmth and acceptance. They should know that the world may hate them, but they can find safety in your arms.
Black men, learn from the mistakes of Brian McKnight. Vow never to repeat them. You do not want to leave anything unsaid when it comes to your kids. They should know every day that they love them deeply… even if you don’t love everything they do.
As Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial continues to play out in court, his charges has prompted many folks online to give their two cents on the matter. The latest voice, however, was none other than President Donald J. Trump. And what he said might either enrage you or enthuse you.
Combs is currently on trial in New York City where he’s facing allegations of racketeering, transportation to engage in prostitution, and sex trafficking. If convicted, he could receive the max sentence of life in prison. But if the Bad Boy Records’ founder does find himself behind bars, he may have a chance to be pardoned all together— that is, if Trump decides to pardon him. Calls for the president to step in and help Diddy shirk his consequences have grown louder on social media for months on end and now the Commander-in-Chief is weighing in on it himself.
Speaking to a group of reporters on Friday, that notion was floated by the president while speaking in the Oval Office. While he didn’t come outright and give the suggestion an immediate yes or no, he did mention that he was aware people were talking about him potentially getting involved and that he would consider it.
“I would certainly look at the facts if I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me,” he said, per Deadline. “It wouldn’t have any impact on me.”
He would later go on to say that he wasn’t too much on top of what’s been going on with Diddy’s case, though he’d seen the extensive coverage and could look into it. He also noted that he and Diddy used to be friends way back when, but his political goals more than likely severed the ties they had.
“I’d look at what’s happening, and I haven’t been watching it too closely, although it’s certainly getting a lot of coverage,” Trump said. “I haven’t seen him. I haven’t seen him. I haven’t spoken to him in years. He used to really like me a lot, but I think when I ran for politics, sort of that relationship busted up.”
As prom season comes to an end, we are highlighting some of our favorite — and outrageous — prom looks that were a real showstopper. From the bold looks to the cosplay of the Disney characters, we couldn’t get enough of it.
Tied Up In Avant Garde
IG: shelbypd..moments
Channeling The Met Gala, this handsome prom goer looked amazing wearing an assortment of cream color ties that were sewn together to create a beautiful cape jacket almost mimicking wings. He paired it with a studded tie that is as long as the line to get on a ride at an amusement park. Absolutely stunning!
Princess and The Frog
Screenshot| IG:slayedpromss
Fulfilling every Disney lover dreams, this young lady celebrated her prom in character and style.
Enchanted Castle
Screenshot | TikTok: @pep_ent
This prom sendoff looked absolutely magical as this beautiful young woman created an enchanted castle for family and friends before her final dance.
Beauty & The Beast
Screenshot| IG: @laylow_camilo
Speaking of an animated fantasy, Beauty and The Beast never looked this good for a prom sendoff.
Hotter Than A Prom Send Off
Screenshot | IG: @thereallaii
This young couple pulled up to their senior prom in a shiny… fire truck? Guess they wanted to make sure that they arrived, they were going to set the building on fire.
We Are Going To Need Security
Screenshot | IG:@_rome4x
This senior pulled out all the stops with his custom made ombre green suit with the matching Louis Vuitton duffle bags. In the viral video, he was escorted by security to his private stage to show off his prom look to friends and family in the neighborhood.
Snow Global Send-Off
Screenshot | TikTok: @dameonharris0
This beautiful senior made her big reveal in an inflatable snow globe showing her her gorgeous white sparkly gown. This send off brought the whole neighborhood out.
Phantom Of The Prom
Screenshot | @Instagram
We have seen some over the top looks, but nothing could compare to the bedazzled mask this young man was spotted rocking.
Blanket of Flowers
Screenshot: Instagram
Instead of bringing a corsage for his date, he decided to wear them on a satin cape to match her dress. The level of creativity for their prom arrival had no limits.
Elegant Block Party
Screenshot | TikTok: _alejandrodario
This pair pulled out all the tops with their over-the-top decor!
The Ultimate PROM-ise
Screenshot
This couple went viral with the most sweetest promise to attend the high school ceremony together. Drones, flashy outfits, and a gorgeous bouquet of roses sealed the deal for the ultimate prom arrival.
Comedian Jess Hilarious is no stranger to making waves on social media, but the latest one might have been a bridge too far based of how users are reacting. But sadly, it doesn’t look like she’s too phased by the chatter. Let’s break it down.
You see, things all started during a recent episode of “The Breakfast Club” where she and fellow cohosts DJ Envy and Charlamagne tha God were there chatting with social media star Lynae Vanee. While the conversation was going pretty well, things took a turn when out of nowhere, Jess decided to tell Vanee that “only women could have babies.” An understandably confused guest, Vanee countered that there were other people who could have babies, they just may not identify as a woman.
If you’re confused here, Vanee was basically saying that anyone with a uterus–regardless of how they identify–can give birth to a child. Despite the initial hiccup, that point seemed to be one that both she and Jess agreed on before they moved on to the next topic. Unfortunately for Jess, it didn’t take too long for her comments to hit the internet and for immediate criticism to ensue, with many labeling what she said as transphobic.
“Jess hilarious is such a transphobe.. like live your fucking life and stop being so triggered and unprovoked. That’s why mfs be playing with in your face. Like she is actually ridiculous… #TheBreakfastClub,” wrote one user on X/Twitter.
Jess hilarious is such a transphobe.. like live your fucking life and stop being so triggered and unprovoked. That’s why mfs be playing with in your face. Like she is actually ridiculous… #TheBreakfastClub
“This is how Jess makes me feel. Every time she opens her mouth it’s some unfunny ignorant shit. She really brought up trans people unprovoked with a creator who is concerned about the fundamental well being of all black people & thought it would fly,” wrote one other user.
Added another, “Jess Hilarious is so obsessed with trans people. Why is she shoehorning us into conversations that had nothing to do with us? Just so she can take her little shots? And she STILL got checked! I bet it burns her up inside every time she gets misgendered.”
In yet another unfortunate twist though, it looks like Jess isn’t letting the negativity phase her as evidenced by a post she made to her Instagram recently. Showing off throwback pictures of her when she was pregnant months ago, Jess captioned the post: “My uterus is my superpower! Signed, a woman.”
And while people on X/Twitter were more anti-Jess, the comments sections on her Instagram post were more supportive of her message.
“I’m apart of the gay community and I stand with Jess all the way, she’s completely right,” wrote one user.
“Why are we even having a conversation over who can give birth and who can’t …. Only women, born women can have children period,” said one other user.
Added another, “A woman born female that can have a baby. I man could never. I don’t care what y’all identify as. I stand with Jessica Robin Moore.”
New Orleans Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson has been accused of rape in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles by a woman who claims to be his ex-girlfriend.
The complaint, issued on Thursday, May 29, alleges that the 2019 No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick assaulted the woman twice in September and October of 2020. According to the lawsuit, Williamson and the woman, identified as Jane Doe, were in a relationship that lasted from 2018 to 2023.
The law firm that represents the Duke product, Freeman and Sarver LLC, denied the allegations in a statement issued on behalf of Williamson.
“We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them,” the statement said. “The allegations contained in the complaint are categorically false and reckless. This is the plaintiff’s third set of attorneys. This appears to be an attempt to exploit a professional athlete driven by a financial motive rather than any legitimate grievance.”
The first alleged incident of sexual assault took place at Williamson’s Beverly Hills home. The plaintiff claims that the Pelicans forward said, “she could not go to sleep without having sex with him.” Upon her saying no, she claims Williamson raped her.
During the second alleged assault in October, Jane Doe says that Williamson became enraged when she was considering going to see a friend in San Diego which led him to throwing her on the ground before pinning her shoulders to the floor and taking advantage of the woman.
The lawsuit also accuses Williamson of continuing “abuse, rape, assault and batter” against the woman until the relationship ended in 2023. However, Williamson’s representatives claim he and Jane Doe “never dated.”
“Mr Williamson and the plaintiff never dated, but did maintain a consensual, casual relationship that began more than six years ago, when he was 18 years old,” the statement said. “That relationship ended years ago. At no point during or immediately after that relationship did the plaintiff raise any concerns. Only after the friendship ended did she begin demanding millions of dollars.”
With Williamson making headlines throughout recent years for his public relationships and missing more games than he has played, some on social media are suggesting this could be the final blow to his reputation and playing career.
TikTok user @ronknowssports even said, “Zion Williamson just went from disappointing player to disappointing human.”
Breaking: Zion Williamson is being accused of sexual abuse including rape in a civil complaint. The plaintiff, identified as only Jane Doe from Seattle, says Williamson committed “sexual, physical, emotional, and financial” abuse against her during their relationship. #zion#zionwilliamson#nba
His ex-girlfriend Moriah Mills, who some speculate could be the accuser, also had some words for Williamson on TikTok. Mills and Williamson’s past romantic relationship drew public attention, particularly due to Mills’ status as a known adult film actress.
Williamson plans to file a counter lawsuit and seek damages for what his attorneys say is Jane Doe’s “defamatory lawsuit.” The Pelicans have yet to respond with a comment on Williamson’s allegations.
We like to think that our favorite bands will always be best of friends until the end of time. But R&B singer Omarion just dropped some bad news for all the millennial women who are still obsessed with B2K.
The R&B boy band from the 2000s is made up of members Omarion, Raz B, Lil’ Fizz and J-Boog. At one point and time, B2K practically ran the R&B world. With hits like “Girlfriend” and “Bump, Bump, Bump,” the chemistry between the four members was undeniable.
So when they reunited for a recent stop on the Millennium Tour, fans expected them to show up and out… and they did!
“Y’all give it up for B2K tonight…These are my boys for life,” Omarion said on stage before Raz-B added, “You already know we got your back.” This wasn’t the first time B2K reunited on stage. In fact, the quartet has made several appearances over the years. Despite this, Omarion revealed they aren’t as close as folks may think.
He told TMZ getting the band back together for a reunion performance was “simply a natural thing,” but that doesn’t mean the guys are close friends. It’s no secret B2K has had their ups and downs over the years. Let’s not forget when tensions rose after Omarion claimed the other members were throwing shots at him for losing his Verzuz battle against Mario. This led to Omarion even calling his ex-bandmates “backup dancers” in a now deleted Instagram post.
Fans know the beef between the group goes back decades. They initially split around 2004, inciting management issues and internal conflicts. So maybe it’s not shocking things are still weird between the four guys.
Omarion has been outspoken about feeling like an outside compared to the rest of the group. He previously told TMZ him joining B2K was always a point of contention because he was the last member.
As long as B2K continues to perform, then maybe hope is still alive for fans of the singing sensation. But in the meantime, Omarion clearly isn’t making any promises.
You wouldn’t think of a horror movie would spread Black joy. But “Sinners” is not just any horror movie.
You’ve seen it. (And if you haven’t, what are you doing? Stop reading this and go straight to the movie theater.) The film takes place in Clarksdale, Mississippi, but people who call that city home were not even able to watch it. There are no movie theaters in Clarksdale, so anyone who wanted to watch it would have had to drive either to Southaven, MS or Memphis, TN—both over an hour away.
In Clarksdale, there's limited transportation and no movie theater. The town inspired Sinners, but many can't travel to see it in theaters.
They created a petition to invite Ryan Coogler & team to host a public screening and experience the Delta.
Black folks were up in arms about that fact and Tyler Yarbrough, a community organizer in Clarksdale, wrote an open letter asking for the film to be shown in his hometown. Ryan Coogler, the writer and director of the film, urged Warner Brothers to find a way to show his film in the city.
The studio outfitted the Clarksdale Civic Auditorium with a big screen and projector for the screenings. There was not an empty seat at the first screening and the subsequent showings are all ‘sold’ out. (The tickets are free, but they are first come first serve.)
People showed up the film wearing homemade Sinners T-shirts, and though they were silent during the film, you could see some dancing at various points during the movie. Ryan Coogler, Miles Caton (who plays Sammie) and Ludwig Göransson (the composer of the film) were in attendance that first day and participated in a Q&A after the screening with a crowd that was overjoyed to see Hollywood royalty in their small city.
Photo by Sydney Grey
Many in the audience asked insightful questions about how much Canton knew about Clarksdale before he took the role of Sammie and what inspired Coogler to write the film. But some in attendance were so busy cheering after almost every sentence that it was difficult for the filmmakers to answer. They didn’t mind. Coogler repeatedly thanked the crowd for their enthusiastic in his distinctly Oakland, California accent.
Photo by Sydney Grey
The screenings are just the beginning. In addition to showing the movie once a day through the weekend, there are no fewer than five blues concerts planned. Sinners is not only a Black artistic achievement, it is also the source of Black joy for the people of Clarksdale, Mississippi.
Balloons were flying as smiling kids wearing graduation caps filled an Arkansas elementary school— that is until a brawl involving parents stole the shine from a kindergarten graduation. Now, the school district has pledged to hold every adult involved in the violent incident accountable.
A graduation is the last place you’d expect to see violence, but on Wednesday (May 28), adults attending a ceremony at Faulk Elementary School in West Memphis, Ark. got wild. Video of the incident was taken by Aleicia Evans and posted to Facebook.
In the clip, several adults can be seen engaging in a heated exchange before shoving began between two male attendees. From there, it didn’t take long for multiple women involved to start pushing and throwing punches. This led to a full out melee in the middle of the school hallway. It’s unclear what exactly led up to the fight.
Soon, wigs were ripped off and shirts were torn. Children in the back could be heard crying and begging for the fighting to stop while other adults in the crowd started leaving the scene. Eventually school staff were able to separate the culprits. But even though no serious injuries were reported, the school district has launched an investigation into the matter.
“We have our own camera system with sound, so we have gathered all that. Obviously, we are a small community, so we have the names. We’ve presented those names to the local law enforcement,” West Memphis School District Superintendent Eric Foister said. “They are now doing their investigative process, and we’ll just wait and see how the legal system plays out,” he continued.
So far, five adults have been identified in the brawl, according to Fox 13 News. “You come into our buildings and you put the safety and well-being of our students and staff in jeopardy? I’m going to hold you to the fullest accountability I can working with our local law enforcement. I’m going to press any and all charges that I can,” Foister promised.
The superintendent also banned the five individuals from the school, effective immediately. In a statement, the district said, “We are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and secure environment at all of our schools.”
If you’ve been paying attention to Sean “Diddy” Combs’ ongoing federal sex trafficking trial, then you already know there’s been a lot of shocking twists and names dropped. But the latest name that’s been brought up might be one of the most surprising of all.
During her testimony on Thursday (May 29), Diddy’s former assistant “Mia” alleged numerous, heinous accusations against the Bad Boy mogul. Chief among them were allegations of sexual assault and violence, the latter of which she recalled a specific incident that involved both her, Diddy’s then-girlfriend Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura and the late singer Prince. But it’s not in the way you might think.
As she spoke, Mia said that she and Cassie were like “sisters” as they both worked with Diddy back at that time, but part of her job was to keep a close eye on the “Me and U” singer and her whereabouts. She recalled that one day, she and Cassie were cooped up at a hotel while Diddy was allegedly out with his children.
They then received a phone call from a friend who told them that there was a huge party happening at Prince’s house and that they should come. While they debated on whether or not to “sneak out” for a while, the two women ultimately decided to go and then hurry back before Diddy would know they were gone.
Prince has blown the Diddy case out of the water. He may be dead but he has been found to live on in his grave. Love you PRINCE. pic.twitter.com/Tuer5M8tIk
Once there, Mia and Cassie enjoyed their time there, witnessing the iconic “Kiss” singer perform and dance. However, their fun was cut short once they heard and saw that the now disgraced hip-hop mogul was also in the building. After seeing him, both ladies took off running from out of Prince’s home — unfortunately, Mia was the only one who allegedly escaped Diddy’s wrath. And it was there in the yard of a legendary singer like Prince, that Cassie was allegedly attacked but help eventually got to her.
“He caught up to her and had her on the ground,” Mia said per PEOPLE. “He started attacking her, but Prince’s security swiftly intervened.”
This story lines up mostly with Cassie’s own previous testimony where she recounted that she fell in the bushes but couldn’t remember whether or not Diddy had assaulted her at Prince’s home.
“It was a once in a lifetime experience,” Ventura said at the time per PEOPLE before adding that she didn’t tell Diddy she wanted to go see Prince out of fear “he would say no.”
After the incident, Mia and Cassie went their separate ways and had two totally different experiences. While Mia was allegedly suspended without pay citing Diddy’s feelings that she was being “insubordinate” by attending the party, Cassie allegedly was severely beaten, got luggage thrown at her, and was called out her name.
Combs is currently facing federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he could spend up to life in prison.
A family was torn apart after an eight-year-old girl was shot and killed by her own brother. After a devastating investigation, Southfield, Mich. police uncovered the motivation behind the murder, and now, justice has been served.
It’s been four years since Bailei Singleton was killed in her own home. When officials arrived to the Detroit-area apartment complex in January 2021, they found Singleton suffering from a gunshot to her head, according to FOX 2. Her brother, Gyasi Arnez Stribling, was just 20 years old at the time, but police quickly focused their investigation on him.
Southfield police said Stribling was being “uncooperative” when police arrived to the scene, according to WDIV. Police said he allegedly made up a story claiming his sister had been shot during an attempted robbery. According to officials, he also hid the gun used in the shooting. Police found the weapon nearby.
Singleton was rushed to a nearby hospital where she remained in critical condition after the incident. She died days later on Jan. 7, according to a media conference.
Stribling was arrested after the shooting. His charges were upgraded after the eight-year-old was pronounced dead. “I do not want this individual released. This was a heinous crime,” Police Chief Elvin Barren said. “It should not have happened and I’m confident in this case that this person will serve time in prison.”
He added the details behind the Stribling’s alleged motivation were “disturbing.” Later, it was revealed during his trial he shot his little sister because she was “talking back” to him, according to Law and Crime.
Last month, a jury found the now-24-year-old guilty of first-degree murder. “Bailei Singleton should still be here with us today,” Prosecutor Karen McDonald wrote in a statement. “Her murder was a tragedy for her family. It’s unconscionable that anyone, let alone an 8-year-old child, could be murdered by a relative and in their own home over the slightest of disagreements.”
She continued adding, “This case is, unfortunately, a reminder of how gun violence is a public health epidemic that can end a life in an instant.” On Tuesday (May 27), he was sentenced to 40 to 60 years behind bars, FOX 2. An extra two years were added for a felony firearm charge.
The internet is mourning the passing of Brian McKnight‘s estranged son Niko after a brave fight with cancer. Niko’s uncle and Brian’s brother Claude McKnight shared the heartbreaking news in a May 29 TikTok post.
“This morning I found out that my nephew, Niko McKnight, passed away. He’d been bravely battling cancer for the last two years or so and I have a lot of feelings right now,” he said.
Claude went on to pay tribute to the musician and photographer as “one of those amazing kids who was quirky and curious and ridiculously talented.”
Fans have been following Niko’s health journey since he shared his cancer diagnosis on Instagram in January 2024, captioning his post, “your boy got the big C • it’s beeen one hell of a ride so far but things are looking better now than they were before so cheers to that.”
Instagram/fiftyclicks
But some of those same fans are coming for his famous father for allegedly not making the most of the time they had together before his untimely death.
Niko was one of Brian McKnight’s two children he shares with ex-wife Julie McKnight. The “One Last Cry” singer made headlines back in April 2024 when he admitted on an Instagram Q&A session that he doesn’t claim his four oldest biological children, calling them “products of sin.”
Niko clapped back at his dad on social media, writing, “I’m evil. That’s wild: The guy who used to make me clean his used condoms out his bathroom at 15 before Lisa got home is calling me evil Fashoooooo.”
But his Uncle Claude made it clear to his over 25,000 followers that his post was all about his love for his nephew, adding that he wasn’t going to get into the details of the “drama” between Niko and Brian.
I’m devastated at my nephews passing. If you comment please do do in love, and NOT at what you may have heard about the relationship my brother had/has with his kids. Thank you 🙏🏾 #nephew#cancersucks#rip#love#family
“I don’t know exactly what was going on there. I know what I’ve seen. I know what I’ve heard from all parties involved, and I try not to judge,” he said. “I just try to be as loving to each person as I can be.”
Though it’s been months since Cardi B. filed for divorce from her hubby and Migos member Offset, it finally looks like some movement is being made. But you’ll never believe what the latest update entails and why it has folks on the internet laughing.
As we previously told you, the “Enough” rapper filed for divorce from Offset back in August 2024. She was reportedly seeking primary custody of their children, daughter Kulture (6) and son Wave (3). At the time of the filing, lawyers for Cardi alleged that their marriage dissolution was “not based on any one particular incident, it has been a long time coming and is amicable.”
However, in the months that followed, it’s been nothing but mess after mess as the former couple traded harsh words back and forth to each other via social media, dragging all their fans into their drama. Fast forward to February, the “Bad and Boujee” rapper filed a response to Cardi’s filing, asking for joint custody of the kids— but that their primary residence be their mother’s.
Now, according to court documents obtained by TMZ on Thursday, Offset has responded to the filing once again, only this time, he’s asking for spousal support. And while he didn’t ask for a specific amount, the very fact that he’s even asking sent the internet into a tizzy once the news was made public. Cardi herself even responded in a Twitter live session on Friday, saying that while she wasn’t initially going to say anything about the spousal support, she changed her mind after hearing Offset call into “The Breakfast Club” and allege that the “Bodak Yellow” rapper was trying “to take everything from him” so that’s why he’s seeking the money.
Cardi denied trying to take everything, saying that she was willing to give back the gifts he gave her and split the payments he made on their house in Atlanta. She also called him a “b*tch,” “mentally disturbed,” and said that the only thing she’s ever asked him to do was spend time with their children as she’s been footing all of their bills alone for the last year.
As the news began to circulate on social media, some folks thought it was downright distasteful for him to try to get money from Cardi to essentially keep funding his lifestyle. Others felt it was comical on the grounds that this move proved how broke he really was.
Offset asking for spousal support is INSANE when he was cheating on that lady. Go get a job! What happened to MEN that GO TO WORK?!?pic.twitter.com/vz62wPCyjG
“Offset asking for spousal support is INSANE when he was cheating on that lady. Go get a job! What happened to MEN that GO TO WORK?!?” wrote one user on X/Twitter.
“Asking for spousal support and joint custody but want the kids to live primarily with Cardi?? Make it make sense. Offset is a very unserious ‘man,’” said another.
Added one other user, “Imagine you cheating on me for yearsssss in a marriage and think you gon get spousal support! Bitch those bad and bougie checks better feed your lifestyle! Offset is a BUM!”
One other user wrote, “WOW…Offset Asking For Spousal Support has to be, the Weakest Shit, I’ve ever heard. he actually topped writing a diss track on his own Wife. It’s just Certain shit Men Shouldn’t Do, it’s Double Standards in life, life will never be equal or Fair, Men shouldn’t ask for alimony.”
It seems getting stabbed 14 times hasn’t slowed Tory Lanez’s attempts to clear his name. Now, his team has released what they call “suppressed evidence” from his case involving Megan Thee Stallion in the form of a new website.
36hourslater.com was designed to track what exactly went down after the Texas rapper, whose real name is Megan Pete, was shot in 2020. “Truth becomes clear when the facts come to light,” the site reads. “Through Megan Pete’s own words, police records, and expert analysis, the facts suggest Tory Lanez did not fire the weapon and tried to stop the conflict.”
As we previously reported, Lanez– real name Daystar Peterson– is serving out a 10-year sentence for shooting Pete. It’s been nearly five years since the incident happened, and since then Pete and Peterson’s legal teams have gone back and forth in court. Lanez’s most recent move comes just weeks after he was stabbed by a fellow inmate at the California prison where he’s serving time.
Since the beginning, Lanez has maintained his innocence, despite a court finding him guilty and Megan herself saying Lanez was the one who shot her. The website just further exacerbates his claims of innocence, including shocking revelations that were never revealed to the public until now.
The website contains never-before-heard audio where the prosecution’s key witness, a man named Sean Kelly, told cops he saw one woman– identified as Pete’s ex-best friend, Kelsey Harris– angrily get out of the rear passenger side of a Cadillac Escalade and open the driver-side door to confront the other woman, who we now know was Megan Thee Stallion.
Kelly said a catfight broke out between the two women while Lanez stayed in the backseat. That’s apparently when gunshots rang out and Lanez allegedly got out the backseat to try to control the situation, according to the rapper’s lawyers.
Another key point Lanez’s team mentioned on the website is the gun linked to the shooting was tested, and officials found only 0.01 percent of the DNA on the gun matched the “Say It” singer, meaning “there is no way Tory fired the gun five times.” Female DNA was found, and Harris allegedly tested positive for gunshot residue, but her DNA was never tested against the gun, according to Lanez’s lawyers.
JauQuan Smith– Lanez’ bodyguard, who was driving the Escalade– gave cops a sworn statement about breaking up the fight between Harris and Pete. He said despite his involvement, he didn’t see who fired the gun.
Lanez’s website continued to detail inconsistencies in Meg’s past statements on Instagram Live and even to Gayle King. Several videos were also posted with the “WAP” rapper admitting she stepped on broken glass during the police stop and was not shot.
In response to the website, Meg’s lawyer Alex Spiro said in a statement, “Tory Lanez’s team can’t keep a story straight. Last week, they argued that Kelsey Harris shot Megan and now, they’re claiming that Megan only stepped on glass.” He continued, “They continue to rehash old evidence from trial and re-package it as new information to desperately sway public opinion.”
In January, a judge granted Pete a restraining order against Lanez after claiming he was harassing her from behind bars.
President Donald Trump gave Larry Hoover, the former leader of notorious Chicago-based gang Gangster Disciples, a glimmer of hope this week when he announced the commutation of his federal sentence. But both men have to get through the Illinois governor first…and he’s not going.
As the Chicago Sun-Times reported, Governor JB Pritzker’s office says Hoover “needs to continue serving” his state sentence and would need to petition the state’s Prisoner Review Board, which makes parole decisions and recommendations for clemency. But the odds are not on his side, as the board has been turning down his requests since the 1970s.
President Trump’s commutation only guarantees Hoover’s release from federal prison. The former gang leader who was convicted by the state of Illinois in 1973 on murder charges still faces a sentence of up to 200 years in the state.
Hoover, 74, was convicted in 1997 on charges of running a criminal enterprise from prison, He was serving six consecutive life sentences in a federal supermax prison in Colorado before Trump’s May 28 announcement came. But while some are celebrating Hoover’s commutation — including the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, who thanked the president in a May 28 post on X for “Freeing Larry Hoover” — the reality is a lot more complicated than that.
According to NBC News 5 Chicago, community leaders in the city have already appealed to Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Prisoner Review Board to offer clemency to Hoover, who they say has been reformed during his time behind bars.
“I think if the Prisoner Review Board looks at the totality of this situation, I think that they will make a recommendation for the governor to provide a clemency to Mr. Hoover,” said state Senator Willie Preston. “I understand folks on both sides some who quite frankly felt a lot of pain, but also those who can believe in the power of redemption.”
Alice Marie Johnson, President Trump’s “pardon czar,” who learned about Larry Hoover’s case from Kanye West and Drake at their 2021 “Free Larry Hoover” concert, has also called for the governor to consider giving him a second chance at freedom.
“This man has been in solitary confinement for almost 30 years, not having seen daylight, not having had human touch,” she told TMZ. “This is not ceremonial, this is a step towards the door. They’re now working on hoping that the governor of Illinois will have the same mercy President Trump had upon Larry Hoover.”
The third week of the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial has kept the drama high and the allegations of his character on blast. Testimony from his former assistant probably brought the most damning revelations of Diddy’s character to date.
Testifying under the name “Mia,” his former assistant of eight years rattled off a list of allegations Thursday (May 29) that are worthy of a trigger warning, including several claims of sexual assault and violence. Combs is facing federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Mia testified yesterday that Diddy sexually assaulted her several times.
Let’s take a look at some of the most frightening things she shared on the stand.
Bunk Bed Assault
Mia said she was awakened by Combs sexually assaulting her. While sleeping on the bottom of a bunk bed, she was jolted awake by “the weight of a person” on top of her.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Smyser asked her if she had wanted to have sex with Combs, to which Mia said, “No,” and added, “It was very quick.”
“Don’t remember how it ended, but I remember he wouldn’t leave a job unfinished, so whenever he was satisfied is when it ended,” Mia testified.
Forced Oral Sex
While packing Combs’ bag at his Los Angeles apartment, Mia claimed she was forced to perform oral sex on him.
“Next thing I look up, he’s standing right in front of my face,” she said. She struggled to speak as she described the alleged assault.
“I was just frozen,” she testified.
Assault on Private Jet
Mia testified Combs also assaulted her in the bathroom on a private jet. She stated that after using the bathroom, she opened the door to find the music mogul standing outside, who then proceeded to push her back in the bathroom and take advantage of her.
The former assistant said she could not recall the details but she remembered “trying to squiggle out of it.”
“I couldn’t say no to him about a sandwich,” Mia said. “I couldn’t say no to him for anything.”
Spaghetti Tossing Incident
In another instance, Mia claimed that Combs threw a bowl of spaghetti her way.
After a long day of working with no breaks and while on her period, Mia had to go to the room to change her tampon which apparently upset Combs.
“He went on a really humiliating rant in front of everybody,” she said. “There was blood dripping down my leg and I said, ‘I’m on my period. I just need to change my tampon.’”
According to Mia, following her pleas, Combs threw a bowl of spaghetti at her, narrowly missing, and cursed at her, telling her to leave his house. She claimed she was later suspended from her job without pay.
The former assistant also said in separate cases he had thrown an ice bucket on her head and thrown her into a pool.
Stealing Her Phone and Threatening Her Privacy
After accusing Mia of walking close to him, Combs took the former assistant’s phone and ran.
Mia claimed that she “threw off my heels” and chased after the music mogul barefoot but he then slammed the bathroom door on her hand several times.
“He bolted right past me, down the stairs and to the streets,” Mia said of Combs, whom she saw at a recording studio later in the day. That’s when Mia testified Combs told her, “I sent all your naked photos to my phone so that I got something on you if you got something on me,” per her testimony. Mia said Combs said it in an “almost like bullying” tone.
Mia stated she had no nude pictures and that Combs was lying about sending anything to his phone.
As part of his most recent clemency actions, President Donald Trump commuted the federal sentence of one of the most notorious crime bosses in history. Larry Hoover has been locked behind bars since the ‘70s, and despite Trump’s clemency agreement, he won’t be getting out anytime soon.
Outside of rapper Rick Ross’ reference to the gang leader in his song “B.M.F.” (I think I’m Big Meech, Larry Hoover), most folks don’t know much about Hoover or the Gangster Disciples— one of Chicago’s most powerful gangs. That’s why we’re breaking down everything you need to know about the now 74-year-old gangster and his complicated history with law enforcement.
Founding the Gangster Disciples
The Gangster Disciples (GDs) were founded in the mid ‘60s by Hoover and David Barksdale— known as King David. Initially, the GDs were the result of a merge between the Black Disciples and Supreme Gangsters gangs of Chicago, according to reports. After Barksdale death in 1974, Hoover took over.
The gang soon grew from a ragtag team of young Black men to almost 30,000 members in Chicago alone, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Today, the Gangsters Disciples are represented in at least 35 different states, raking in $100 million in estimated annual revenue.
Murder of Pooky Young
Over the years, police linked the GDs to countless murders, robberies, extortions and drug crimes across the country. So when the state of Illinois decided to go after the gang, Hoover ultimately became the face of the enterprise.
In 1973, Hoover was convicted for the murder of 19-year-old drug dealer named William “Pooky” Young, according to court documents. He was sentenced to 150 to 200 years in prison, which many advocates argued did not justly fit the crime committed.
State prosecutors saw Young’s murder as the only time they’d be able to stick Hoover with crimes connected to his gang. So once they saw an opportunity to finally stop the crime boss, they threw the book at him.
"I would love to actually be able to hold my father."
Larry Hoover’s son speaks out after Donald Trump commuted his father’s federal sentence, which released Larry Hoover from federal custody, and reveals they’re trying to reach out to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to let him… pic.twitter.com/je3digEUXb
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) May 29, 2025
Federal Sting and Conviction
Despite being behind bars, Hoover was still calling the shots as the head of the GDs. This led to a joint investigation by Illinois correctional officers and the FBI and ATF in 1995.
Federal sentencing for Hoover came in 1998. He was convicted on charges alleging he helped operate a widespread nationwide drug operation through the Gangster Disciples. So with conspiracy, extortion and money laundering charges, Hoover was sentenced to three life sentences.
Since then, he has been housed in solitary confinement at the supermax prison in Colorado where all furniture is made of poured concrete, according to NBC Chicago. This is the same prison where Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán is located.
Kanye West’s Connection to Trump, Hoover
The 74-yer-old felon might have one man to thank for the president finally hearing his case. Chicago rapper Kanye “Ye” West began a campaign to #FreeLarryHoover in 2021. He even planned a benefit concert with Drake as a special guest.
WORDS CAN’T EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR OUR DEVOTED ENDURING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FOR FREEING LARRY HOOVER
Ye gave Drizzy his props, writing on X “Thank you Drake for for helping to bring Larry Hoover home.” He continued thanking Trump saying, “WORDS CAN’T EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR OUR DEVOTED ENDURING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FOR FREEING LARRY HOOVER.”
Although Hoover’s federal sentence is commuted, he still has to serve out his 200-year sentence in Illinois. The Illinois Prisoner Review Board denied Hoover’s request for early release last year. The board won’t hear his case for another four years.
It appears things may be on the up and up when it comes to the relationship between comedian Mo’Nique and her estranged son Shalon Jackson. But unfortunately, some people online aren’t too convinced of their rekindling.
As we previously reported back in Feb 2024, Jackson had some pretty incredulous and harsh words for his mom following her viral interview on Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” podcast. At the time, he claimed that his mother’s sentiment of praying to universe to fix their relationship was a false narrative because they both were aware of the fact that their relationship had been estranged for years as she has allegedly had no interest in him as her son for a while now.
Jackson also said that his mother admitted to not being the best mother growing up and shared, though she does a good job at acknowledging where she fell short, she’s yet to fully take accountability for it. Additionally, he revealed that he learned how not to love from the example his actress mother set.
“Faith without work is dead and neither one of us care to put forth any effort to reconcile with the other. We are ‘separate’ as she put it because she doesn’t care to be my mother any more than I care to be her son. Neither one of us have had the desire to reach out to the other in a very long time and I don’t think that either of us anticipates that feeling ever returning,” he said.
Back then, Mo’Nique failed to give a full response to Jackson’s words, opting instead to “watch it play out” as she would be shown to be on the right side of things, much like she was in her previous legal battles. Her husband Sidney Hicks also chimed in at the time, revealing that they helped Jackson out monetarily with his first child and helped him purchase a new car—despite his inferences that his mother and Sidney weren’t in good-standing with him.
Now, over a year and some change later, Jackson is walking back him comments and formally apologizing to his mom for the hurtful comments her made. In an over four-minute long video posted on social media, Jackson began by expressing gratitude over the patience and grace that his parents gave him at the time. He went on to describe the videos he made last year as a “betrayal” and talked about how much better things are between him and his famous mom.
Mo'Nique’s son records a video apologizing to his mother, Mo'Nique, for going off on her in a series of videos back in 2024, and calls his actions a betrayal to the family, admitting that he had a mental health condition at the time.
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) May 29, 2025
“Making those videos a year ago was a betrayal against our family. And I have to take full accountability for it…I made them and I shouldn’t have. Period,” he said in part.
He went on to say that the “Precious” star and Hicks were justified in addressing his mental health issues at the time and that he only took issue with it because he didn’t like it. Jackson apologized for any furthering of the narrative that his mother was difficult to work with and thanked others at the time who told him to stay quiet and deal with his familial issues privately.
“I owe it to my family to make this apology public due to the fact that I made our family business public. Though the road to family redemption is hard, I’m looking forward to it,” he said as he began to close.
Jackson ended his video by showing photos of him and his child hugged up on Mo’Nique and Hicks. The “Almost Christmas” star also posted a series of photos with Jackson on het official Instagram page with the simple caption: “GRATEFUL.”
But while that may be sweet, some people on social media weren’t too quick to believe their reconciliation, with some feeling as if it’s just a money grab while others felt like it was forced and prompted by his parents.
“Begging Mommy For The [money bag emoji],” wrote one user on X/Twitter.
Another commentator added, “Mo’Nique behind the camera holding the cue cards.”
“It’s the reading the script for me. You could have just called your Mom and apologized,” wrote one other user.
However, there were some that took Jackson’s words as geuine and applauded him for taking this big step.
“Instead of criticizing his apology delivery, how about we congratulate him, Mo’Nique, Sydney, and the family for getting back together? We need more Black family togetherness being shown,” one user wrote.
Added another, “They sat[sic] let the apology be as loud as the disrespect. It was entertaining to people to see him bashing his mom online now everyone talking about call her and get offline. Nah he not wrong for this public apology. You only got 1 mama! Honor her!”
If Mother Nature could smile, she’d be beaming right now. After five long years, Atlanta native Julian Brown has launched an innovation as powerful as it is sustainable. Declaring a war on waste, this self-starter is working to turn pollution into power with his company, Naturejab — and he’s just getting started.
This revolutionary process didn’t happen overnight. The 21-year-old nature-lover began working with his hands at a young age with an affinity for building and taking things apart. Intrigued by hands-on discovery early on, it’s no wonder he’s grasped the mechanics of Pyrolysis, recycling plastic waste into a fuel he calls “Plastidiesel.” If we’re on our way to destroying that Texas-sized island of trash floating in the ocean called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (yes, it has a name), then sign the planet up…expeditiously.
What Is Pyrolysis?
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pyrolysis is a technology which allows one to convert biomass to a liquid product using temperatures at or above 500 °C in the absence of oxygen. This intense thermal energy is what’s being used to deconstruct waste, rendering the remains a cleaner source of energy which can be used for fuel.
“The very issue we have is the production of plastic,” Brown, 21, told The Root. “The reason why recycling hasn’t been done is because it hasn’t been profitable. But now, we are able to make a product of super high value out of something that otherwise is just seen as waste.”
ASAP Labs Testing
Brown isn’t just tooting his own horn either. The entrepreneur recently returned from a trip to Vancouver, Washington for the purpose of testing his recycled diesel with some heavyweights in fuel testing, ASAP Labs. While some claimed his alternative energy was “horrible fuel” that would “destroy engines,” his samples passed with flying colors on May 22, showing more favorable results than its industry competitors. Boom.
“It looks like it definitely burned cleaner,” an employee at ASAP Labs confirmed in a documentation of the fuel’s results Friday. “It appears that this diesel probably burns cleaner than typical diesel.” While the lab employee admitted he was skeptical, he revealed they run thousands of tests, and “the results don’t lie.”
“Someone protect this man. Pioneering true renewable energy,” one fan responded in the comment section. “Glad I get to live at the same time [as] this man. Truly a marvel of his craft and the future,” a second added. “Good, KEEP GOING! Now you gotta get the solar situation figured out!,” a third added, and they aren’t wrong.
It’s going to take some coin to keep this sustainability train chugging, and he’s calling on anyone willing to jump on board to support his solar-powered operation. “Help me invent the world’s first continuous, solar, microwave pyrolysis reactor of plastic waste!” Brown’s call-to-action reads. “I will create alternatives to gasoline and diesel while destroying plastic for > $1 a gallon!”
The Importance Of Hands-On Skills
The Tennessee born visionary began welding at 17 years old in high school, and encouraged the importance of hands-on skill and trade work. It’s these skills that gave him the tools he needed to create the technology that could change the world as we know it.
“In order to build a plastic into a fuel reactor, you need to know how to weld,” Brown told The Root. “It’s great to have these skills because they can be used in your personal life, just as much as they can in business.”
“Beyond all I do, I really want the impact to go far beyond anything physical,” Brown said. He added that we as an entire species would progress in every type of issue if we found it within us to find a solution, together. “If we immediately give up in our own minds before we even begin to find a solution, then how are we gonna get anywhere?” he asked. “Instead, we should come at it from a mindset of ‘How can this be done’ instead of ‘Can this be done.’”
Fueling The Future
According to Julian Brown, as long as he’s around, “there will be no such thing as plastic waste — only untapped energy.” With sky-high ambition rooted in his childhood and a deep sense of gratitude for how his journey has unfolded, Brown is stepping into his purpose on the world stage. And we’re here for it.
“When I was five years old, I told my mom that I was gonna create something that would change the world,” he recalls. “It’s always been within me — I just never knew what it was gonna be.” Now, he knows. And the world is sure to benefit from these next-level achievements.
If you have a Gemini in your life, you already know that from May 21 to June 20, it’s all about their birthday. They’ve been waiting all year to celebrate, and if you’re lucky enough to be in their inner circle, they expect you to come along for the ride.
People born under this air sign are usually natural charmers who are known to be the life of the party. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself under their spell without a warning. But they can also be known to give it to you straight, so be prepared to hear what they have to say with no filter.
Since they have a whole month to celebrate, here are some things you better know before you find yourself involved with a Gemini.
They’re the Life of the Party
If you’re having a party, make sure you have at least one Gemini on the guest list. Known for being charming and witty, you better believe they’ll find a smooth way to insert themselves into the conversation…and keep everyone in the room hanging on to their every word.
Good luck catching a Gemini off guard. They take that quick wit and charm with them everywhere they go and are known for their uncanny ability to adapt in almost any situation.
Gemini may be the sign of twins, but it doesn’t mean they’re two-faced. In fact, you can always count on them to keep it all the way real. And when they’re speaking their mind to you, get ready for all of the smoke.
One thing about Gemini, they love to debate. So if you’re dealing with one and they aren’t saying anything, you should definitely be worried that they’d rather be elsewhere.
“They love talking, debating, bouncing ideas around,” says TikToker @legendaryjoy. “But if their responses are short, dull or very dismissive, that is a clear indication that that Gemini do not like you.”
They Need Their Space
Although Gemini have no problem engaging with others, they still need to have a little time for themselves. So be warned, don’t roll up on the Geminis in your life without calling first, you just might be interrupting their “me time.”
Naturally curious, Gemini are going to have the answer. And if they don’t, they will spend hours trying to find it. They love asking questions and showing off what they know to everyone around them.
Gemini always have their minds on their money. Known for being great at multitasking, they’re not afraid of hard work and almost always have some kind of serious side hustle going on.
You Can’t Keep Them in One Place For Very Long
A Gemini’s curiosity can also be the thing that makes them want to make changes in love and in life. They can get restless, so don’t expect them to stay at a job or in a relationship that doesn’t stimulate them.
Gemini love fashion almost as much as they love learning new things. For that reason, they stay on top the trends and are not afraid to experiment with new and different styles – to match their personality du jour, of course.
According to Astrologyzone.com, Gemini women are some of the best at accessorizing, so prepare to be impressed by their collection of shoes and handbags.
This air sign is usually associated with colors like light green and yellow, but contrary to popular belief, you’ll be hard pressed to find a Gemini who actually likes wearing such a bright color.
“Yo why is Gemini always yellow? My favorite colors are black, green, and purple,” wrote someone on TikTok.
According to Zodiacsign.com, when looking for love, Gemini are most compatible with Aquarius, another air sign who can fulfill their need for information and smart conversation.
“Aquarius will give Gemini so much mental stimulation and the conversation will be so deep that it takes two people to understand just how deep an Aquarius can get,“ said @marc_solo on TikTok.
If you’re in a romantic relationship with a Gemini, be ready to put in that work. According to @iamspencetaylor, loving a Gemini is about “being present, playful and mentally available every single day.“ But don’t worry, your hard work will be rewarded in the form of an amazing partner who is extremely loyal.
But Don’t Make Them Repeat Themselves
When you’re loving a Gemini, one of the worst things you can do is not listen when they’re telling you what they need. If you don’t believe us, ask @iamspencetaylor, who says “They don’t like repeating themselves.”
“I really HATE repeating myself, I’m intentional in communication. I sit and think about every angle and only relay it to you once I have clarity, why the hell wouldn’t you hear me first time? 😭🤣,” cosigned someone in the comments.
The historic manhunt for the remaining inmates who escaped from a New Orleans jail continues as only two men are still on the loose. On May 16, 10 men pulled off a successful jailbreak from Orleans Parish Justice Center, and in just under two weeks, more than 20 people, including eight of the inmates, have been arrested.
Although the race to find Derrick Groves and Antoine Massey is still ongoing, what’s interesting about the case is the help all 10 escapees got to pull off the biggest prison break in Louisiana history. From a grandmother getting involved to the violent crimes each inmate was originally charged with, The Root is taking a closer look at all the lives affected by the ingenious escape.
Kendell Myles
Screenshot: X
The 20-year-old was the first to be taken back into custody after escaping from OPJ. But interestingly enough, this isn’t the first time Myles escaped from a jail. Back in 2022, Myles escaped from the Bridge City Center for Youth, according to WWLTV. He was indicted on attempted murder and carjacking charges after allegedly shooting a man then jacking his car, according to WDSU. He was apprehended in the French Quarter after a brief foot chase, according to officials.
Robert Moody
Screenshot: X
Just hours after Myles’ arrest, Moody was taken into custody again. The 21-year-old was booked on weapons and drug charges. After escaping, he was found in the New Orleans neighborhood of Central City following a caller’s Crime Stoppers tip, according to FOX 8 New Orleans. By the time police caught up to Moody, he had a brand new wardrobe, wearing BAPE and Nike brands.
DKenan Dennis
Screenshot: X
Like Moody and Myles, Dennis didn’t make it too far before being caught. The third escapee was apprehended the same day he escaped from OPJ. Dennis, 24, was arrested near Chef Menteur Hwy. and Dale Street. He was booked on multiple illegal weapons charges, extortion, kidnapping, armed robbery, and theft charges, according to WDSU.
Gary Price
Screenshot: X
On Monday (May 19), the 21-year-old was arrested by police. According to reports, Price had been hiding out at a vacant home on Good Drive. “Price will ultimately be transported to a secure state facility outside of the area,” state police said Monday. He was charged with attempted first-degree murder, simple assault, criminal damage, domestic abuse and battery and assault with a weapon, according to NewsNation.
Sterling Williams
Screenshot: La. Office of the Attorney General
Williams worked as a maintenance worker at OPJ before he was arrested on Tuesday (May 20). As we previously reported, police said Williams shut off the water to the cell where the inmates escaped. Although a simple move, Williams’ actions allowed the inmates to pull a toilet from the wall, helping them run free. The 33-year-old, is being held at the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center on 10 counts of principle to simple escape and malfeasance in office charges. He claims his life was threatened if he didn’t help the inmates.
Corey Boyd
Screenshot: X
Boyd was caught on May 20, according to reports. The 19-year-old is facing serious charges of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, obstruction of justice and threatening a law enforcement officer, according to NOLA.com. Boyd was one of three people charged in connection with the death of a man who caught the group robbing cars.
Cortnie Harris
Screenshot: X
We reported on Friday (May 23), Harris was arrested for allegedly helping the inmates. Police say she spoke with one of the inmates before their escape and drove two of the escapees around New Orleans to avoid the police. “The idea that they’re bringing this hell— this fresh hell to your doorstep means that they don’t care,” Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said of anyone offering help to any of the escapees.
Corvanntay Baptiste
Screenshot: X
Similarly to Harris, Baptiste was arrested for her role in helping an escapee, Boyd, once he got back into the real world. She was charged with accessory after the fact for allegedly helping Boyd get food. “Someone had to provide that access, and that help… is a crime,” DA Williams continued.
Connie Weeden
Screenshot: X
That same day (May 23), a third woman was arrested for helping another inmate. Weeden was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center. WDSU reported Weeden allegedly contacted Jermaine Donald— her grandson and one of the escapees— before and after his escape. She allegedly wired him cash through a digital wallet app.
Emmitt Weber
Screenshot: New Orleans Police Department
The 28-year-old was arrested on May 24 after accusations he helped two inmates after they escaped. He’s been charged with accessory after the fact of simple escape.
Jermaine Donald
Two men who broke out of a New Orleans jail were recaptured by police after a high-speed pursuit in Huntsville, Texas, on Monday. The two escapees, Leo Tate and Jermaine Donald, were taken into custody and charged, the Huntsville Police Department said.
Donald was caught in Texas on Monday (May 26). As we previously reported, the 42-year-old was originally facing illegal carrying of a weapon and second-degree murder. He and another inmate, Leo Tate, were captured together after a “high-speed chase involving multiple law enforcement agencies.”
Leo Tate
Screenshot: X
The 31-year-old was already facing second-degree murder charges and attempted second-degree murder charges after a 2018 shooting where 19-year-old was killed and a 16-year-old was sent to the hospital, NOLA.com reported. Tate accepted a plea deal and was ultimately convicted of obstruction of justice and sentenced to 10 years behind bars. Now, Tate was charged with “outstanding warrants for aggravated escape and escape from custody, we previously reported.
Lenton Vanburen Jr.
Screenshot: X
Also on Memorial Day (May 26), Vanburen was apprehended by police in Baton Rouge, La. The 27-year-old was arrested in 2021 following a deadly shooting, according to New Orleans police. By the time police obtained a warrant for his arrest, Vanburen was already in custody at OPJ on armed robbery charges. He pleaded not guilty in 2022.
Lenton Vanburen Sr.
Screenshot: X
Lenton Vanburen Sr. was given a $1 million bond after being accused of helping his own son escape. The 48-year-old was also given a $2,500 bond for a theft charge, according to WDSU.
Tyshanea Randolph
Screenshot: X
The 27-year-old was accused of helping Vanburen after he escaped. According to reports, she was charged with accessory after the fact.
Angel McKay
Screenshot: X
Another woman, McKay was accused of helping Vanburen following the jailbreak. According to police, she was charged with accessory after the fact.
Casey Smith
Screenshot: X
Smith, 30, was accused of helping at least two escapees hours after their escape, according to NOPD. Officers arrested Smith before she admitted to helping the fugitives’ drive around the city. Smith was booked on accessory after the fact to simple escape.
Antoine Massey
Screenshot: Fox 8
Massey is one of only two remaining escapees. He has a long history of successfully escaping custody dating back to 2007, according to CNN. He’s reportedly escaped from detention facilities three times, and he’s cut off his ankle monitor twice. “There isn’t an ounce of this man’s history that doesn’t say ‘escape,’” Matt Dennis, an employee with the company that operates the monitors told WDSU. The 33-year-old was arrested on charges of domestic abuse involving strangulation and the theft of a car in 2024, according to New Orleans police . Massey was also charged with violating his parole.
Diamond White
Antoine Massey enjoyed his Memorial Day weekend as he continues to mock authorities and update fans with new his look. pic.twitter.com/QvaHVgdLQs
The 21-year-old was accused of helping Massey after he escaped. According to reports, she was charged with principal to aggravated escape and obstruction of justice.
Derrick Groves
Screenshot: X
Before escaping from OPJ, Groves was convicted of the 2018 killing of two people, Jamar Robinson and Byron Jackson, during Mardi Gras, according to the Orleans Parish DA’s office. According to WDSU, Groves was found guilty of two charges of second-degree murder and two charges of attempted second-degree murder. He is still on the loose.
A Georgia grand jury declined to charge a white woman who fatally shot her Black boyfriend. But Black social media is not responding how one might expect it to in this situation.
Hannah Cobb was arrested in February and charged with involuntary manslaughter after an incident in which she shot her boyfriend, Telvin Osborne, in the chest. According to police, the couple had allegedly been drinking when Cobb went to the master bedroom to check and clean her firearm and accidentally fired a fatal shot toward Osborne, as she said.
Multiple reports later revealed, the couple got into a heated argument after leaving the club, allegedly over Osborne’s infidelity. The confrontation escalated, ultimately ending in the shooting of Osborne.
Following the exoneration, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office made a post on Facebook stating that violent protests regarding the decision would not be tolerated. But though many in the Black community are obviously saddened by the loss of one of its own, some social media users have expressed mixed reactions since Osborne apparently routinely scolded Black woman on his social media profile.
X user @blackdetta highlighted past posts on Osborne’s account in which he praised White women and denounced Black women, including stating that he would rather sleep with a dog than a Black woman.
This one hurts because this is my man's family but I still gotta tell the truth
Ole boy telvin was on some coon shit with his praise of the white womens
This is just like that nigerian dude that got poked up by his white "blessing" then we found all the "akatas"
“In my honest opinion, I don’t care. Because Mr. Telvin Osborne had said a whole bunch of disgusting things about Black women,” he emphasized. “He also had tweets saying, if it ain’t snowing, he ain’t going blah, blah, blah. He even said that he would unalive for his girlfriend, who was a YT woman. He did indeed get unalived by his girlfriend, who was a YT woman. And that’s why I don’t care.”
Others, including X user @BLKLiberation84 are using this entire case as a teaching moment for Black men who hate on Black women possibly due to a lack of self love and past trauma.
Let this Telvin Osborne killing be a lesson to all the self-hating men and women of the Black community. You come out here on social media or in the real world proclaiming how much you hate the people of your community and, in his case, his hate of Black women, please know we… pic.twitter.com/eOyvnhajLu
A disturbing video shows the moment a DoorDash delivery driver approached the door of who he thought was the hungry customer he was looking for until he realized too late that it wasn’t. What happened should strike fear in the hearts of all gig service employees.
The 24-year-old DoorDasher who just moved to the U.S. from Guinea-Bissau got lost on a rural road in Chester, Orange County, ABC7 reports. His battery was also dying as he tried to make his delivery, so he asked for help before completing his stop to make sure the food got to the right place.
The report says a neighbor directed him to the home of John Reilly, a New York town official, and their interaction was intense to say the very least. Doorbell camera footage caught the whole scene. The DoorDasher walked up the door and knocked. When Reilly answered the door, the delivery driver asked if he was holding his order.
“No. Get off my property,” the official allegedly barked back, per the report.
However, as the DoorDasher turned his back to return to his vehicle, the report says Reilly began shooting at him. “Go!” the town official shouted before firing additional shots as the man drove away. The delivery driver was struck in the back as he tried to make it to his vehicle, per New York State Police. On his way out the neighborhood, he stopped by another home begging for help.
Relatives told ABC7 he stopped at a gas station before driving home to Middletown which was miles away. They said he collapsed before being rushed to the hospital. Luckily, he lived. The incident was so bizarre, the police even agreed that he didn’t pose a threat.
“There’s nothing to indicate the victim had any nefarious intentions; he’s just out there doing his job, trying to make a food delivery,” said New York State Police Capt. Joseph Kolek via The New York Post.
Reilly has given no suggestion that he would step down from his role as highway superintendent. The Town Board also said they have no say in what they can do with him moving forward. However, he still got slammed with charges of first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. He was booked into Orange County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
She may have two A-list celebrity parents in Beyoncé and Jay-Z, but it didn’t take long for Rumi Carter to make a name for herself. Fans have been loving every minute of her on-stage appearances during the “Cowboy Carter” tour. But they also can’t help but get emotional watching the beautiful family photo dump Bey shares with her audiences during the show. We’re not crying, you’re crying.
We look forward to seeing our favorite stars on the stage and screen – but if we’re being honest, we love it even more when they give us a little glimpse into their private lives and show us how much fun they have being moms and dads.
From Beyoncé to Keke Palmer to Dwyane Wade, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite Black celebrity parents hanging out with their little ones.
Rihanna
Instagram/badgallriri
Only Rihanna could look absolutely gorgeous after giving birth. The ultimate boy mom, you can see how much the singer-entrepreneur loves every moment she can spend with her sons, RZA and Riot. It’s the only reason fans are giving her a little grace for not putting out new music. Now that number three is on the way, we can guarantee that we’re going to have to keep waiting.
The only thing we love more than seeing Rihanna with her babies is seeing dad, A$AP Rocky shower them with love. We could watch this clip of Rocky cuddling with his son, Riot on repeat. Fans of the couple agree. “You can feel the love he has for his baby. it touches my heart 🥹🥹,” wrote someone in the comments.
No offense to Beyoncé or her amazing backup dancers and musicians, but Queen Bey’s daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi have been stealing the show at every stop on the “Cowboy Carter” tour. The gorgeous girls have a natural stage presence – and the fans can’t get enough!
But while fans love watching their Queen sing and dance to her biggest hits on stage, one of the most talked-about parts of Beyoncé’s show has been her sharing personal videos of herself and her family at home and on vacation.
Cardi B does not play when it comes to her style, so it’s only natural that the mom of three would post a picture-perfect holiday shot with her oldest kids (daughter Kulture and son Wave).
“Merry Christmas…Don’t ask bout the baby she was not wit the picture ish. It was very ghetto taking pics with these kids 😭” she captioned her post.
As much as we love seeing Cardi’s red carpet looks, we love that she has no problem showing fans another side – a laid back mama at home with her kids. In this adorable clip, Cardi shows off her skills in the kitchen making what looks like a delicious cookie dip with daughter Kulture. The “Bodak Yellow” rapper does what moms do best, showing she can multitask like a boss, balancing son Wave on her hip while she adds her ingredients.
The only thing Ciara fans love more than her music are her pics with hubby Russell Wilson and their four children. The beautiful family put on their Sunday best for this color-coordinated Easter photo.
Without question, Ciara puts her family first. But here, she mixes her personal and professional lives, putting on a play room concert for her little ones. We’re sure these guys have no idea how lucky they are to get floor seats at an exclusive Ciara show!
On Father’s Day 2024, Wade posted a clip on TikTok of him pulling out all of the stops to create the ultimate spa day experience for daughter Kaavia, complete with candles, yogurt and a perfect mani-pedi.
When she’s not performing, Teyana Taylor is also a sports mom, who definitely is not about taking it easy on her kids. Here, she’s having fun playing a “serious” game of one-on-one with Rue – with a human hoop!
With a mom as cool as Keke, there’s no doubt that your birthday party is going to be lit. Check out this clip of Leo and his friends riding in some serious hot wheels as they celebrated his second birthday in February.
Can we all just agree that Devale and Khadeen Ellis have the most beautiful family? We love that the couple lets us in on all of the love and laughter they share with their four sons with us on their podcast, “Ellis Ever After.”
In this hilarious video, Devale shares his frustration when one of his sons completely takes over the bed when he crawls into bed with Mom and Dad after having a nightmare.
While the COVID-19 pandemic forced most of the world to shut down in an effort to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett and her team at the National Institutes of Health went into overdrive. The fruits of their labor came in the form of the Moderna vaccine, which was one of the first two mRNA vaccines in the United States to receive emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration. Corbett has since used her platform to both educate people on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine while also rebuilding trust in the Black community where some were initially (and understandable) hesitant about taking the vaccines. She described the process of building that trust as a “brick-by-brick” effort and wants other physicians and scientists to approach educating about the vaccine in the same way. Harvard University announced in May that Corbett would be joining its T.H. Chan School of Public Health as an assistant professor in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases—furthering her mission to be a teacher and leader in the fight to develop life-saving vaccines.
2. Nikole Hannah-Jones
Photo: John Minchillo/AP Photo
Journalist, Knight Chair in Race and Journalism at Howard University
Nikole Hannah-Jones continues to live rent-free in the minds of conservatives. Republican lawmakers and conservative talking heads are still in their feelings about The 1619 Project, the landmark journalistic effort she helped create for the New York Times. They’ve tried everything in their power to keep the history of slavery and its legacy from be taught, including passing legislation to stop the teaching of “critical race theory,” a term that’s been co-opted by the right to mean anything that discusses the history of slavery and racism—like The 1619 Project (Wait until they find out that The 1619 Project is coming out as a book on Nov. 16). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tried her by denying the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist tenure for a position that historically came with that protection—a decision which, despite the university’s board of trustees’ best attempt to claim this was for other reasons, was 100 percent influenced by her involvement with The 1619 Project. After UNC eventually decided to grant Hannah-Jones tenure, she turned them down in favor of a new position created at Howard University. As the inaugural Knight Chair in Race and Journalism for the HBCU, Hannah-Jones will also head the newly created Center for Journalism and Democracy to nurture aspiring Black journalists.
We knew Missouri’s U.S. Rep. Cori Bush was a fearless voice for the people when we put her on our list last year based on her work in Ferguson after Michael Brown was killed by police in 2014. That hasn’t changed since she was elected as the first Black woman to represent Missouri in Congress. Bush didn’t waste time or words when she spoke during the House debate on the impeachment of Donald Trump after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, calling him the “white supremacist in chief” and saying he needed to be removed from office—regardless of potential backlash. Then came the moment when she and fellow Reps. Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley slept outside the Capitol building to protest the expiration of the country’s pandemic eviction moratorium. While President Joe Biden kept saying his hands were tied, Bush went to bat for the people who needed help the most. The attention the protest garnered led to an extension of the moratorium. After Texas’ abortion ban took affect, Bush revealed during a congressional hearing on reproductive rights her own personal, traumatic story of abortion after she was raped at 18. “To all the Black women and girls who have had abortions or will have abortions, we have nothing to be ashamed of. We live in a society that has failed to legislate love and justice for us. But we deserve better. We demand better. We are worthy of better,” the Missouri congresswoman said. Bush isn’t just out here saying what people want her to say. She’s putting in the work, too.
The WNBA is always on the frontlines of the fight for equality and representation, and despite her 5-foot 7-inch stature, Renee Montgomery is a giant among them. She made last year’s The Root 100 list for leaving her 11-year career as a two-time WNBA champion with the Atlanta Dream to dedicate her time to social justice. Montgomery embodied her “turn moments into momentum” philosophy by taking her activism from the Atlanta streets to the boardroom of the Atlanta Dream. She is the first former WNBA player to become a team owner. “My dream has come true,” said Montgomery said in a statement. “Breaking barriers for minorities and women by being the first former WNBA player to have both a stake in ownership and a leadership role with the team is an opportunity that I take very seriously.” This boss move is even more epic because she will replace former Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who previously co-owned the Dream and condemned the league’s social and racial justice advocacy. Montgomery and fellow Dream players campaigned to help Rev. Raphael Warnock defeat Loeffler in a runoff with record voter turnout. Montgomery also has an impressive resume in sports media as an Atlanta Hawks analyst, podcast co-host of Talkline, NCAA women’s basketball announcer and host of her own new podcast called Remotely Renee. She is the epitome of a gamechanger for women’s basketball.
Candace Parker, undeniably one of basketball’s most decorated players, will rightfully appear on the Mount Rushmore of basketball: the cover of the NBA 2K22 videogame. With a 14-season professional career as one of the most consistently dominant athletes, Parker was an obvious choice for the WNBA 25th anniversary special edition cover. She was the first woman to win the McDonald’s All-American slam dunk competition as a high school freshman. At the University of Tennessee, she earned a communications degree and multiple Player of the Year awards. In 2008, Parker started her WNBA career with the Los Angeles Sparks as the first overall draft pick, won a gold medal on the USA Olympic basketball team and became the first WNBA player to win MVP and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season. She even outdid Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld, the only other players with the same distinction, because she did it while pregnant with her daughter, Lailaa. As a free agent in 2021, she came home to play for the Chicago Sky and helped lead the team to its first championship title. Parker’s iconic presence extends beyond the court as an analyst for NBA and NCAA at Turner Sports. Her podcast, Moments with Candace Parker focuses on what Parker considers her most significant achievement: parenting.
During the Tokyo Olympics, Allyson Felix ended her Olympic career on the highest of notes by becoming the most decorated U.S. Olympic track and field athlete of all time. She and her teammates ran all the way to the gold during her final event, the 4×400 relay, bringing her medal total to 11. Not only was this an impressive feat on an athletic scale, but Felix’s continued excellence on the track was a loud-and-clear signal for all who doubted she’d still be able to perform at a high level after giving birth to her daughter in 2018. Felix has also become a vocal advocate for maternal healthcare after the double whammy of undergoing an emergency Cesarean section in November 2018 and her former sponsor, Nike, refusing to offer support and protection for its female athletes, something Felix called out in a 2019 New York Times op-ed (which her earned her a spot on our 2019 list). This year, Felix partnered with her new sponsor, Athleta, to create a $200,000 fund to help cover the cost of childcare for 10 athletes who are mothers. “Even though I was terrified, it was really important for me to speak my truth,” Allyson Felix told Highsnobiety. “It was really the shift of becoming a mother, and also the mother to a girl. I did not want her to face the same challenges that have been here my entire career.”
We were all stunned when Chadwick Boseman—who had made a career of playing heroes, both real (Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, James Brown) and imaginary (King T’Challa, aka Black Panther)—died on Aug. 28, 2020 at 43 after a private battle with stage IV colon cancer. His life’s work became even more awe-inspiring when we discovered that Boseman had been waging his cancer fight since 2016, when he was filming his career-defining role as Black Panther in three Marvel films, as well “Marshall,” Spike Lee’s “Da 5 Bloods” and his last role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” with Viola Davis, who said of Boseman after his passing that “he lived with the utmost integrity.” Boseman would be honored for his performance as troubled trumpeter Levee Green with countless accolades, including a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award (he was also nominated for his supporting role in “Da 5 Bloods”), but none were bigger than the Oscar nod for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Though Boseman lost to Anthony Hopkins in a stunning upset (even the Academy, which had moved its Best Actor award to the end of ceremony, where normally the Best Picture award would be presented, seemed caught off guard by the loss), his legacy is cemented in stone—literally. In May, Boseman’s alma mater, Howard University, named the College of Fine Arts after him, with fellow alumna and mentor Phylicia Rashad serving as dean. While there are no plans to digitize Boseman or recast his role in next summer’s “Black Panther 2,” his last performance as T’Challa lives on in his voiceover work in an episode of the Marvel animated series “What If…?” on Disney+. In “Black Panther,” T’Challa’s nemesis, Erik Killmonger, asked the people of Wakanda a question, one that could very well be applied to Boseman: “Is this your king?” The answer is: Yes, absolutely. Chadwick Boseman forever.
8. Marc Lamont Hill
Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images
Host of “<em>Black News Tonight</em>,” professor, author
Conservatives love to create boogeymen, and this year’s scary monster is critical race theory, a topic that has been maligned, incorrectly defined and a source of needless legislation. Enter Marc Lamont Hill. For the past year, the professor of media studies at Temple University has been inviting CRT’s most ardent critics—including the man who started the whole anti-CRT thing—to come on his show weeknights on the Black News Channel, where he destroys their ill-informed arguments wielding nothing more than facts and a killer smile. The author of six books—including his latest, “We Still Here: Pandemic, Policing, Protest & Possible,” an exploration of the resilience and resistance of Black people in 2020—Hill fearlessly speaks truth to power, whether defending the rights of Palestinians (which cost him his CNN gig in 2018) or advocating for the end of Black oppression and white supremacy, something he’s done most of his life. Ever the professor, Hill always has time for a teachable moment—even from his sickbed. After recently suffering a mild heart attack, he called out those spewing misinformation about the COVID vaccine: “I’m seeing videos and tweets from anti-vaxxers saying that I developed blood clots from the vaccine. This is ridiculous and completely baseless,” he tweeted. “For some, it is a cynical and dishonest claim. For others, it’s a lack of understanding of how medicine and science work.” Class dismissed.
The category is: Trailblazer! Michaela Jae Rodriguez (formerly Mj Rodriguez) warmed hearts and took the world by storm in the breakout lead role in Ryan Murphy’s drama, “Pose.” For the third and final season of the hit series, Rodriguez was the first transgender woman to receive an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and she is only the third transgender performer nominated in any Emmy acting category. Rodriguez will return to the small screen soon, starring opposite Maya Rudolph in a recently announced untitled Apple TV comedy series. What will the unstoppable star take over next? Your playlist! In June, the Berklee College of Music graduate released her debut single “Something to Say” under the name Michaela Jae. She said of the name change: “I wanted people to see that I was more than just this character that I played on a television screen. … It was only right and even more personal to let people know who the woman inside of Mj is: Michaela Antonia Jae Rodriguez.” As a fierce advocate for the Black, Latinx and LGBTQ communities, she told IndieWire her success is much bigger than herself. “It’s astounding, and it’s not just for me. I’m winning for so many people out there, so many babies out there, the generation that comes after me—that’s who it’s for, it’s not for me.”
10. Ibram X Kendi
Photo: Steven Senne/AP Photo
Professor, director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research
No one has done more to spark the current anti-racism movement than New York Times bestselling author and Atlantic contributor Ibram X. Kendi. Since publishing his book, “How to Be an Antiracist” in 2019, Kendi has tirelessly expanded on his work to create a more equitable society. He was recently named director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, which he also founded (he founded a similar center at American University in 2017). He’s written an anti-racism children’s picture book and a book on how to raise an antiracist child, not to mention fostering YA and children’s editions of his bestseller, “Stamped From the Beginning” and co-editing “Four Hundred Souls,” the No. 1 instant bestselling “community history of African America,” in 2021. He recently launched a new podcast, “Be Antiracist,” and a new development deal and production company will ensure he can continue to bring his research and insights to a wider audience. His dedication to fighting injustice and discrimination has not gone unnoticed—he was awarded a MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant last month. And though he is routinely a target of the right, Kendi deftly stays above the fray, arguing that the current mania over critical race theory sweeping through the Republican Party isn’t even a real debate: “The Republican operatives, who dismiss the expositions of critical race theorists and anti-racists in order to define critical race theory and anti-racism, and then attack those definitions, are effectively debating themselves,” he wrote in the Atlantic. “They have conjured an imagined monster to scare the American people and project themselves as the nation’s defenders from that fictional monster.”
Only a few years have passed since Megan Thee Stallion signed her first label and introduced the world to a rap persona of the same name through the breakthrough “Tina Snow” EP. The rap star dominates everything she touches, from headlining major festivals to leading in nominations for several musical awards. “Good News” was a fitting title for her debut album, which went platinum and earned three Grammys. In addition to Best New Artist, Thee Stallion won Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for “Savage (Remix),” featuring her hero and 2021 The Root 100 honoree Beyonce. Her epic performances, viral visuals, and impeccable pen quickly made her one of the top rappers in the game, but it was her outspoken advocacy for Black women that made the Houston native a household name. After experiencing violence at the hands of man herself, she used her star power to demand that Black women be protected, first in a New York Times op-ed and then with a stunning performance during her debut “SNL” performance. Last month, she told the Evening Standard about ambition for more. “I don’t like to put myself in a box. Anything I can get my hands on, I want to do it. When I’m in my 30s, I don’t want to just be known as Megan the rapper — I want to be Megan, the mogul. I want to have been a director. I want to have all my brand deals. I want to be known as a philanthropist.”
Long before the term “influencer” became a thing, Marques Brownlee was busy building his brand and YouTube channel, MKBHD, which he began in 2009 with a review of his new HP laptop. Twelve years later, Brownlee is a digital star and one of the most respected tech influencers in the game, with videos that routinely garner millions of views from his nearly 15 million subscribers. He has a team of five (and is currently hiring), who helped him produce more than 120 videos last year alone. His channel features interviews with some of the tech industry’s heaviest hitters, including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Bill Gates. As he continues to grow his media empire, the 2016 Young Futurist has big plans for the future; he’s already launched a podcast, Waveform, and a new YouTube channel is in the works. Though he’s keeping details about the new channel secret, he did tell the Verge, “It will have a lot more casual content and things that people have wanted to see but haven’t seen from the MKBHD channel. And that’s going to be a lot of fun.”
13. Aswad Thomas
Photo: Courtesy of Alliance for Safety and Justice
Chief of organizing and national director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice
For people wondering about community safety alternatives amid calls to defund and abolish the police, Aswad Thomas has an answer: listen to the victims. He was 26 and weeks away from leaving the United States to play basketball professionally in Europe when gun violence ended his career and almost ended his life. He realized that victims of crime like himself rarely get the resources for emotional, physical, or financial recovery, and this was true for his assailant, who lost an eye from a shooting. The criminal justice system devastated countless families like Thomas’, but it never addressed underlying causes of crime, like poverty and lack of social services. That pain sparked a passion for advocacy. In 2015, Thomas received a master of social work and became the first to win “Social Worker of the Year” as a student. He joined Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice the following year, a flagship Alliance for Safety and Justice project. As their chief of organizing and national director, he expands their statewide networks of crime survivors and advocates for policies and programs that center survivors, families, and communities most affected by violence and trauma. This year, CSSJ released its first National Crime Victims Agenda, a 10-point plan to address collective trauma.
Like much of American history, African-Americans’ contributions to the culinary arts have been erased, whitewashed or completely forgotten. But Netflix’s four-part docuseries “High on the Hog: How African-American Cuisine Transformed America” serves as a much-needed corrective. Based on the book of the same name by noted food historian Jessica B. Harris—whose appearance in the first episode alone makes the show required viewing—”High on the Hog” doesn’t just explain how African-American cuisine shaped the American palate but how it changed the country itself. At the center of this epic journey is chef, sommelier and food writer Stephen Satterfield. Throughout his career, Satterfield has made a point of explaining how food defines the human experience. In 2016, he founded Whetstone, “a groundbreaking magazine and media company dedicated to food origins and culture from around the world.” In “High on the Hog,” Satterfield traces our epicurean roots from Benin to the Caribbean to the American South and spotlights the resilience and ingenuity of Black chefs throughout history. “I have been working for many years, I think, in trying to get people to think more critically about the radical potential that food possesses from the perspective of our own histories and stories, and I was really happy to have the opportunity to be a part of this food storytelling and so grateful for the way that it as received.” he told PIX11. Fortunately for us, Satterfield will continue this journey; Netflix recently announced it has renewed “High on the Hog” for a second season.
15. Tressie McMillan Cottom
Photo: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Tressie McMillan Cottom is someone who knows a lot about a lot of different things. One moment she’s studying the problematic nature of for-profit colleges. Next, she’s sharing her thoughts about beauty standards, or explaining why Sean Combs is the original influencer. McMillan Cottom’s insights and intellectual contributions on a variety of topics earned her a place among the 2020 class of MacArthur Foundation Fellows. The foundation praised McMillan Cottom for her ability to break down complex topics that tangle our society into knots and make them accessible to a wide audience. This includes her research and Senate testimony on how the federal Higher Education Act can better protect students and taxpayers, and how the hustle economy has a tendency to build its foundation on the labor of Black people. Tressie McMillan Cottom isn’t just part of the conversations; she’s driving the conversations.
16. Park Cannon
Photo: Facebook/Park Cannon
State representative, Georgia House of Representatives
When Black women helped turn Georgia blue in one of the most secure elections in U.S. history, Georgia Republicans quickly drafted a bill that was clearly designed to marginalize the communities who helped make it so. And it was another Black woman who did what she could to call out the co-conspirators who were attempting to suppress the vote. Back in March, Rep. Park Cannon knocked on Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s door as he livestreamed himself signing the new voter suppression bill into law. She was swiftly arrested by Georgia state troopers for obstruction of law enforcement and disrupting General Assembly sessions. Prosecutors ultimately decided to drop the case against Cannon, because they (like many others) knew that it was ridiculous to arrest her in the first place. Kemp—”a comic book villain of voter suppression“—may have gotten away with pushing through his legislation that only exists to make it harder for Black people to vote, but lawmakers like Park Cannon won’t allow the marginalized to be disenfranchised without a fight.
As Beyonce tried to tell us, country music has always had Black people in it. But you still wouldn’t know it by looking at today’s lily-white industry, something country music star Mickey Guyton is trying to change. The Grammy-nominated singer made history in April when she co-hosted the Academy of Country Music Awards, becoming the first Black woman to do so. Guyton’s debut album, “Remember Her Name,” taps into themes rarely heard about in country music. On the single “All American,” Guyton name-checks James Brown and dookie braids alongside James Dean and Daisy Dukes before turning the phrase on its head: “Ain’t we all American?” The song “Love My Hair” was inspired by those times early in Guyton’s career when she couldn’t find anyone who could do Black hair and makeup and so she had to drive hours to a salon before hitting the red carpets: “The things I did to try to fit right in / I’ll never justify my skin again.” Keenly aware of her place in history, Guyton also knows it’s important to remember the pioneers who came before her. “Well, a lot of people, especially today, are only seeing Lil Nas X or think that country music is just white guys, beers and trucks, and that is not the case,” she told NBC News. “There’s all types of country music. There have been a lot of Black people in country music pounding the pavement for a very long time.”Now, Guyton can proudly add her name to that legacy.
Lead hairstylist and wig designer Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson became the first Black women to win an Academy Award for Best Hair and Makeup in the category’s 40-year history for their work on “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Neal started laying and slaying hair as a little girl in Gary, Ind., playing with Barbies. When Neal was a student at Jackson State University, a coworker at Mac encouraged her to apply to the Juilliard School of Professional Internship for Wigs and Makeup. Her extensive work in New York theater, film, and television was necessary for transforming Viola Davis into the larger-than-life mother of blues, Ma Rainey. The team only had 10 reference photos of Ma Rainey, and they painstakingly researched to bring the characters to life. Neal created over 100 wigs for the film in under three weeks (Wilson, Davis’ personal stylist, was ineligible for our list). Neal meticulously made a historically accurate horsehair wig for Davis, cleaning and ventilating every strand by hand. Neal dedicated her Oscar to the ancestors and told Vogue she hopes it inspires future generations. “Any African American or young person of color going into this field should know people do want diversity. Erase your own fears, doubts, and preconceived notions. You are wanted, and you will be welcomed. Go in and work hard because there is space for you, and we’re living examples of that.”
The transition from child star to adult success is often a tricky one, but Zendaya makes it look easy with her grownup glow up. After a successful string of blockbuster films with “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “The Greatest Showman,” “Smallfoot” and “Spider-Man Far From Home,” she shocked the world as Rue on “Euphoria.” Last year, she became the youngest in history to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama for the HBO series (and joining Viola Davis as the only other Black woman to win the category). Zendaya’s portrayal of a teenager struggling with addiction, mental health and grief is as brilliant as it is haunting and heartbreaking. When production of the show’s second season halted due to COVID-19, Zendaya teamed up with Euphoria creator Sam Levinson to star opposite John David Washington in Netflix’s “Malcolm & Marie.” She turned the unprecedented challenge of the pandemic into a chance to grow as both an artist and an industry leader. She fought for equity behind the camera as a first-time producer, ensuring that the entire crew received a portion of the proceeds from the film. Whether Zendaya tackles fashion, beauty, film, music, or television, the multitalented and multi-hyphenated Oakland native is determined to break barriers. “It makes me mad,” she told Allure. “I don’t like the idea that you have to box yourself in or stay in one lane. Why wouldn’t I want to try to make the most of my talents and my gifts while I can?”
In 2020, Tina Charles was looking to get out of a rut. After six years with the New York Liberty, the UConn alum was traded to the Washington Mystics. But like most things in 2020, COVID forced Charles to sit out the 2020 season because her asthma put her at higher risk of catching the disease. Nevertheless, Charles didn’t waste time baking sourdough bread or playing videogames like most people during quarantine. She put in the work, and when the 2021 season started, she was en fuego. At one point, she was averaging 26.2 points a game and was on pace to break Diana Turasi’s single-season scoring record of 25.3 points per game; a dip after the Tokyo Olympics slowed her momentum, but she still ended up leading the league, averaging 23.4 points per game, a career best. At the Olympics, Charles was instrumental in helping Team USA win its seventh gold medal in a row while on her way to snagging her third gold medal. Despite all the accolades this season, Charles still has one key goal in mind before she retires: “I just know I need to win a championship before I retire,” Charles told the Washington Post. “Obviously, some decisions are going to have to be made and I have to look into everything.”
Malika Andrews knows how to seize the moment. When the NBA decided to carry on with its season during the pandemic last year, Andrews became an instant breakout star as one of the first journalists allowed inside the NBA bubble in Orlando, Fla. Thrust into one of the most unique situations ever for a sports journalist, the Oakland, Calif., native made the most of the moment, deftly weaving entertaining behind-the-scenes segments about life inside the bubble with in-depth reporting on issues affecting the players on and off the court, like her piece on players’ reactions to a Kentucky grand jury’s decision not to charge the officers in Breonna Taylor’s death. Andrews perfectly captured the emotional moment, even offering her own personal take, something that isn’t usually welcomed by her employer. But Andrews is undeterred. “When I am aided in doing that job and fulfilling that by sprinkling in some of my own worldview, that no one can tell me is invalid or incorrect because I’ve lived it, then I’ve absolutely been emboldened to do so.” she told GQ. When ESPN needed to find a way to move past the explosive New York Times story in which ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols was caught on video throwing shade at Black colleague Maria Taylor, “the worldwide leader in sports” turned to its rising young star to take Nichols’ place on the sidelines of the NBA Finals, a first for Andrews. She lived up to the moment, earning high praise from fans, players and colleagues for her veteran-level poise, particularly during the post-game trophy presentation with the Milwaukee Bucks. Fortunately for us, ESPN rewarded Andrews with her own show, NBA Today, where we will get to see this budding superstar on a much more regular basis.
Tiffany D. Cross brings a potent dose of Black Girl Magic to cable news as the host of her MSNBC show, “The Cross Connection.” She was already a staple in the political media landscape, regularly appearing on “AM Joy” before succeeding Joy Reid in the Saturday morning time slot. Whether she’s addressing systemic issues like COVID-19 relief and reproductive rights or making headlines for dragging Bill Maher and Megyn Kelly for their racist shenanigans, Cross is as vital as she is vibrant. Her must-see show is dedicated to showcasing political discourse that welcomes everyone to the table with a thorough understanding of the issues and implications. “I really want people to flood my inbox, flood the hashtag, contribute all of your questions…tell your students to submit questions,” she said. “I really believe when people understand government better, it gives them a better sense of their own agency and their role in the American body politics,” she said about her vision for the show.
Whether it be Maya Moore stepping away from the game to focus on reforming America’s criminal justice system or the Atlanta Dream choosing to ignore former co-owner and former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s calls to stick to sports, the WNBA and its players have always been at the forefront of social justice activism in sports. Natasha Cloud of the Washington Mystics continues to blaze that trail as an activist and athlete when she opted out of a year of competition to instead advocate for changes in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis. The previous year, she spoke out tirelessly against gun violence in Washington, D.C., and even organized a media blackout during the WNBA Finals to draw even more attention to the issue. She was recently honored with a mural at New Hope Academy in Landover, Md., for her community work. While Cloud has returned to the court, she acknowledged there’s still a lot of work to be done, saying: “The needle has definitely moved forward a tiny bit, but there’s so much work for us to do still.”
Ashley C. Ford refuses to limit herself to just one form of storytelling. Her sharp wit, brilliant analysis and profound cultural commentary are exceptional in every medium she touches. If she’s not your favorite Twitter account, she probably interviewed your favorite Black female icons, like Vice President Kamala Harris or Missy Elliott. The Indiana native has hosted PROFILE by BuzzFeed News, “The Chronicles of Now” podcast, and most recently, the companion podcast to HBO’s series “Lovecraft Country Radio.” She explores a wide range of topics, from personal journeys with body image and her sexuality to plus-size fashion and disdain for all things red velvet. Ford’s newest title is “New York Times best-selling author” for her highly anticipated debut novel, “Somebody’s Daughter: A Memoir.” In the coming-of-age story, Ford balances an unflinching honesty with compassionate grace for not only her past selves, but also her struggling abusive mother and a father who was incarcerated most of her life for rape. The book, narrated from the real-time perspective of younger Ashley, follows the tradition of Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by giving voice to the complex interior life and thoughts of a young Black girl. Oprah was so impressed, she handpicked the book to publish under her Flatiron Books imprint.
America may never properly reckon with its racism, but Atlantic magazine writer Clint Smith attempted to do exactly that while researching his instant No. 1 New York Times bestseller, “How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America,” visiting eight sites, from within his native Louisiana to Senegal’s Goree Island, which were “pivotal in perpetuating slavery and its aftermath.” Now longlisted for the 2021 National Book Award for Nonfiction, “How the Word Is Passed” asks us to look at both the obvious and subtle physical monuments to slavery, in hopes of giving greater perspective and voice to the millions of enslaved people who were foundational in the building of this country. As the journalist and poet—also author of the award-winning 2017 poetry collection “Counting Descent”—told The Root, “The vast majority of people were people, who were trying to carve out opportunity and meaning and purpose and love in their lives in the midst of just unfathomable circumstances.”
If anyone can hold their own in a star-studded ensemble while bringing the nuances of a historical figure to life, it’s Leslie Odom Jr. He won a Tony, Grammy, and spot on The Root 100 in 2016 for his breakthrough role of Aaron Burr in “Hamilton.” Whether he’s rocking a Broadway stage or Tiny Desk Concert for his album “Mr,” the 20-year veteran makes every performance look effortless. In “One Night In Miami,” Odom starred as R&B crooner Sam Cooke on a fateful night he crossed paths with Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and Malcolm X in 1964. He captured Cooke’s compelling inner turmoil between chasing crossover success and using his platform to represent people’s struggles with “A Change Is Gonna Come.” His performance earned dozens of nominations, including Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Song for “Speak Now.” With “Knives Out 2” and reboots of “The Exorcist,” “The Sopranos” and “The Proud Family” in the pipeline, Odom’s talent continues to transcend genres and disciplines.
“The most urgent filmmaking anybody’s doing in this country right now is by Black people with camera phones.” So begins the brilliant and astute essay, “The Videos That Rocked America. The Song That Knows Our Rage,” by New York Times critic-at-large Wesley Morris, one of several dispatches about race and culture that helped him earn a second Pulitzer for criticism, making him the only person to win that category twice. Morris won his first Pulitzer as a movie critic for the Boston Globe before doing a quick stint at sports and culture site Grantland. He joined the Times in 2015 as critic at large, where he turned his sharp, observational skills to broader range of topics: a provocative take on Black male sexuality; an essay that sparked a larger conversation about criticizing Black art; a humorous, insightful piece on growing a mustache and its connection to Blackness and masculinity. No matter the subject, Morris will always have a smart, compelling point of view. When he isn’t hammering out 3,000-word stories on a same-day deadline, he’s giving us a piece of his brilliant mind on the popular podcast, “Still Processing,” with N.Y. Times colleague Jenna Wortham.
28. Jasmine Crockett
Photo: Facebook/Jasmine Crockett
State House representative for Texas’ 100th District
Most newly elected legislators are expected to watch and learn from experienced colleagues, especially if they’re in the minority. However, Jasmine Crockett didn’t run for office to tread water. She came to make waves. Before being elected to the Texas House of Representatives, she fought injustice as an attorney. As a criminal defense and civil rights attorney, Crockett made headlines defending Black Lives Matter protestors and victims of police brutality. In 2020, Crockett decided she needed to change the legal system itself to make a difference and ran for state representative. Since taking office in January, Crockett has sponsored 185 bills and wrote 75 on her own. Issues like voting rights, the pandemic response, and police reform were too urgent. When Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and the GOP-controlled state legislature tried to ram through a restrictive voting bill, Crockett and her fellow Democrats did the only thing they could to stall the onslaught of extreme GOP legislation: They staged a walkout. The battle is only the beginning for Crockett. “I plan to be more aggressive. I plan to study from now until the next session all the rules and pull out all the stops to do whatever it takes to kill as many bad bills as I can.” All we can say is, don’t mess with this Texan.
One of the pleasures of watching the Olympics is seeing Black athletes strive in sports that don’t get nearly the same attention as football or basketball. Seeing Olympian Tamyra Menhsah-Stock’s tearful but joyous interview after she won a gold medal in wrestling—making her the first African-American woman and only the second American woman to earn the acclaim—was definitely one the highlights of an otherwise fraught Olympics, which was plagued by concerns over COVID. Mensah-Stock’s emotional backstory adds context to her joyful tears: In 2009, her father died in a car crash after falling asleep while driving back from one of her wrestling matches when she was in high school. She almost quit the sport. “I wanted to stop so many times because I felt like all this pain wasn’t worth it,” she told Team USA. But she kept competing—and breaking down barriers—on her way to becoming world champion in 2019. Now that she’s achieved her dream of Olympic glory, Menhsah-Stock plans to make her mother’s dream come true by buying her a food truck. “She’s always doing back-breaking work,” she said. “I’ve just seen her struggling ever since my dad died and I don’t like seeing it.” And the wrestler hopes her story will inspire girls and women to never give up their dreams. “Just because you’re female, it doesn’t mean you can’t accomplish the biggest goals, and being Olympic champ is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my entire life,” she said in that viral interview. “I was born for this, I was made for this.”
Symone D. Sanders was determined to make history with the Biden-Harris campaign and that’s exactly what she’s done on the first-ever all-female White House communications team. Sanders made our list twice as the national press secretary for the Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign and senior adviser for Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign. Now she makes history every day as the senior adviser for Vice President Kamala Harris. Sanders also released a memoir last year called “No, You Shut Up!” The title is a clapback referencing a heated debate that went viral when Republican Ken Cuccinelli belittled and disrespected Sanders on live TV. Although Sanders was a notoriously outspoken CNN commentator, she encouraged a return of civil discourse to unite Americans around policy changes that address the needs of marginalized communities. With an unprecedented opportunity to contribute to this presidential administration and over a dozen campaigns under her belt at 31 years old, this political prodigy is already a dynamic leader forging a new future in American politics.
After leading public policy development and initiatives at Google and Facebook, Ifeoma Ozoma became the face and voice of the progressive change at Pinterest. She spearheaded action against harmful propaganda on its platform like vaccine misinformation. When Pinterest hopped on the Black Lives Matter bandwagon in June 2020, it was the last straw for Ozoma, who resigned over the racism and sexism she said experienced there. A nondisclosure agreement prohibited her from publicly calling out the company about unfair wages, a colleague who plastered her private information on hate sites or the inaction from Pinterest and its founder Ben Silbermann. “I knew I might be sued into bankruptcy, but I cared more about setting the record straight on the hypocrisy of it,” the Yale alumni told The Guardian. With Aerica Shimizu Banks (who is also on this list), a Black coworker who resigned over discrimination and retaliation, Ozoma spoke truth to power. Her tech accountability and public policy consulting firm, Earthseed, co-sponsored the Silenced No More Act. The new California law protects whistleblowers who expose workplace harassment and discrimination, even if they’ve signed an NDA. In addition to pushing companies to adopt clear policies that ensure that misconduct is exempt from nondisclosure agreements, Ozoma recently launched Tech Worker Handbook, which advises whistleblowers on protecting themselves from large corporations.
“Things will not get better unless we get honest,” Aerica Shimizu Banks declared during her 2019 TEDxTalk. The former White House appointee launched over a dozen diversity programs and BEACON: The DC Women Founders Initiative during her six years at Google. The quote proved true after she joined Pinterest in 2019 to lead federal policy alongside Ifeoma Ozoma (who is also on this list). Banks was severely underpaid and stifled professionally despite a resume that included Oxford, Princeton and a Truman fellowship. Both Black women resigned in May 2020 but publicly remained silent about alleged racism, sexism, pay discrimination, and retaliation for reporting these issues internally because of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) they signed. When Ozoma called out the hypocrisy of Pinterest’s Black Lives Matter statement, Banks risked everything to do the same. “This was about integrity and not letting the company get away with painting themselves as this space for kindness and positivity when they had completely denigrated, abused, and retaliated against us,” Banks told the Guardian. Their bravery inspired shareholders to sue Pinterest’s board and top executives for damaging the company with an alarmingly toxic culture. Changing one company wasn’t enough for Banks, who contributed to the Silenced No More Act, which protects all California employees from NDAs if they speak up about workplace discrimination. Banks was stunned to be embraced instead of exiled by the tech world but found a calling with her consulting firm, Shiso, which takes an intersectional approach to tech, policy, and business solutions.
The Democratic establishment didn’t see India Walton coming. When the registered nurse, activist and self-described socialist announced her plans to run for mayor of Buffalo in December 2020, no one seemed to take her seriously, especially four-time incumbent Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. During the campaign, he refused to debate her. But Walton kept her focus, running on a promise to reform the city’s troubled police department, increase school funding and rebuild communities wrecked by poverty—an issue Walton is familiar with, having been a single mom at 14 and who grew up poor. Even on the campaign trail, she had to support herself doing DoorDash deliveries, which led to some awkward moments. “And I’m just like: ‘Here’s your food. Don’t make it weird,” she told the Buffalo News. “But a lot of people are just, like, happy. It’s just amazing how impressed people are that I do normal things.” Walton won the June primary over Brown in a shocking upset that had some comparing her to fellow New York progressives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman, who both unseated longtime incumbents. A vigorous write-in campaign by Brown interrupted Walton’s hopes of making history as the first socialist and first woman to lead New York’s second-largest city (Ballots were still being counted at press time). Still, the 4-foot, 11-inch dynamo’s resilience and resourcefulness are the hallmarks of a progressive star-in-the-making.
34. Cécile McLorin Salvant
Photo: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
When Cecile McLorin Salvant hits a stage, she reclaims and stands firmly in the rich tradition of Black women storytellers and activists like Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald. She is a student of history, using her classical training and almost four-octave range to reimagine jazz standards and deep cuts nearly forgotten by time. “I don’t care whether what I do is modern or of our time,” she told the New Yorker. “I want to sing songs that have this timeless quality.” Born in Miami to a Haitian father and French mother, Salvant grew up immersed in a melting pot of musical and cultural influences. She began piano at 5, singing at 8, and discovered a love for jazz singing while studying classical voice at the Darius Milhaud Conservatory in Aix-en-Provence, France. At 21, she released her self-titled first album and won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition for vocalists. Her next four albums were Grammy-nominated, with “For One To Love” (2015), “Dreams and Daggers” (2017), and “The Window” (2018) each winning for Best Jazz Vocal Album. The vocal virtuoso made the 2019 Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for music. Last year, she received the Doris Duke Artist Award and was the only musician in the 2020 MacArthur Foundation Fellowship. Salvant is currently working on an animated feature film based on “Ogresse” (2018), her unrecorded theatrical piece, which blends baroque, folk, jazz and country into an odyssey backed by an orchestra.
Bianca Smith’s lifelong dedication to baseball led her to a dream job as the first Black female coach at the professional level. A staggering resume, extensive knowledge of biomechanical analysis and a passion for coaching made her a perfect choice as the Boston Red Sox’s new minor league coach. Smith followed in her ambitious mother’s footsteps to Dartmouth, where she played varsity softball, managed the college baseball team and was the only female player on the club team. Determined to secure a leadership role in the major leagues, Smith attended Case Western University for a dual J.D./MBA program in sports law and management. She also worked as the school’s director of baseball operations. For that position and later jobs with the Texas Rangers, the headquarters of Major League Baseball, the Cincinnati Reds, and Carroll University in Wisconsin, Smith was primarily paid in experience from roles that she helped create or expand. “I’m perfectly aware that, at least on the college level, I am more qualified than the majority of coaches getting hired,” she told the New York Times. “As a Black person, I don’t feel like I face the discrimination in sports that I do as a woman.” Smith went from dozens of rejections and dead ends in her job search to sponsorships with Oakley, Topps, and Nike. Her agent even hinted to the Times that a Bianca Smith baseball card is on the way. She is an inspiration for millions of fans and future leaders in baseball.
36. Hanif Abdurraqib
Photo: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Hanif Abdurraqib’s love of Blackness and Black creativity runs deep; in fact, the music critic and poet’s most recent book of essays, “A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance,” was inspired by rare archival footage of the iconic dance lines of “Soul Train” and dedicated to the pioneering artist-activist Josephine Baker. That book—Abdurraqib’s fifth—is a meditation on and excavation of the profound impact of Black performance in America, as well as the ways in which Blackness itself is conversely performed, both within and outside of popular culture. “I grew 9sense of wonder and awe with the generosity of black evolution; in the way that Black folks are not monolithic in that evolution,” he told The Root. The brilliance of “A Little Devil in America” earned it a spot among this year’s National Book Award finalists, while Abdurraqib was named one of the MacArthur Foundation Fellows’ Class of 2021.
Simone Manuel doesn’t have anything left to prove. In 2016, Manuel became the first African-American woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming at the Rio games, where she went on to win three more medals—one gold, two silver. With four Olympic medals under her belt, she set a new standard for activist athletes with an unprecedented inclusion rider, which stipulated that her sponsor, swimwear brand TYR Sport, meets specific inclusion standards and provides meaningful opportunities for marginalized people. But even though Manuel’s winning streak continued throughout 2019, by the time she started competing to qualify in the Tokyo Olympics, she began experiencing overtraining syndrome, a medically diagnosed form of “burnout,” that causes nerve and muscle pain, stress and depression. But she still fought through it to qualify for the 50m freestyle and was voted co-captain by her teammates. Though her Olympic plans didn’t go as expected, she still managed to win a bronze as part of the 4×100 freestyle relay team. Like tennis phenomenon Naomi Osaka, Manuel has become an outspoken advocate for self-care and prioritizing mental health. No longer the underdog, the 25-year-old redefines success as persevering and standing in her truth.
Black women are the fastest-growing demographic of entrepreneurs, but few reach their full potential because they’ve received only 0.0006 percent of tech venture capital investment from 2009 to 2017. This is one of many reasons Roshawnna Novellus is so passionate about supporting founders like herself. She raised over $600,000 for her education and harnessed that same financial finesse when she launched EnrichHer in 2017. The financial technology platform caters to companies led by women and founders of color, whom Novellus refers to as the “New Majority” of business leaders and innovators, especially in Atlanta. In 2019, Novellus launched the EnrichHer Accelerator to fast-track over 48 companies led by women and founders of color with business development and the Funder Matching Program. “I intend for EnrichHER to deploy billions of dollars to well-qualified business owners who have customers, cash flow and just need money to grow,” Novellus told WABE. During the pandemic, she supported New Majority founders with $5,000 business grants when they needed it most. Novellus leads by example and with compassion, encouraging more investors to put their money where their heart is.
Errin Haines wants to shake up how we talk about race, gender and politics. As editor-at-large for The 19th*—an independent, nonprofit newsroom that focuses on gender and politics—Haines is helping reshape the media narratives around Black women and their political power. (The 19th* takes its name from the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote; the asterisks in the company logo acknowledge that the right mostly applied to white women.) The Atlanta native and MSNBC contributor, who was the national reporter of race and culture for the Associated Press before joining The 19* in January 2020, has been essential to the site’s meteoric ascent by scoring major scoops—like Kamala Harris’ first interview after she was named Joe Biden’s running mate. Even before the death of George Floyd and the global protests that followed, Haines was writing stories about Breonna Taylor, helping bring national attention to her case while exploring whether Taylor’s death didn’t receive wider attention because she was a woman—a Black woman at that. When the coronavirus brought the campaign trail to a halt, Haines—with support from the Pulitzer Center—pivoted to documenting the lives of Philadelphia women of color during the pandemic in Portraits of a Pandemic. The project earned Haines the 2020 Vernon Jarrett Medal for Journalistic Excellence, which honors journalists reporting on issues that significantly impact Black lives. We can expect to see more from Haines in the future: Earlier this year, she scored a two-book deal with Simon & Schuster. The first, tentatively titled Twice As Good—which will chronicle the role of Black women in politics—will be published in early 2022.
It’s not everyday that a young, up-and-coming singer gets a call from a legendary idol. But that’s exactly what happened to Andra Day, who got a call from idol Stevie Wonder after his then-wife saw a video of Day singing in a strip mall. Wonder would go on to become Day’s mentor and help the soulful singer earn two Grammy nominations. Day was inspired and fascinated by Billie Holiday since she discovered the iconic singer at 12 years old. She even modeled her stage name after the “Strange Fruit” singer’s nickname, Lady Day. However, when Day was first approached to star in Lee Daniels’ biopic, “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” she was terrified to fill the shoes of Diana Ross and Audra McDonald, who previously played the role, for her acting debut. “I was dead scared. I’m not an actor, and I felt totally out of my depth. I’m such a fan of hers, and the last thing I wanted to do is mess up the story of this woman I love. What convinced me was the idea that the movie would tell the truth of her story, which is that she was a great godmother of civil rights,” she confessed to Shape. The San Diego native’s dynamic performance reclaimed the power, humanity and impact of Billie Holiday for a new generation. Day won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama and was nominated for an Academy Award. Next up, Day will dazzle us next with an upcoming album and her own screenplay.
Literary luminary Morgan Jerkins was lauded as a voice of a generation before her first book, “This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America,” hit bookshelves and the New York Times bestseller list in 2018. The collection of personal essays masterfully laid bare her reckoning with her formative years as a young Black woman growing up in South New Jersey, attending Princeton and living abroad. Jerkins’ 2020 followup, “Wandering in Strange Lands: A Daughter of the Great Migration Reclaims Her Roots,” ventured farther and deeper into Jerkins’ past, tracing her family tree through the Great Migration and over 300 years of American history. The book ended the year on Time magazine’s 100 Must-Read Books of 2020. Her 2021 debut novel, “Caul Baby,” began as a 2015 short story inspired by a love for Black American folklore and Harlem’s rich cultural legacy. Before joining ESPN’s The Undefeated as the new senior culture editor this year, Jerkins was an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s nonfiction MFA program and senior editor at Zora magazine. She is currently working on her next novel and regularly contributes to publications like Elle and Harper’s Bazaar.
During the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games, the world fell in love with Raven Saunders, the shot put-throwing machine from Charleston, S.C. After the 25-year-old left it all on the field to win a silver medal, she made a simple but powerful gesture with her arms crossed to form an “X” over her head even though the International Olympic Committee’s relaxed guidelines still banned protests on the medals stand. Saunders told the Associated Press that the sign is “the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet.” Saunders, with her celebratory twerking, green and purple hair, and comic book-inspired masks, was not going to be silenced. As an openly gay Black woman with a past of depression and suicide, she dedicated the medal to the intersection of everyone struggling in the world. “Shout out to all my Black people, shout out to all my LBGTQ community, shout out to everybody dealing with mental health,” Saunders told the AP. “Because at the end of the day, we understand that it’s bigger than us, and it’s bigger than the powers that be.”
Zerlina Maxwell has something to say—and paired with a particularly prescient lens on American politics, she has rightfully earned her status as a political expert. A veteran of both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaigns, the attorney and political analyst is no stranger to the nuances, intersections and increasing divisions among those on the left, prompting her to write 2020’s “The End of White Politics: How to Heal Our Liberal Divide.” Since the acclaimed book’s publication last July—and earning a spot in The Root 100 Class of 2020—the MSNBC pundit and co-host of Sirius XM’s Signal Boost scored another major platform when she launched her eponymous news program, “Zerlina,” on Peacock last October. And like her many mediums, in which she demystifies current events, policy making and feminism, Maxwell believes there are myriad ways to become politically engaged, as she told The Root. “You can run for office. You can volunteer on a campaign. You can elect people, or elect activists,” she said, “and you can change and shape the world around you.”
44. Nehemiah Frank
Photo: Facebook/Nehemiah Frank
Founder and editor-in-chief of the Black Wall Street Times
A century ago a white mob ravaged 35 square blocks of Greenwood, a Black neighborhood in Tulsa known as Black Wall Street for its economic success. Nehemiah Frank founded the Black Wall Street Times to ensure that we neither forget the history of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Although Frank descends from the thousands of survivors who barely escaped with their lives, he had never heard about the massacre until he was in college. While still teaching in 2017, Frank launched the online newspaper to cover news and social justice issues relevant to Black Tulsa and the rest of Oklahoma. This year’s centennial remembrance of the Race Massacre brought national attention to Black Wall Street’s history, but Frank is focused on creating a future where Black Tulsans will thrive again. His homegrown advocacy and journalism lead the charge for economic justice from local government, fighting the ongoing inequality, and resisting gentrification from renewed interest. “We’re not even asking for a handout or a cash payment,” the TEDxTalk speaker told MarketWatch. “We’re asking for people who are the descendants of those who committed the massacre in this city to hold the city itself accountable for the losses that we incurred during the massacre.”
In the world of track and field, everyone loves the sprinter. Being deemed the fastest person alive is all about getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible. But running hurdles takes not only speed but stamina, balance and grace—and in the world of hurdling, Dalilah Muhammad is one of the best. The Queens, N.Y., native won a gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles at her Olympic debut in Rio in 2016. In July 2019, she would break the 16-year world record at the U.S. outdoor championship. Months later, she would break her own world record at the world track and field championships, where she held off a young upstart named Syndey McLaughlin. Their rivalry would become one of the highlights of the Tokyo Olympics. As Muhammad told the Los Angeles Times: “I’m definitely being chased.” While training for Tokyo Olympics, Muhammad would be sidelined by a hamstring injury, COVID and an eye condition that caused her to lose vision in her left eye. But she would fight through the adversity to win silver in the 400m hurdles (McLaughlin—who, at 22, is too young for this list—won gold). Muhammad would also win gold as part of the 4x400m relay team, which helped fellow 2021 The Root 100 honoree Allyson Felix become the most decorated American track and field athlete of all time. Though the struggle was real, Muhammad made the best of her moment, telling Refinery29, “I was just trying to have a positive attitude throughout it all. But it taught me to stay focused. Deal with what you’re dealing with in a moment, but know that you’ll heal from it.”
Tiara Thomas catapulted to fame as the co-writer, co-producer and singer on Wale’s 2013 hit single, “Bad.” The song that began in her Ball State dorm as an acoustic riff inspired by Trillville’s “Some Cut” went triple platinum, peaking at Not. 21 on the Hot 100 and No. 5 on both the Hot R&B and Rhythmic charts. The self-taught guitarist transcends labels and genres, citing Lauryn Hill, Kirk Franklin, Elton John, and Tupac as her inspirations. “I make a lot of sexy R&B music,” Thomas shared, “but my style is to mix genres. Something that sounds urban but with a touch of pop; not straight-up R&B. It’s definitely a wider range than that.” In 2017, she opened for her fellow singer/songwriter/musician H.E.R. for the Lights On Tour. The pair would go on to make music magic together with “I Can’t Breathe,” written in response to the death of George Floyd. The hit would win Song of the Year at this year’s Grammy Awards. Weeks later, Thomas and H.E.R. would strike gold again with an Oscar for “Judas and the Black Messiah’s” “Fight For You.” Now, Thomas is ready to bless the world with her own solo debut album this year.
47. Jewel Burks Solomon
Photo: The Associated Press
Head of Google for Startups, co-founder and managing partner of Collab Capital
Jewel Burks Solomon is revolutionizing the way underrepresented entrepreneurs find the funding and resources to thrive. Born into a family of entrepreneurs, Solomon developed a passion for business, innovation and hard work at home. The Howard alum worked as an Entrepreneur In Residence from 2014 to 2016 at Google, where she also helped other marginalized entrepreneurs leverage the tech firm’s resources to grow their businesses. In 2020, Google named Solomon to the newly created role of Head of Google for Startups to continue this work. Solomon oversees the $5 million Black Founders Fund to provide mentorship, resources, and funding to 76 founders as part of Google’s $175 million racial equity efforts. She founded Collab Capital in 2018 with fellow 2021 The Root 100 honorees Justin Dawkins and Barry Givens to address the specific ways Black founders are disadvantaged financially, socially and geographically in the tech ecosystem. The trio started with $2 million in capital and set a goal of raising $50 million. In May, Collab announced it had achieved its goal, with the backing of heavy hitters like Apple, Google and Goldman Sach. “We’re excited to be able to support founders anywhere in the United States, but we’re really focused on cities that have a high concentration of Black innovators and a lower concentration of capital,” she told TechCrunch.
Before the world entered a crisis because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ellie Diop was in one of her own. In 2019, the mother of two had been laid off from her sales director job, was going through a divorce and pregnant with twins. “I recognized that the only place I could go was up. It was already bad. It couldn’t get much worse than it was, and that gave me a little inkling of hope, and I just took it and ran with it,” Diop told Atlanta Black Star. All she needed was a $1,200 stimulus check, and the new mother of four made her own second chance. Thanks to a background in finance and experience leading a sales team of 70, Diop had valuable insights to help entrepreneurs build a strong business foundation. Diop was discouraged when she didn’t see any single-mom coaches after several weeks of researching the industry, so she saw a significant opportunity to cater to that underserved group. Two ring lights, a Canva membership, and a domain name later, Ellie Talks Money was born. She built her website and leveraged Instagram to market her coaching products to millennials who were increasingly turning to entrepreneurship. She frequently went live on Instagram to connect with people and offer free business tips. That social media audience quickly grew from 300 to 100,000 in six months. In 18 months, Ellie Talks Money reached $3 million in revenue by helping entrepreneurs like herself.
49. Brielle Ferguson
Photo: Brielle Ferguson
Neuroscientist, co-founder and programs director of Blacks In Neuro
Finding unprecedented solutions to complex problems just comes with the territory for neuroscientist Brielle Ferguson. She studies the circuits in the brain responsible for cognition and paying attention. Her research has already made significant developments towards understanding and treating conditions like schizophrenia and autism by pinpointing a specific neuron in the brain. The Stanford postdoctoral fellow was thriving professionally but still seeking community in her field when she answered the call of Ph.D. candidate Angeline Dukes. Inspired by support networks springing up in response to viral racist incidents like with Chris Cooper, who was threatened with police for simply bird watching while Black, in July of 2020, Dukes asked Twitter when they’re doing a #BlackInNeuro week. (It is officially July 27-Aug. 2.) That same month, she and Ferguson co-founded a movement of the same name with 22 other co-organizers. The social media project provides resources, networks, and a platform to recognize Black people in neuro-related fields worldwide. It has since become a non-profit with Ferguson in charge of programming. Diverse scientists make new discoveries at higher rates than their peers, but with Black students representing only 5 percent of Ph.D.s earned each year, they are more likely to struggle in isolation. The organization’s educational events are open and available to the public, and its platform allows 300-plus members to connect and collaborate. Ferguson’s work both inside and outside the lab is changing the future of her industry.
Inspired by the self-determination of entrepreneurship in Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Black Wall Street, Lakeysha Hallmon founded Village Market to be an ecosystem that supports Black businesses through cooperative economics. Since 2016, the Village Market has driven over $5 million directly to Black-owned businesses. After 15 years of experience in education, Hallmon knew elevating Black businesses would require revenue as much as resources, mentorship, and professional development. To maintain the integrity and control of her Black-owned vision, she launched the organization without any investor money. The Village’s community-driven mission and track record of helping sales skyrocket have attracted businesses in 38 states and four countries. “Support is a verb” is both a guiding principle for Hallmon’s work and a fundraising partner launched to support the Village Market community. In 2020, Hallmon pivoted online with a State of Black series on Instagram Live and the Village Retail, a collective retail space with 30 rotating spots for Black-owned businesses. She continues to educate and empower entrepreneurs with her latest project, the ELEVATE small business incubator, which focuses on wellness and mental healthcare for Black business owners and entrepreneurs.
51. Damien Fair
Photo: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Behavioral neuroscientist, co-director of the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain
The MacArthur Foundation Fellowship recognized Damien Fair for unlocking the mysteries of brain development with his creative use of MRIs. Working with stroke patients in the neurology department at Yale New Haven Hospital inspired Fair to get a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Washington University in St. Louis. He came to the University of Minnesota in 2020 to be the Redleaf Endowed Director of the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain. Fair uses mathematical models and his unique brain mapping of resting MRIs to track the biological mechanisms behind diagnoses like autism and ADHD. The institute is slated to open in the fall of 2021, focusing on early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cognitive conditions from infancy through adolescence. Fair also advances medicine by challenging the ways marginalized colleagues and communities are systematically excluded from STEM. He started at home by pledging to invest his $625,000 MacArthur grant into his wife’s work. Dr. Rahel Nardos is a urogynecologist specializing in postpartum care and surgical reconstruction after childbirth. His creative and comprehensive study of brain development from birth and intergenerational factors seeks to advance medical treatment as much as how our social structures can best serve those who need them most.
52. Xavier Henderson
Photo: E. Johnson IV
Co-founder and director of strategy for For Oak Cliff
Inequality runs deep in Oak Cliff, a Dallas community where Black people liberated from slavery settled post-Civil War, and the KKK built a meeting hall a few decades later. It’s now one of the unhealthiest areas in Dallas and has the highest incarceration rate in Texas, but Xavier Henderson is building a brighter future with For Oak Cliff. He and Taylor Toynes, both Oak Cliff natives and alumni of the University of North Texas and Teach From America, started a Back to School Festival in 2015 to provide resources to neighborhood students. In 2020, they co-founded the For Oak Cliff nonprofit to address the systemic issues in their community. With Henderson as director of strategy, the organization launched programs for physical and mental health, college counseling, a community garden, and education for all ages. Recently, For Oak Cliff gave out 1.3 million pounds of food during the pandemic and expanded to a 10-acre campus. Although his work has earned recognition by 2020 Echoing Green Fellowship and 2021 Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Social Impact List, Henderson defers to the people of Oak Cliff to direct their efforts. “We involve the whole community in the choices we make and the strategies for how we enact our initiatives,” he said. “How many efforts are being led by beneficiaries? There’s power here, and it doesn’t just stop with us. It enables so many more people from our neighborhood to get involved.”
53. Jordan Casteel
Photo: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Jordan Casteel has spent much of her young career painting vivid, near life-sized portraits of Black people—the street vendors, subway riders and residents of Harlem, where Casteel currently resides—the ordinary, everyday citizens who are rarely seen on museum walls. “A lot of the subjects that I have chosen maybe have had moments where they haven’t felt seen. Knowing that they get to feel seen long-term, that’s one of the greatest honors of my life,” she said. For the Rutgers University art professor, advocating for the marginalized and unseen is a family tradition; her grandmother, Margaret Buckner Young, was a noted educator and children’s book author; her grandfather, Whitney Moore Young Jr., was president of the Urban League in the ’60s (Casteel is named after Vernon Jordan, a close family friend who led the Urban League after her grandfather.) The trajectory of her career has been meteoric: Three months after graduating from Yale School of Art, Casteel had her breakout moment with her first solo exhibit, “Visible Man“—a nod to Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man”—at a New York City gallery in 2014. The exhibit featured Black men in the nude, casually posed in intimate settings, offering a powerful counter-narrative to the violent and hypersexualized versions of Black men in the media. That show caught the eye of Thelma Golden, legendary director of Studio Museum in Harlem, who offered Casteel one of the museum’s highly coveted residencies. Several solo shows followed, culminating in her first major museum show in New York City, “Jordan Casteel: Within Reach,” featuring nearly 40 paintings spanning her career that opened in February 2020 just before the pandemic shut everything down (a virtual tour featuring Casteel as a guide was a saving grace). In the past year, her work has appeared on the covers of Vogue and Time magazines, and in September, Casteel was named a 2021 MacArthur Fellow for “capturing everyday encounters with people and places in works that invite recognition of our shared humanity.”
54. Kerby Jean-Raymond
Photo: Manny Carabel/Getty Images for Sergio Hudson
Founder of Pyer Moss, global creative director at Reebok
Since his breakthrough presentation of Pyer Moss’ Spring 2016 highlighted the Black Lives Matter Movement and police brutality, Kerby Jean-Raymond has been at the forefront of a new era in fashion. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native continued to break more barriers last year when he became Reebok’s global creative director and won top awards back-to-back from the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Harlem’s Fashion Row. In 2021, Jean-Raymond became the first Black American designer to present at the Paris Haute Couture Week. He used the historic opportunity to honor Black inventors and their creations, like the cell phone, air conditioner, lampshade, and traffic light. Even the venue for his Paris debut was a nod to Black trailblazers: the home of Madame C.J. Walker, the first Black female self-made millionaire. His bold vision for the show, called “WAT U IZ,” reclaimed Black creators’ space in the collective consciousness and fashion industry, where Black culture has long been appropriated with little acknowledgement to the brilliant Black people behind it. With Reebok, Jean-Raymond is embracing the freedom to move fashion forward with socially conscious narratives. “Can our mindsets collectively evolve to serve the future? Are we inclusive enough? Are we bold enough? Are we challenging tradition enough? Are we ready to unlearn? It’s going to be difficult,” he told Harper’s Bazaar. “I’m ready, though.”
Many of comedy’s most exciting writers’ rooms have one thing in common: Ashley Nicole Black. If eight Emmy nominations and one win for writing on “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee” weren’t impressive enough already, Black was competing against herself at last month’s Emmy Awards for her work on “A Black Lady Sketch Show” and “The Amber Ruffin Show.” The former is the first show to have an all-Black women writers’ room, and the latter is the only network late-night talk show hosted by a Black woman. Black also recently joined the writing team for the critically acclaimed and hilariously heartfelt Apple TV+ series, Ted Lasso. Between acting classes, a bachelor’s in theater arts from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a master’s in performance studies from Northwestern, Black dedicated her life to performing. Despite her immense talent, credentials and education, Black was discouraged by the constant lack of opportunities for plus-size Black actresses. When Black discovered a new gift for writing and performing comedy in a Second City improv class, she left her Ph.D. program at Northwestern to bet on herself as a star. It paid off almost immediately with an opportunity to write and be a correspondent for Full Frontal. Black has repeatedly proven herself a powerhouse and told the Chicago Tribune she’s ready for more. “I really want my own show that I write and star in. And all of those voices that have been ignored, I just want to be a part of bringing them to the screen.”
Two years ago, hammer thrower Gwen Berry was harshly criticized after raising her fist during the U.S. national anthem during the Pan Am Games in Peru. Her actions led to swift repercussions—she was placed on probation for a year by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and lost 75 percent of her sponsorships. Instead of backing down, Berry—with the help of a sponsorship from Color of Change—continued using her worldwide platform to advocate for justice while representing the United States at the Tokyo Olympics. Berry even drew heat during the Olympic trials for turning her back on the American flag during the playing of the national anthem. “I feel like I’ve earned the right to wear this uniform,” she said while in Tokyo. “I’ll represent the oppressed people. That’s been my message for the last three years.” While her fiercest detractors can’t seem to comprehend it, Berry’s willingness to speak on behalf of marginalized communities and to bring attention to the ways America needs to grow is one of the most patriotic things anyone can do.
57. Reginald Dwayne Betts
Photo: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Reginald Dwayne Betts could have been another statistic. At 16, Betts—an honor student who never had a run-in with police—was sentenced to nine years for a carjacking, “the stupidest crime you can commit,” he told the New Yorker. While incarcerated, Betts developed a love of poetry after reading the “Black Poets” anthology. When he was released in 2005, he went back to school, first to community college, then earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and a Master of Fine Arts from Warren Wilson before graduating from Yale Law School. He passed the Connecticut bar exam in 2017, but examiners questioned his character because of his prison stint and rejected his application to practice law in the state; powerful allies spoke up on his behalf, and he was finally granted his license. During that time, Betts would publish two collections of poetry and a memoir while working for the New Have public defender’s office. He would also earn a spot on our list in 2018 after he was awarded a Guggenheim fellowship for poetry. In 2019, Betts released his third collection of poetry, “Felon,” which author Mitchell S. Jackson called “the keenest of testaments to what it’s like to have lived behind the walls.” That same year, he collaborated with visual artist and filmmaker Titus Kaphar on an exhibit at New York City’s MoMA PS1 called “Redaction,” which used redacted public documents to expose how the cash-bail system preys on the poor and marginalized. Recently, he launched Freedom Reads, an organization that donates books and develops reading clubs for juvenile facilities and prisons. His insightful poetry and advocacy on behalf of the incarcerated helped Betts earn a 2021 MacArthur Foundation Fellowship.
58. Nikema Williams
Photo: nikemawilliams.house.gov
U.S. representative, Georgia’s 5th Congressional District
A leader who saw inequality firsthand growing up in rural Alabama went on to climb Georgia’s political ladder, make headlines for civil disobedience and turn the tide of American politics. This incredible success story describes both the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis and his successor, Nikema Williams. When the civil rights icon passed away in 2020, Williams was chosen to replace him on the November ballot. Williams is a freedom fighter in her own right whose “good trouble” got her arrested as a state senator for protesting the results of Georgia’s 2018 gubernatorial race between Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp, who oversaw his own election and has a history of engaging in voter suppression. Williams continued preparing for war as the first Black female chair of the Georgia Democrats in 2019. After almost two decades of groundwork to make every vote count, she won Congressman Lewis’ seat, turned Georgia blue for Biden, and helped win the two seats that flipped the US Senate to Democrat control. In Washington, Williams continues to fight for the marginalized by spearheading an end to the 13th Amendment loophole. “I must continue to fight because I know that I am up against a system that was not created for me or by people that look like me, and I am operating within a system that wasn’t designed for me,” she told Essence. “I’m going to continue to speak up for those that for far too long have been overlooked and unheard in our political process.”
59. Rachel Robasciotti
Photo: adasina.com
Founder and CEO of Robasciotti & Philipson and Adasina Social Capital
Rachel Robasciotti is a pioneer of social justice investing and has led by example since she founded her progressive investment firm, Robasciotti & Philipson, at the age of 25. She broke barriers as a young Black queer woman in the predominantly white, male, and heteronormative world of finance, but didn’t settle for simply being the face of diversity. Robasciotti left promising career paths at MetLife Securities and Prudential Financial to start her own shop with the freedom to prioritize values-based investments. Robasciotti’s social justice investing strategy grew into another investment firm under her leadership in 2020: Adasina Social Capital. Inspired by Robasciotti’s West African roots, “Adasina” is a Yoruba word that means “she opens the way.” The financial activism firm lives up to its name by mobilizing investors to put their financial power behind campaigns focused on economic, racial, gender, and climate change justice. Last year, she told the world which companies she refused to invest in because of their involvement in prisons, surveillance, immigrant detention, for-profit colleges, bail, and occupied territories. Robasciotti’s leadership is defunding oppressive systems and steering billions of dollars into creating a more just and ethical future.
60. Iya Dammons
Photo: Baltimore Safe Haven
Founder and executive director of Baltimore Safe Haven
No one gets left behind on Iya Dammons’ watch. As a Black transgender woman who faced homelessness, drug addiction, violence, and survival sex work, Dammons knows how little support is available for Baltimore’s most vulnerable. She founded Baltimore Safe Haven to improve the quality of life for LGBTQ people in Baltimore. What started as mobile outreach from a van in 2018 expanded to offer everything Dammons wished she had in the past: a permanent address, workforce development, help with name changes, clothing, showers, and a safe space. While former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson was actively dismantling the few housing protections transgender people had, Dammons opened the doors to a Baltimore Safe Haven’s shelter. Baltimore Safe Haven recently expanded to provide housing for LGBTQ seniors with Legacy House. When the world shut down due to COVID-19, Dammons stepped up even more. “We were in the streets masked up trying to help our people who didn’t have a place to stay. We were boots on the ground when there was no one out there, and it was still deadly,” she told the Washington Blade. “We gave money support. We gave out hotel rooms along with other organizations. We gave out hair and hair cuts. We served our population because who was going to be there for us? Everyone closed their doors when it was either them or us.” It’s the work of people like Dammons, whose brilliant leadership and tireless efforts prove that Black Trans Lives Matter.
Moses Ingram’s “overnight success” story started with years of training and studying at Baltimore School for the Arts, Baltimore City Community College, and Yale School of Drama. She was fresh out of drama school in 2019 when she landed the role of Jolene in “The Queen’s Gambit,” which broke records as Netflix’s most-watched limited series. Ingram’s dynamic range in playing Jolene from a young teen to adulthood left audiences wanting more and put her in the running for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series. She’ll appear next on the big screen with Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand in Joel Coen’s adaptation of “Macbeth.” Ingram is also joining the Star Wars universe for the Obi-Wan Kenobi spin-off on Disney+. If that wasn’t enough on her plate, she was recently cast in Michael Bay’s upcoming action thriller, “Ambulance” and will play Robyn Crawford in the Whitney Houston biopic, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” The actress told Elle that she looks forward to the challenge and opportunities to bring a broad spectrum of characters to life. “The scope is endless. I just hope to continue to see more stories that aren’t built around being a person of color, but more like you walk into a room and just are who you are. That’s sexy to me!”
Omar Jimenez is used to taking risks to report from the heart of a developing story. In 2020, he became part of the story while reporting from Minneapolis after George Floyd’s murder. The Medill School of Journalism alum was right on the scene amidst burning buildings, a raging pandemic, and aggressive police turning massive protests into violent clashes. Despite presenting press credentials and pleading with the Minnesota State Patrol, Jimenez, producer Bill Kirkos and camera operator Leonel Mendez were arrested on live television. Jimenez remained professional in the face of hostile police while reporting on a deadly instance of police brutality. “I tried to always frame what happened to me within the larger story of George Floyd and why we were there in the first place,” Jimenez told the Chicago Tribune. “What happened to me was a microcosm of the larger story we were covering. At its core, it’s an interaction between a member of the community and the police and how it can go terribly wrong.” His diligent reporting for over a year helped CNN win an Emmy for Outstanding Breaking News Coverage of the death of George Floyd.
63. Kandace Montgomery
Photo: Screenshot/YouTube
Co-founder and director of Black Visions Collective
Sector: Community
Age: 30
📍 Minneapolis
🌐 Influence: 167.1
📢 Reach: 6.33
🏳 Substance: 7.5
𝕏 Followers:
After George Floyd’s death, a national spotlight shined on Minneapolis activists like Kandace Montgomery. Montgomery gained the national spotlight when she made Minneapolis May Jacob Frey do the walk of shame for refusing to support defunding the police, but she’d already spent years uplifting the Black community and working to dismantle systems of violence through Black Visions Collective, a Black-led, trans- and queer-centered nonprofit she founded in 2017 with Miski Noor and Oluchi Omeoga. Outrage over Floyd’s unjust killing inspired support from celebs like Lizzo and $30 million in donations. They also granted over $1 million to 19 partner organizations with the shared mission of creating a police-free future. “Defund the police” has been dismissed as a trendy catchphrase, but Black Visions relentlessly fought to make it a reality through protests and policy changes. In June 2020, they convinced the Minneapolis City Council to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department, remove police from the city charter requirements, and create a new community safety model. Pro-police bureaucrats were able to stall a 2020 ballot measure to defund MPD, but voters got a chance in November to vote on a “first-of-its-kind” amendment to limit the size and scope of the police force’s power. “A world without police means that everybody has what they need to survive and what they need to live healthy lives, Montgomery told the Intercept. “It means we have the money that we need for education, health care, housing, workers’ rights. It is a total transformation away from a racist and violent system into one that truly fosters our safety and well-being.”
Science-fiction author Fabrice Guerrier uses the internet to create a social, political and intellectual explosion similar to the Harlem Renaissance. Believing creativity and collaboration are the keys to saving humanity, he founded Syllble for creators to exchange ideas from across the world in 2017. The virtual production house has hundreds of members globally and published the first-ever fiction novel co-written by authors from four global regions: Latin America, North America, the Middle East and Europe. The Syllble collective offers writers editorial support, access to publishing pipelines, community feedback, and a growing Brain Trust of mentors and experts. His podcast, “The Fabrice Guerrier Show,” is dedicated to harnessing this moment’s creative and technological potential to reinvent society for the better. In 2019, TEDxFSU brought Guerrier back to Florida State University, where he graduated with a B.S. in International Affairs and Leadership Studies certificate. His talk, “Gone Are the Days of the Lone Genius,” asserts the creativity and innovation that will drive the next industrial and technological revolution is humanity’s ultimate group project. The Haitian-American writer advanced this concept in 2021 through a partnership with the U.S. State Department’s Innovation Station: Creative Industry Lab.
Barry Givens was still an engineering student at Georgia Tech when his serial entrepreneur journey began with a custom sneaker company, Slushie Kicks. In 2013, Givens launched Monsieur, a startup that streamlined bartending with a tech twist at the Techcrunch Disrupt Battlefield. He won the Technology Association of GA Business Launch competition, successfully raised $4 million and revolutionized drink mixing at venues like major sports arenas and cinema chains before exiting the company in 2017. As a co-founder and managing partner of the Collab Capital investment fund, Givens provides a supportive network, mentorship, and funding to overcome the challenges that historically prevent other Black startups from thriving. Givens and Collab co-founders Jewel Burks Solomon and Justin Dawkins (who are both honorees on this year’s list) agreed that challenges disproportionately affecting Black founders required an unapologetically Black solution. “Going through this journey, even if you look at funds who have Black managing partners or funds that focus on diversity or marginalized people, Black founders still tend to be marginalized within the marginalized,” Givens told Afrotech. After reaching its goal of raising $50 million in capital earlier this year, Collab is more than ready for the challenge. While pledging solidarity to Black communities became popular for major tech companies after last year’s racial reckoning, Givens and Collab are focused on the impactful longevity for Black entrepreneurs.
The contrast between attending Dillard University and Yale University inspired Nicole Tinson to create HBCU 20×20, a platform connecting Historically Black Colleges and Universities students and alumni to professional networks, internships and job opportunities. Her diversity and inclusion company has successfully placed more than 1,200 Black professionals at over 200 major companies like Accenture, Netflix, Estee Lauder, and AT&T.Tinson shut down corporate excuses about the difficulties of finding qualified and diverse talent. As a leader, she doesn’t just bet on Black talent; she prioritizes Black people’s well-being in these halls of power. At the end of 2020, she walked away from a partnership with Google because of how the company treated and fired diversity recruiter April Christina Curley. Tinson’s trailblazing work of diversifying corporate America earned her spots on HBCU Buzz’s Top 30 Under 30 list, Dillard University’s 40 Under 40 list, and Forbes’ lists for 30 Under 30.
67. Zerina Akers
Photo: Mark Von Holden/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images
Celebrity stylist, founder of Black Owned Everything
One of the most vibrant and visible artists in the fashion world is Zerina Akers. Sewing lessons from her Panamanian grandmother sparked a passion for fashion that took her from being a W Magazine intern to having Beyonce as her first client. The Maryland native is the brilliant mind behind Queen Bey’s most iconic fashion statements in the past seven years, particularly the cultural and artistic feasts of “Lemonade” and “Black Is King.” She evolved from stylist to costume designer to create and coordinate dozens of looks, hundreds of custom garments, thousands of accessories, and countless cultural references for last year’s visual album. In August, Akers won an Emmy for Outstanding Costumes for a Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program for what Vogue described as the “Afrocentric fashion moment we’ve been waiting for” with “Black Is King.” As a firm believer in lifting as she climbs, she tapped into an immensely talented pool of Black designers from across the world for the sprawling project. Shining a spotlight on independent Black creators was as important as starting a global conversation centered on love for Blackness and the diaspora. Between the momentum of the film and renewed interest in all things Black-owned, Akers was inspired to start Black Owned Everything “for when the trend is over.” When she’s not collaborating with brands like Macy’s and Zales, she’s working to evolve her curated marketplace into a cultural hub that celebrates Black innovation and entrepreneurs.
Being able to change a set of tires during a NASCAR pit stop takes a certain amount of skill, precision and speed that, quite frankly, not many of us have. Brehanna Daniels, the first Black woman to work on a NASCAR pit crew, can do it in under 13 seconds. NASCAR—a sports league that isn’t known for creating a welcoming environment for Black fans (it only just banned the Confederate battle flag at its events last year and only after its lone Black top-tier driver, Bubba Wallace, made it an issue)—wasn’t even top of Daniels’ mind as a place for opportunity in 2016 when she was a senior point guard at Virginia’s Norfolk State University until recruiters from NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program showed up. Given the choice between attending pit crew tryouts and taping a baseball game for a campus internship, Daniels chose NASCAR and hasn’t looked in her rearview since. After making her professional debut in 2017, Daniels has continued to blaze a trail in a sport that is predominately male and white. Along with the rise of Wallace, who partnered with his Airness, Michael Jordan—NASCAR’s first Black principal owner in nearly 50 years—Daniels is helping drive home the point that Black people have a place in NASCAR.
69. Christopher Bradshaw
Photo: dreamingoutloud.com
Founder and executive director of Dreaming Out Loud
Christopher Bradshaw went from helping his Uncle Walt grow and give away vegetables as a child in his hometown of Morristown, Tenn., to founding Dreaming Out Loud. The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit creates economic opportunities and equitable community-based food systems for low-income communities. What started as a youth development program in 2008 expanded to address underlying systemic financial and food access disparities. In the nation’s capital, where Bradshaw attended Howard University, more than 75 percent of the city’s food deserts are predominantly Black Wards 6, 7, and 8. DOL started a two-acre farm, community gardens, and farmers’ markets to provide fresh, healthy food to those areas. Their ecosystem includes DREAM (DOL’s Ready for Entrepreneurship Accelerator Model) program for startups, AyaUplift workforce development, and the Black Farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) produce subscription, which saw enrollment increase from 150 to 1,200 during the pandemic. Since 2017, Bradshaw has advocated for racial, economic, and food justice by serving on the DC Food Policy Council. He was recognized by Food Tank’s 20 Leaders Under 40 Who Are Shaping the Future of Our Food System, the Opportunity Finance Network’s Justice Grant, and Eating Well’s list of American Food Heroes. He also received Georgetown University’s John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award in 2021.
70. Justin Dawkins
Photo: Collab Capital
Co-founder and managing partner of Collab Capital, co-founder of Goddie Nation
“To some, entrepreneur-turned-investors are simply changing sides of the capitalism table,” tech entrepreneur Justin Dawkins wrote. “However, what if entrepreneurs stayed on the ‘problem-solving’ side of the table? What if entrepreneurs saw a problem in the capital market and decided to do what they do best; build a product that solves it?” That’s exactly what he did in 2018 with Jewel Burks Solomon and Barry Givens (who are both honored on this list) when they founded Collab Capital, an investment firm by Black founders and for Black founders. “We are setting out to shrink the wealth gap by helping Black founded businesses overcome the funding and network challenges that often stifle their growth,” he continued. This year, Collab finished raising $50 million in venture capital with partners like Apple, Goldman Sachs, Google, and PayPal. Before Collab, Dawkins led and launched several Atlanta-based technology consulting and digital marketing companies, including his own and social analytics startup SoClick and Inflex Digital Studios. The Georgia State graduate focused on leveling the playing field in tech as Atlanta’s first Google digital coach and co-founder of Goodie Nation, a nonprofit that addressed the relationship gap for underrepresented innovators without access to wealthy and well-connected strategic networks.
Texas is known for its contentious and aggressively conservative politics, but a new generation of leaders like Jalen McKee-Rodriguez is spearheading progressive change. While he was a high school math teacher, the 2016 election of Donald Trump sparked an interest in politics. He started working on local campaigns as communications director for San Antonio Councilwoman Jada Andrews-Sullivan. After becoming disillusioned and quitting in 2019 over alleged anti-gay harassment and discrimination from colleagues, McKee-Rodriguez decided to run against Andrews-Sullivan and 10 others for her City Council seat. The 26-year-old ran on a progressive platform focused on accessible housing, community safety, education, and accountability to his district. He made it to a runoff with incumbent Andrews-Sullivan and beat his former boss by a landslide, making him the first openly gay Black man elected in Texas. McKee-Rodriguez hit the ground running as promised with proposals to consult criminologists on crime prevention, address neglected infrastructure and create a media-based afterschool program. The forward-thinking councilman told Spectrum News 1, “What I always say is that as a teacher, I got to prepare my students for the world as it exists now. And now that I’m a councilman, now that I’m elected, I can prepare the world for my students.”
In 2020, Beyonce changed the game (again) with the release of “Black Is King.” In addition to earning stylist and costume designer Zerina Akers an Emmy and a spot on this year’s The Root 100, Beyonce’s larger-than-life love letter to Blackness and the Black diaspora continues to be a game-changer. In 2021, the visual album received six Grammy nominations and won twice for Best R&B Performance for “Black Parade” and Best Music Video for “Brown Skin Girl,” which is also Blue Ivy’s first Grammy win. That night, Bey would win twice more for appearing on the remix to fellow 2021 The Root 100 honoree Megan Thee Stallion’s hot girl quarantine anthem, “Savage.” With her Best Rap Song win, Beyonce’s 28th award broke Alison Krauss’s record for the female artist with the most wins in the history of the Grammys. After expanding IVY PARK, launching a new scholarship fund and confirming new music on the way, Beyonce shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Long live the Queen!
Janicza Bravo didn’t just arrive as a filmmaker; we simply needed the right invitation into her universe. The sprawling odyssey of A’Ziah “Zola” King’s infamous Twitter thread called to Bravo from the moment it landed in her group chat. “I felt we were very similar the day I read those tweets. And that’s why I felt I had to protect it,” Bravo told Vulture. “I felt and heard myself in her writing, and I wanted to be able to usher it into being and care for it in the way I’d want to be tended to.” Bravo worked hard to protect the power and autonomy of the real and fictional Black women at the core of the story throughout the process, even pushing to secure A’Ziah King’s blessing and executive producer credit for the film. Earlier versions of the script by two white men felt so exploitative to the film’s star Taylour Paige, she passed on the role before Bravo came on board to co-write a new version with Jeremy O. Harris. With a degree in theater and design from NYU, Bravo meticulously harnesses every gesture and inch of the frame. The Brooklyn native transitioned to directing films in 2011 with shorts featured in Sundance, SXSW, AFI and Tribeca film festivals. She also directed episodes of prestige TV series like “Dear White People,” “Mrs. America,” “Them” and “In Treatment.” Bravo’s next project is another long-awaited adaptation of Octavia Butler’s “Kindred.”
74. Shaka King
Photo: Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images
Director, writer, producer
Sector: Entertainment
Age: 41
📍 New York City
🌐 Influence: 148.9
📢 Reach: 5.41
🏳 Substance: 8
𝕏 Followers:
Born in Brooklyn and trained at New York University’s film school, Shaka King was figuratively and literally a student of Spike Lee. King wrote and directed for prestige series like Hulu’s “Shrill” and HBO’s “High Maintenance” and “Random Acts of Flyness” while working on his most ambitious project to date: “Judas and the Black Messiah.” Studio support was scarce even with financier Charles D. King (no relation) and Ryan Coogler signed on to produce the first feature-length depiction of Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton (played by Daniel Kaluuya). A tense crime thriller anchored by the FBI informant (played by Lakeith Stanfield) who betrayed Hampton was an unexpected followup to King’s debut film, a stoner comedy called “Newlyweeds”. With the backing of Warner Bros. and the blessing of Fred Hampton’s surviving family, Akua Njeri and Fred Hampton Jr., King delivered one of the biggest films of the year. In addition to introducing Hampton’s legacy to a new generation, the film earned accolades. King was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture, the first time in Oscars history an all-Black producing team. The “Judas and the Black Messiah” team will reunite for an untitled feature about an American insurrection that King will direct, co-write, and co-produce.
75. Percell Dugger
Photo: good-wrk.com
Co-founder, president of Fit For Us, GOODWRK founder
Percell Dugger knows firsthand how powerfully transformative it is to have a healthy connection between mind and body. A highlight of his childhood was running around and climbing trees in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he was born and raised. When he struggled with depression and unemployment after a near-fatal car accident, exercise was a therapeutic outlet that inspired him to start a career in fitness. Inspired by the Audre Lorde quote, “Caring for self is an act of political warfare,” he’s on a mission to end Black health inequality. Dugger told Authority Magazine, “My goal with fitness was being able to provide healthy solutions for people in my community. That quote resonates with me so much because of the glaring health inequalities and disparities that exist for Black people in America.” When he isn’t training celebrities like NBA players or Winston Duke (Black Panther, Us), Dugger meets people where they are with affordable community-based fitness programs through GOODWRK. When 2020 put a spotlight on economic, racial, and health disparities in the U.S., Dugger turned a group chat with frustrated fellow Black wellness and fitness professionals into a collective to tackle systemic health inequality: FitForUs.Their team wrote an open letter to the fitness industry in Self Magazine to addressing everything from client microaggressions to the hypocritical statements of racial solidarity from fitness companies with racist policies and practices. FitForUs partnered with Color of Change to launch The Sanity Plan, a self-care program with resources to counter the stress of the pandemic. They tackle systemic issues like food insecurity while meeting urgent needs with a therapy relief fund for Black women without mental health resources.
As FCC Commissioner since 2019, Geoffrey Starks pushed for universal broadband access, subsidized computers and devices, and campaigns to keep vulnerable communities informed about the benefits of programs like Lifeline. Born and raised in Kansas City, Stark understands how communications barriers persist in rural America. The pandemic made it more evident than ever how many Black, Latinx, Indigenous, low-income, and rural communities were left behind economically and socially without vital internet access. Once schools, offices, libraries, and restaurants closed, millions lost their only access to the virtual world, and he’s committed to changing that. Starks also pushed for a $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit program. While he wants to ensure everyone has equitable internet access, he is also vigilant about protecting consumers from intrusive and predatory companies compromising or selling their data. Starks is at the forefront of national security policy to protect the communications networks of large corporations, institutions, and government agencies that are increasingly vulnerable to breaches.
You know Google. You likely use it every day. But did you know that one of Google’s top cyber security experts is a Black woman? That may be surprising but Camille Stewart is working to normalize Black people working in the cyber industry. She joined Google after stints with Deloitte and as an adviser for the Department of Homeland Security during the Obama administration. Through her nonprofit initiative #ShareTheMicInCyber, which she co-founded with Lauren Zabierek, Stewart is working to promote diversity in the cybersecurity field. To help with this, #ShareTheMicInCyber offers scholarships to cover the cost of training and certification for Black people in the cyber field. “Cybersecurity is rooted in people; you are seeking to protect people and you are seeking to figure out what the malicious people are trying to do,” she told Bloomberg Law. “Representing people in all backgrounds, all lived experiences, all ethnicities and races only enhances your ability to understand the malicious actor and to understand the user that you seek to protect.”
When Republican lawmakers did everything they could to try and pass legislation that would harm the LGBTQ+ community, Trans United executive director Daroneshia Duncan-Boyd didn’t sit by idly. She took to the streets by organizing protests and acting as a voice for the voiceless, while educating the rest of us about the realities trans women of color face in this country daily. Described as an “unapologetic, brilliant black transwoman” with a passion for her community, Duncan-Boyd founded the advocacy organization Transgender Advocate Knowledgeable Empowering (TAKE) to help trans women of color access necessary social and economic services—including during the pandemic. Taking on the challenge of advocating for trans rights down in the Southern states–where high levels of violence against trans women are routinely reported–is a tough job. But as she told the Birmingham News, “If we keep running away from the South, the folks will keep winning, but if we stay in the South, they will eventually lose.”
To Day Bracey, the purpose of his popular craft beer festival, Barrel & Flow, isn’t to sell beer. He told Pittsburgh’s NPR affiliate WESA that the main goal of the event is actually to provide Black business owners a way to network and benefit from the exposure they may have never had before. Barrel & Flow was originally founded as Fresh Fest in 2018, becoming America’s first Black-operated beer festival. Its popularity grew to the point that USA Today listed it among its top-10 ranked beer festivals as voted by readers. This year not only marked the festival’s return to an in-person event after the pandemic forced it online, but it was also the debut of its new name. Bracey told WESA that as the festival has grown, he has started to notice ways in which the craft brewing scene has become more inclusive in the Pittsburgh area–whether it be more Black people getting jobs at breweries or selling beer at their own events. While Black people still only make up a small percentage of craft brewery owners, events like Barrel & Flow are just one way to help change that.
If you copped a pair of the Club C sneakers that Reebok released last year as part of the company’s “It’s A Man’s World” campaign, you have Jazerai Allen-Lord to thank for her fresh take on a classic shoe. As one of the few Black women making their mark on sneakerhead culture, Allen-Lord has become a vocal champion for transforming the community into a more inclusive space for creativity to flourish. Through her company, True to Size, Allen-Lord has worked with shoe companies like New Balance and Reebok to strategize and tell stories that help inspire marginalized communities and honor the legacies of those who have come before us. In an interview with Coveteur, Allen-Lord said that she doesn’t want her work and other attempts to prioritize the contributions of women in the sneaker industry to be seen as “disruptive.” Instead, she wants to see more people listening to what women have been saying about their experiences and going from there. “People are going to judge you regardless of who you show up as, so you might as well be yourself,” she said. “If we aren’t showing up and showing out for us, who else will?”
81. Monika Schleier-Smith
Photo: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Scientists work to find the answers to questions that may be far beyond our understanding. Monika Schleier-Smith’s work in physics has been key in shedding light on the complicated nature of particle quantum systems. A graduate of Harvard University who received a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Schieier-Smith earned her place among the 2020 class of MacArthur Foundation fellows thanks in part to her research that focused on studying quantum entanglement within atoms. Her research has led Schleier-Smith and the team working at her Stanford University-based lab to dig deeper into long-term experiments on space-time and simulating what happens to atoms within black holes, among other projects. Schleier-Smith told Quanta Magazine: “We’re still at the stage of getting more and more control, characterizing the quantum states that we have. But … I would love to get to that point where we don’t know what will happen,” she said. “And maybe we measure the correlations in the system, and we learn that there’s a geometric description, some holographic description that we didn’t know was there. That would be cool.”
82. Jalina Porter
Photo: state.gov/
Principal deputy spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State
In 2015, when she pulled double-duty as a Capitol Hill staffer and a professional dancer for the Washington Wizards, Jalina Porter told The Hill that her interest in public service partially stemmed from the desire to keep the world connected and help make it a better place. Years later, in May 2021, Porter became the first Black woman to serve as principal deputy spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, continuing her drive to make the world a better place. In addition to her duties with the State Department, Porter is an active leader of various organizations, including the National Peace Corps Association, the Council on Foreign Relations and The Links, Inc., an international service organization. Her passion for helping others was a key reason why the Peace Corps bestowed her with the Franklin H. Williams Award, which honors “ethnically diverse returned Peace Corps volunteers” dedicated to a life of community service. Porter is an inspiration, both for her career achievements and for her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others.
It’s been said that gyms are starting to become a thing of the past, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic forced gyms all around the country to close up shop. Jahkeen Washington is proof that if you’re waiting to improve your physical fitness, you don’t need a membership or a fancy home setup. You just need your own body and the drive to do it. Washington and his friend, Thomas Boatswain, teamed up in 2019 to open JTW Fit, a gym that provides affordable fitness lessons for anyone that wants them. When the pandemic forced the gym’s physical Harlem location to close out of precaution, the classes moved to virtual and outdoor settings and continued its mission. Washington’s dedication to improving the fitness of others in a way that’s both impactful and easy to access is just part of the reason he won Men’s Health magazine’s Next Top Trainer competition in 2020. “We’re going to continue to build on that so we can promote affordable, inclusive fitness in our community,” he told the magazine earlier this year.
When Kimberly Wilson was unable to receive the care she needed to treat her uterine fibroids in New York City, she created HUED, an app that makes it easier for users to find healthcare providers of color. Since it was founded in 2018, HUED has attracted financial support from backers like Serena Williams and Northwestern Mutual, and has since developed lessons to help train healthcare professionals on critical race theory and other anti-racist tenets to further improve their care. WIlson told Shape that she wants people to understand that HUED is “trying to put trust back into the healthcare system.” It’s a noble mission, and will undoubtedly save many lives in the process.
85. Imani Rupert-Gordon
Photo: National Center for Lesbian Rights
Executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights
When Imani Rupert-Gordon was named director fo the National Center for Lesbian Rights back in 2019, one of her key goals for the organization was to put racial and economic justice at the forefront of the movement’s future. Intersectionality was and remains important to Rupert-Gordon, who is the first Black woman to lead the NCLR—an organization that was founded over 40 years ago. Under her leadership, the organization mobilized after the killing of George Floyd and hosted a town hall to address how LGBTQ organizations can fight disproportionate police violence against Black people. She was a vocal supporter of the Equality Act, citing that federal protections would improve the well-being of LGBTQ people of color. To Rupert-Gordon, fighting for LGBTQ representation in spaces that have gone far too long without it is her top priority. But, as she told the Advocate, until poverty, racial bias and other instances of society’s ills are eradicated, her work won’t truly be done.
While Republican lawmakers in Texas and elsewhere around the country were clutching their pearls at the mere thought of the phrase “critical race theory” being uttered in schools, Dallas-based education advocate Aicha Davis was busy working to ensure her state’s schools are inclusive to all. Davis, a member of the state’s board of education, was a key figure behind getting a statewide course in African American studies approved as an elective for high school students in 2020. This year, she was a vocal champion for CROWN Act legislation to be adopted in the Lone Star State, which if enacted would prohibit natural hair descimination in schools and the workplace. The bill ultimately died in Texas’ House of Representatives back in May, but its proponents say they’re not done fighting for their cause. It’s that kind of determination that makes people like Davis valuable voices for people who may not have had their voices heard before.
In March, the world sat riveted as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry revealed to Oprah the realities of life behind the walls at Buckingham Palace. Instead of a fairy tale, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex exposed how the racism of the Royals and the British media nearly drove Meghan to ending her life. Her open discussion with Oprah about the depression and suicidal thoughts she experienced during her pregnancy was seen by health experts as a positive step toward normalizing these conversations in everyday life. Now, she and Prince Harry are using their considerable influence to continue to advocate for mental health, including the release of a documentary series on mental health and wellness with Oprah on Apple TV+. While Markle may not have gotten the fairytale life she imagined, she is working to ensure that anyone facing mental health issues lives happily ever after.
88. Tiffany Crutcher
Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Executive director of the Terence Crutcher Foundation
Sept. 16 marked the fifth year since Terence Crutcher, an unarmed Black man, was shot and killed by a Tulsa police officer. Since then, his twin sister Tiffany Crutcher has worked tirelessly to prevent other families from experiencing a similar loss. She founded a nonprofit foundation that bears his name, which encourages communities to fight police violence while also pushing lawmakers at state and federal levels to legislate lasting and meaningful policing reform. A descendant of a 1921 Tulsa Massacre survivor, Crutcher has also carried a torch for other survivors and descendants to receive reparations as the country is only just beginning to reckon with the racist actions that marked that ugly day 100 years ago. Crutcher sees the connections between her brother’s death and what her family endured, telling The Root, “As we started to encroach on the 100th anniversary of the massacre, I saw the parallels of the past and the present,” she said. “The racial terror violence that my great-grandmother had to endure and flee in fear of her life is the same racial terror and state-sanctioned violence that Terence had to endure.”
By day, Maia Chaka is a health and physical education teacher at a Virginia Beach public school. By night, she dons her black-and-white striped shirt and steps onto the field of various NFL stadiums as the first Black woman to join the league’s officiating staff. Chaka always felt comfortable on the football field, even while growing up in Rochester, N.Y. “I think that’s why they picked me,” Chaka said of the boys in her neighborhood. “If they did try to exclude me, I would bully my way on the field. But they never made me feel lesser than. I was always one of the better athletes and the boys welcomed that.” In 2011, Chaka began working as a college football official for the Pac-12 Conference and Conference USA before joining the NFL’s Officiating Development Program in 2014. Her appointment as an NFL official was announced in March, during Women’s History Month. Chaka told her hometown newspaper that she didn’t have any nerves about making her big league debut. “If I fail, I might let some people down, but I can’t let that play in my mind because I’m so focused on what I need to do to make sure I’m successful.”
Everett Sands says that his grandfather is the reason he works so hard to create wealth within Black communities. Lendistry, his company, is the leading Black-led financial institution in America. Because of his grandfather’s experiences owning a business that was hampered by bad financial advice, Sands said he’s motivated to work as hard as he can to invest in business owners in every way that he can. As the COVID-19 pandemic raged, Lendistry moved swiftly and became the administrator of over $2.5 billion in funds to distribute to small and minority-owned businesses in California. Lendistry was then tapped by the Small Business Administration to distribute $28.6 billion in the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RFF); Sand’s company also struck a partnership deal with Amazon to provide lending services to small-business sellers.
In May, director, writer and producer-extraordinaire Ava DuVernay tweeted a Wired article that profiled Dee Tuck, who was hired by her company ARRAY back in November. DuVernay shouted Tuck’s praises for creating an inclusive hiring database called the ARRAY crew that the major Hollywood decision-makers can use to bring more people of color into the workforce. The database that Tuck coded has provided a solution to the problem that executives pretend is too hard to solve when diversifying their workplaces. No longer can they claim that they don’t know where to find Black creatives or women to fill open positions. They’re all right there in ARRAY’s database, thanks to Tuck. Her work is a testament to innovation and leadership at work and also a result of what happens when Black women are given the chance to flex their skills in fields that are associated with majority-white faces: They get things done.
On her website, Dr. Riana Elyse Anderson proudly declares that she was “born in, raised for and returned to Detroit.” While her hometown remains a central part in her identity and her work in the psychological field—she works as an assistant professor for the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health—her desire to help heal Black families bears an impact that stretches far beyond the Wolverine State. Anderson’s research spans various topics, including how to speak to children about race and a breakdown of ways that improved access to mental health care resources can help equip Black communities confront racism and discrimination. She also developed the EMBRace program, which helps families improve their racial socialization skills, in addition to fostering more opportunities for parents and children to bond with each other. Anderson believes it’s important for families to have these conversations, and she’s right. “It is mandatory that we have conversations with our families about our past, present, and future in the US,” she wrote. “I zone out during flight attendant safety instructions, but if something is impacting my psychological and physiological well-being on a daily basis, best believe I am attentive.”
We’ve all heard about how the work of Black women in Georgia were instrumental in flipping the state blue for the first time in nearly 30 years. Kayla Parker was one of those activists who spent countless hours out on the battleground. Using her experience in Georgia and from working on campaigns for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Amy McGrath, who challenged Mitch McConnell for his seat in Kentucky, Parker is back in her home state of Tennessee to put that expertise to work in the Volunteer State, which has routinely ranked among the states with the worst voter turnout in the country. In February, she stepped into the role of executive director of Organize Tennessee, a nonpartisan group dedicated to improving voter participation. There’s a long road ahead for Parker and her organization, but as she told The Hill: “I’m loud and I’m going to continue to be loud, but in a way that’s productive,” she said. “I’m not just going to be hollering to be hollering, but if it’s going to help voters be able to vote easier and be able to help nonprofits register voters easier, then I’m going to yell it from the rooftops because Tennessee deserves to know.”
Chris Montana, like many business owners, endured a series of challenges in 2020. The warehouse for his microdistillery, Du Nord Craft Spirits—located near Minneapolis’ Third Precinct—was looted and damaged by fire in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder in May 2020. Two days after Floyd’s death, Montana handed out water and hand sanitizer to protesters as a show of support and to slow the spread of a growing pandemic. Restrictions put in place to prevent COVID-19 from spreading caused business at Du Nord—one of the few Black-owned distilleries in America—to slow down. But it didn’t stop Montana from both rebuilding and sharing what he had with the Minneapolis community. Even more impressive was Montana’s dedication to uplifting his neighbors when they needed it the most. Not too long after the warehouse fire, he went to work by raising money through a recovery fund, which aimed to help other businesses owned by people of color affected by riots. Montana turned his warehouse into a food bank and co-founded the Du Nord Foundation, whose mission is to help rebuild and restore economic prosperity to his community. What started as a flash-solution to a food desert created in the wake of the civil unrest has lived on to help families through a pandemic that has continued to hamper them economically. Montana’s dedication to his community is one of factors that led Delta Airlines to start serving Du Nord’s Foundation Vodka on its domestic flights in October with plans to roll out more spirits from the company in 2022.
If you used Facebook’s fundraising feature either to set up a fund for your own business, for someone else’s or even just to contribute to another ongoing fund, you have Elizabeth Davis to thank for that. The Stanford graduate leads a team that develops new tools for the social media giant’s fundraising platform. The business fundraising feature was unveiled last year near the start of the pandemic and has raised millions of dollars for businesses going through economic hardship. She also developed fundraisers to provide relief for people affected by the Australian bushfires and one that raised over $12 million for racial justice organizations as Juneteenth approached. The work that Elizabeth Davis is doing shows that social media platforms can be a force for good.
96. Vanessa Rochelle Lewis
Photo: Screenshot/YouTube
Founding director of Reclaim U.G.L.Y: Uplift, Glorify, and Love Yourself
When Vanessa Rochelle Lewis was 15, a backhanded compliment from an algebra teacher triggered a moment of clarity that would define her life’s work: “Wow, Vanessa, you may not look like Beyonce, but you sure can write a moving poem,” her teacher said. “By telling me that I did not look like her while affirming my ability to write a compelling poem, he was making it clear that I did not fit into society’s understanding of beauty, and therefore I also did not fit into his,” Lewis wrote. “No longer was I a teenage girl, proud of my poem. I was now a teenage girl conscious of the fact that my math teacher did not find me attractive and did not think the world would find me attractive either.” Years later, Lewis—who describes herself as “a Queer, Fat, Black, Femme performer, facilitator, educator, writer, activist, healer, joyful weirdo, and Faerie Princess Mermaid Gangsta for The Revolution”—founded Reclaim U.G.L.Y: Uplift, Glorify, and Love Yourself, an organization that campaigns against “uglification” and works to promote more inclusive spaces for marginalized communities. In 2019, when an L.A. party promoter created a meme mocking Lewis’ appearance, the South Los Angeles native responded by launching the first annual UGLY conference. Reclaim UGLY carried on its mission when the pandemic hit in 20202 by hosting Solidarity Healing September, an online, monthlong, racial justice heal-in/teach-in, and Black Healing October, free, monthlong, online healing workshops for Black people by Black people. Last month, Lewis, a former writer and co-managing editor for feminist magazines Everyday Feminism & Black Girl Dangerous, released her book, “Reclaiming UGLY! Uplift, Glorify, and Love Yourself—and Create a World Where Others Can as Well.”
97. Laura Kupe
Photo: Twitter/selfie
Senior Adviser to the deputy U.S. secretary of defense
Breaking barriers is what Laura Kupe does. As an attorney, public speaker and an expert in national security and foreign policy, Kupe has spent years working to pave the way for more inclusive representation in largely white-dominated spaces while also working to keep our nation safe. Kupe credits her upbringing in Luxembourg with her Congolese parents in helping her learn about the interconnectedness of the world, including the global ills that needed to be addressed. As she got older, Kupe used her experiences and her passion for social justice to speak out on issues, while also advocating for people of color to have a voice in matters of policy that shape America’s actions both stateside and globally. Earlier this year, she joined the U.S. Department of Defense as a senior adviser to the deputy secretary of defense, where she will no doubt continue to be a beacon of inspiration for those seeking access to the rarefied space of national security.
Logistical work is mostly a behind-the-scenes enterprise. Those outside of the industry might not be aware of how much goes into making sure your package arrives on time, or quickly adjusting when traffic or equipment-related issues create obstacles for grocery store food shipments. As a co-founder of logistics company Wise Systems, Chazz Sims knows this all too well. The software created by Wise Systems uses artificial intelligence to help companies operate at peak efficiency when making deliveries, while also working to give the environment a break by reducing mileage and the carbon footprint. Forbes named Sims to its 30 Under 30 list in 2021 because of Wise’s impact during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing necessary assistance for companies like Anheuser-Busch and Lyft to keep running in the face of economic adversity.
Davonne Reaves didn’t let the fact that Black entrepreneurs, especially women, made up a miniscule share of hotel owners in the United States stop her from achieving her goals. In 2020, Reaves and her business partner, Jessica Myers, brokered an $8.3 million deal with Hilton–making them the youngest Black women to ever co-own a hotel under a major chain. With an interest in changing the landscape of Black hotel owners for the better, Reaves founded the Vonne Group in 2017 to provide guidance and investing advice to future Black hotel owners. In 2021, the Vonne Group launched the 221 Initiative, which aims to create 221 Black hotel owners and investors by providing the necessary resources they’ll need to thrive. She told NextAdvisor: “I hope my story will inspire people to not only think big, but also think about hotel investing and ownership as a possibility.”
Adapting to change is a key part of survival in both everyday life and in the business world. Joanna Smith knows this. It’s why her company, AllHere Education, was able to grow and expand as the COVID-19 pandemic put restraints on just about everything you can think of. AllHere works with schools to find solutions for chronic truancy—an issue that has plagued schools for years and was aggravated when the pandemic forced schools to move online. Smith and AllHere stepped up to the challenge by developing an AI-powered chatbot system that works with parents and teachers to reduce truancy, as well as providing resources to healthcare and academic assistance for students. According to Forbes, Smith’s ability to adapt not only increased AllHere’s client base to 2,000 schools in 15 states, but it also earned her a spot on the magazine’s 2021 30 Under 30 list for education.
The only First Lady we’ll ever acknowledge captured our hearts during her tenure in the White House by uplifting Black and Brown folks across the country as well as around the world. Not only does Michelle exemplify grace and beauty alongside her husband Barack, but she also continues to use her platform to stand in her truth. This year was no different, as Obama released her second book, The Light We Carry. It serves as the followup to her worldwide bestselling memoir, Becoming, and focuses on the things we have in common–not what tears us apart. “Any time we grip hands with another soul and recognize some piece of their story they’re trying to tell, we are acknowledging and affirming two truths: We’re lonely and yet we’re not alone,” she states in the book. During her press tour for The Light We Carry, Obama has also bravely opened up about the pressure placed on her and Barack as America’s first Black presidential family. “The code of ethics at a workplace, as Black women we deal with it, the whole thing about do you show up with your natural hair? We gotta ease up on the people. They tripped out when Barack wore a tan suit. The great indignity, the scandal of the Obama administration!” Obama recently joked during a talk with moderator Ellen DeGeneres. However, there is nothing funny about respectability politics being used to thinly veil racism. Whether she’s fighting voter suppression through initiatives like When We All Vote, or telling diverse stories through her and Barack’s production company, Michelle Obama will always be for the people.
For the last 27 years Serena Williams has dominated tennis courts around the world. She will always be known as the greatest to ever do it. But the GOAT broke our hearts earlier this year when she announced her retirement from tennis. In an interview with Vogue Magazine, Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, revealed that she was “evolving away” from the sport. (Side note: She also kinda-sorta walked back that idea in October during an interview at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference.) Serena has shared that her post-tennis plans include focusing on her investment company, Serena Ventures. In addition, the seven-time Wimbledon champion debuted her S by Serena fashion line this fall during New York Fashion Week. But, as we see it, being the proud mother of Olympia has been her greatest joy. It led her to release her first children’s picture book in 2022, “The Adventures of Qai Qai.” The story is about a little girl who learns to believe in herself with the help of her magical doll. No matter what you decide to do next, Serena, we will always believe in you.
Simply put, Questlove is a musical genius as well as the very personification of Black excellence. Not only has he used his platform to educate the public about the complex history of Black contributions to the music canon, he also stands up for important and timely social justice causes. The legendary Roots drummer has spoken out against everything from police brutality to voter suppression; he’s challenged everyone from die-hard capitalists to Trump supporters. Questlove has also put his personal stamp on the Black experience by changing the way we consume media as a co-founder of Okayplayer and OkayAfrica. And he has used his power and influence to elevate Black culture by serving as musical director of the Academy Awards, as well as being the show’s in-house DJ (in 2020 and 2021, respectively). After Questlove made his directorial debut last year with the documentary Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), we had a feeling there would be big things in store for him. The film chronicled the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival and featured performances by Nina Simone, B.B. King, Stevie Wonder, Mavis Staples and Mahalia Jackson. And in March 2022, he received a well-deserved Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. Questlove has stated that the film’s themes are just as relevant today as they were in 1969: “This is about marginalized people in Harlem that needed to heal from pain. Just know in 2022–this is not just a 1969 story about marginalized people in Harlem.”
Earlier this year, The Head Hottie in Charge released her second album, Traumazine, to much critical acclaim. Not only was she pushing herself more in terms of cadence and flow, but the rapper also put her resilience on full display, using her voice to speak up for Black women. Despite being an alleged victim of male violence, Megan has seized the moment to highlight the importance of standing up for Black women instead of mocking them. “Since when tf is it cool to joke abt women getting shot ! You ns especially RAP NS ARE LAME! Ready to boycott bout shoes and clothes but dog pile on a black woman when she say one of y’all homeboys abused her,” she stated on Twitter. Other successful 2022 moments included flexing her comedic muscles while hosting Saturday Night Live, where she also was the musical guest; and making acting cameos on shows such as P-Valley and She-Hulk: Attorney At Law. In September, the artist started “Bad Bitches Have Bad Days Too,” a digital archive of mental health care resources. The site has links to several free therapy organizations, crisis hotlines, and resources. It aims to assist LGBTQIA+ folks of color, and Black men and women in particular. There’s really nothing like seeing a Black woman shine, in spite of the hurdles put in her way.
Stacey Abrams is the progressive beacon of light the state of Georgia desperately needed. If she had been elected governor of the state–something she tried to achieve twice–the revered politician would have worked to reinstate women’s rights (she called for the immediate restoration of Roe v. Wade); protect voting rights (Abrams helped recruit 800,000 new voters for the 2020 presidential election); create more affordable housing; and enact gun safety measures. Abrams has also spoken out against lyrics being used against artists–specifically rappers–in court. “As someone who believes very staunchly in the First Amendment, I am deeply concerned about any movement towards using a person’s word in their music or their writing as an indictment of who they are,” she has said. Abrams, who was nominated last year for the Nobel Peace Prize, has a tenacity that few possess. Her intellect, fearlessness and ability to bring people together for a common cause makes Black Americans hopeful that the White House could be next on her agenda.
In the words of the talented singer herself, big girls stay winning! Lizzo faced her fair share of criticism–in the form of haters–in 2022. The trolls ranged from racist conservatives to Kanye West, but Lizzo simply kept her eyes on the prize and elevated her craft. She released her fourth studio album, Special, in April. Its lead single, “About Damn Time,” was a smash hit that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. But the performer didn’t stop there. It’s one thing to make songs promoting body positivity, but Lizzo decided to bring her message to the small screen. The star’s Amazon Prime Video reality series, Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, garnered her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Competition Program. And in true renaissance woman fashion, Lizzo flexed her hosting muscles on Saturday Night Live this year. In September, she famously ruffled numerous conservative feathers when she played a crystal flute that was once owned by former President James Madison during one of her shows in Washington D.C. Right-wing pundit Matt Walsh tweeted that she was “desecrating American history just for the sake of it.” Her fans quickly defended this faux outrage and called it exactly what it was: racism. Though she is often the subject of controversy for embracing her curves, Lizzo continues to show how successful you can be when you unapologetically embrace who you are.
From calling out Kanye, to addressing the racists abusing Twitter under Elon Musk’s watch, Trevor Noah knew how to be the topic of conversation in 2022. Not only did the South African comedian host the 64th Grammy Awards and the White House Correspondents Dinner, he also wrapped a 7-year-run of The Daily Show (he had succeeded long time host Jon Stewart). “Maybe this comes with not being raised in America, but I believe that everything should end,” Noah explained to The Hollywood Reporter in November. “A lot of American business and American media is just like, ‘Keep it going as long as possible.’ I think it’s healthy for things to end when they’re still in a good place. I want to leave before I’m burnt out, because there are many other things I’d like to do.” Despite the Born a Crime author ending his tenure on the show, he has a comedy tour starting next year, projects being developed under his Zero Day Productions banner, and is currently working on a Broadway musical. Noah’s sharp wit transcends multiple mediums, and his expansive career proves this out. The world needs more of his candor. Honestly, we cannot wait to see what the future has in store for him.
Is there anything Issa Rae can’t do? The Insecure creator has expanded her creative horizons over the last decade, but she was in her bag in 2022. She started the year strong with her hit HBO series Rap Sh!t alongside showrunner Syreeta Singleton. She graced the digital cover of Today, was selected as ambassador for the American Black Film Festival and became the first person to receive the keys to the city of Englewood. She also received the 2022 Visionary Award from the Producers Guild. Her impact is so seismic that she managed to snag an exclusive, multi-project development deal between her audio company Raedio and Audible. As part of the arrangement, Rae is set to produce Audible Original podcasts “from a variety of audio genres, including scripted comedy, audio extensions of existing content, and entertainment-based nonfiction projects.” In an interview with Meghan Markle for her Archetypes podcast, Rae bravely opened up about the expectations that are placed on her in the entertainment industry as a Black woman. “I can’t lose my cool, I can’t do that, especially as a Black woman, but also just even as a public figure now. Because people are looking for ways to justify their perception of you,” she stated. On top of these tremendous successes, did we neglect to mention that Rae was serenaded by Usher at one of his shows during his Las Vegas residency? Icing on the cake.
During her second year as Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris was more active than ever. To wit: Arguably the most pressing issue of 2022 that continues to affect women across the country was the fall of Roe v. Wade. In her role as the leading voice in the Biden administration on abortion rights, VP Harris continues to use her platform to advocate for reproductive justice. The Howard University alum also unveiled a White House plan to improve global water security. VP Harris said the US is committed to improving the access that citizens have to safe water and sanitation services all over the world. And the Vice President laid out plans to reach the goal of replacing all lead pipes in the United States over the next decade. As quiet as it’s kept, reproductive justice and environmental security are issues of deep concern to Black Americans, because we are typically the most impacted. Vice President Harris knows this, and continues to fight for us on this and many other fronts.
Quinta Brunson didn’t just make history this year; she rewrote the playbook. Brunson was the first Black woman to receive 3 Emmy nominations for Comedy in one year, and was also the first Black woman to win the Emmy for Writing a Comedy Series solo (take that, Jimmy Kimmel!) It’s all due to her sitcom smash, Abbott Elementary, which is a sweet, smart and loving homage to the teaching community. Due in part to the success of the show–and Brunson’s strong belief in giving back–ABC was able to supply Scholastic Book Fairs to seven schools this March. Even before the first season of Abbott Elementary had fully aired, ABC made a rare move and ordered a 22-episode second season. Aside from playing the ever-determined and eternally chipper teacher Janine Teagues, Brunson also appeared on the season 3 finale of A Black Lady Sketch Show, channeled Oprah Winfrey in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, and played Ivy in Cars on the Road. Talk about booked and busy!
Folks were more than a little pissed off when our favorite Reading Rainbow icon was passed over as the host of the trivia game show Jeopardy. But his 2022 comeback has been way sweeter. LeVar Burton will be given his flowers this year, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the first Children’s and Family Emmy Awards. He’s also a 2022 Webby Winner in Arts & Culture for his podcast, LeVar Burton Reads, and was announced to be the host of this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee. We needed outspoken voices like his more than ever in 2022 as the fervor for banning books became even more of an issue. Burton has been vocal about the ridiculousness of banning certain children’s books, and has encouraged people to read the books that schools and other institutions are trying to take away. As he said on a visit to The View earlier this year, “We have this aversion in this country to knowing about our past, and anything unpleasant we don’t want to deal with. This is not going away. Nothing goes away, especially if you ignore it. So read the books they’re banning. That’s where the good stuff is. If they don’t want you to read it, there’s a reason why.”
Her courage under fire after withdrawing from competition during the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021 inspired all of us to know that we can stand up for ourselves and our mental health, gracefully and with no regrets. And honestly, the story might have ended right there because, as we all very well know, people have a tendency to move on to the next. Not so in this case. As Biles embraced her abilities as an advocate in earnest, she became even more outspoken in 2022 about the need for more support for sexual assault victims, foster care children and the mental health of athletes. For her efforts, Simone Biles became the youngest person ever to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden. Biles–along with nearly 100 other gymnasts–also stood strong in her pursuit of restitution from the FBI for failing to properly investigate the gymnasts’ sexual abuse cases against USA Gymnastics team doctor, Larry Nassar. So when we see her living her best life on the ‘gram, we know this is one young woman who truly deserves every good thing that comes her way, and more.
The legendary multi-hyphenate won her first and, let’s be honest, long overdue Emmy for her role in the ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary in 2022. In fact, she became only the second Black woman to win the Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series since Jackée Harry in 1987. We should all take a moment to give thanks and praise for her acceptance speech that night, during which we were reminded that this diva can truly sang. She’s been on a roll ever since, from her stunning catwalk appearance during Rihanna’s recent Savage X Fenty Vol. 4 show, to receiving the TV Humanitarian Award from the Creative Coalition and being honored at the Elizabeth Taylor Ball to End AIDS for her work as an AIDS activist, to being presented with the Honorary Order of Jamaica. At the latter ceremony, her gratitude was palpable as she told the Jamaica Information Service, “I thought it was a feeling of elation when I won the Emmy, but to be conferred with the Order of Jamaica, my mother having been conferred Order of Distinction. Ivy Ralph OD …we say Original Diva. I feel so proud.”
In 2022, the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper also known as King Kendrick released his long-awaited fifth studio album, Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers. The cinematic scope of his storytelling this time around hit different, yet felt precisely on point. His chosen themes definitely struck a nerve: “N95,” for example, addressed the mythical nature of cancel culture, while “Auntie Diaries” received some backlash for some of the offensive language it contained. Despite a few naysayers, most critics and fans viewed his latest as a triumphant return for the poetic rapper, and praised him for revealing the kind of vulnerability we had not up to this point seen from him. Alongside Beyonce, it was announced in November that he led the 2023 Grammy nominations. And his sold-out performance at the Accor Arena in Paris was immediately lauded as a masterpiece. Whether it’s his lyrical fearlessness or the way he theatrically performs his songs, Lamar continues to set–and then raise–the bar for artists worldwide.
Shonda Rhimes had an incredible year of content creation, and of course, she crushed it with the release of the wildly binge-worthy series Inventing Anna, Bridgerton season 2, and the announcement of two more Netflix projects: Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story and The Residence. Her long-running television series, Grey’s Anatomy, continues to produce compelling storylines, even after 400 episodes. Along with Rhimes’ 9-figure deal with Netflix in 2021, she made sure to include diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the mix. It was announced this year that Shondaland and Netlfix will launch The Producers Inclusion Initiative and The Ladder. Both programs will create paid, hands-on opportunities in the film industry for people in marginalized and underrepresented communities. Rhimes has also been incredibly vocal about human rights issues: in 2022 she was one of hundreds of female tv writers pushing networks to protect their employees in anti-abortion states. Her final salvo: when it was announced that Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter was complete, she was one of the first to leave, fearing the app would be overrun with harmful users. And there’s no doubt that she took thousands of her Gladiators with her.
The Bronxville-born, South Jamaica-raised Eric L. Adams has a long-standing record of serving the city he now leads as its 110th mayor. Of course we’ve all heard about his hardscrabble upbringing, his tenure as an NYPD officer, and his service as the borough of Brooklyn’s first Black leader. But why we’re so intrigued with him in 2022 is his ability to seemingly be everywhere at once: it is no mean feat to have to balance social policymaking like his recent decisions addressing the city’s homeless, with traveling to Qatar for an antisemitism conference, and while fighting for more diversity in the ranks of the FDNY. But somehow he gets it all done and, if our hunch is right, he has even more political playmaking in his future.
Chloe Bailey, who now just goes by Chlöe, practically grew up in the public eye and we’ve eagerly watched her every move. Her metamorphosis has been a marvel, with one overarching theme: that Black women can evolve and love who they are exactly for who they are. We first met the now 24-year-old as one-half of the sister singing duo Chloe x Halle (and she rides hard for her sibling–especially as Halle faced racist trolls in horrifying numbers after it was announced that she would be cast as Ariel in next year’s live action remake of The Little Mermaid.) But it’s been in 2022 that Chlöe has truly made her mark, putting us all on notice that she has fully embraced her sexier side. Her evolution hasn’t come without its fair share of online bullying. “Social media, it’s such a love-hate thing; you’re constantly comparing yourself online with other people but I’m not changing for anyone,” she told Taraji P. Henson during her Facebook Watch series Peace of Mind With Taraji. What the haters couldn’t stop her from, though, is being in her bag. The multi-talented star recently nabbed her first film role in AGC Studios’ upcoming Wall Street drama Midas Touch. And this year’s solo releases like “Treat Me” and “Surprise” were viral hits. Her final flourish: winning her first award as a solo artist at the 2022 MTV EMA Awards, proving what we already knew–Chlöe’s reign has only just begun.
This thirty-four-year-old labor organizer’s star rose in 2022 after taking on one of the most powerful corporations in the world: Amazon. And while he may not have been a household name before, his victory against the corporate giant makes him a clear choice for The Root 100. Christian Smalls won an unprecedented battle in New York and was able to unionize Amazon workers in Staten Island. During the beginning of the pandemic, Smalls had led a walkout of Amazon employees who were fed up with the working conditions at the company’s infamous warehouses. Amazon fired Smalls for leading the uprising, but that never stopped him from fighting for workers’ rights at the company. Smalls then led a unionization effort in 2021, despite the fact that Jeff Bezos, who owns Amazon, spent millions of dollars to crush their efforts. Ultimately Amazon could not stop Smalls and his supporters from crossing the finish line. In a narrow victory, Staten Island Amazon workers voted to approve the union. Although he is not employed by Amazon, Smalls currently serves as the president and founder of the Amazon Labor Union. Smalls has told news outlets that he will continue his fight for workers’ rights. It’s this commitment in the face of what felt like impossible odds, that makes Smalls a no-brainer for The Root 100 list.
In 2022, Zendaya Coleman had a year chockfull of wins. She became the youngest two-time Emmy Award winner in history, for her role as Rue in HBO’s Euphoria. She is also the first Black woman to win an Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama Series twice. The accolades continued when Coleman won a BET Award for Best Actress and an MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Performance in a Show. But it wasn’t exactly all sunshine and roses: Zendaya’s portrayal of Rue in Euphoria drew heavy criticism this year as possibly glorifying addiction. But she spoke out about the importance of Rue’s journey to sobriety throughout the second season, saying in a statement, “I think that if people can go with her through that, and get to the end, and still have hope for her future, and watch her make the changes and steps to heal and humanize her through her sobriety journey and her addiction, then maybe they can extend that to people in real life.”
If beating the record for the most home runs in a single American League season doesn’t make you a contender for The Root 100 list, it’s hard to guess what else would. Thirty-year-old Aaron Judge ended his historic 2022 season with sixty-two home runs, the most of any single season of American League baseball. And for his efforts, Judge was awarded the league’s Most Valuable Player award. Judge is the first Yankees outfielder to win the MVP since Mickey Mantle won it in 1962. But of course, Judge is no stranger to this kind of recognition: In his early career, Judge also picked up some impressive accolades, foreshadowing the greatness to come. In 2017, Judge was unanimously voted the Rookie of the Year. That same year, he also finished second in voting for the Most Valuable Player award. Despite this year’s record-breaking season, and receiving one of the highest honors in baseball, we’re sure there are plenty of new heights for this star athlete to reach and, as always, The Root will be watching.
Jessica Watkins wants to go to the moon. No seriously, she really wants to fly to the moon one day and there is a good chance she might just do it. When you consider she spent more than half of 2022 in space, her quest to reach the moon no longer seems like a pipe dream. In fact, the 34-year-old astronaut served as a mission specialist on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission to the International Space Station this year. When the mission ended in October, she became the first Black woman to work on the Space station and the fifth Black woman to enter space. And this tops it all: She has now spent more time in space than any Black woman in history. Actually, she’s spent more time in space than nearly anyone, ever.
Keke is the Queen of Everything, okay! The vivacious actress was truly a beacon of light In 2022, further cementing her well-deserved place in Hollywood. First, she reminded us how brightly she shines on the big screen with her outstanding performance in Jordan Peele’s box office juggernaut, Nope, one of the very few films of 2022 to gross more than $100 million during these pandemic times. What we love most about Keke is her energy, her charm and her undeniable work ethic–and it appears that the legendary Whoopi Goldberg couldn’t agree more. Earlier this year during an interview with Charlamagne Tha God, Goldberg said she would love to see Keke Palmer, Lizzo and Nicki Minaj star in Sister Act 3. To which we say: bring it on! Keke continued to dominate the year by joining season 3 of Legendary as a judge, and gracing the Time 100 list. In true modern diva fashion, she surprised us all when she announced the launch of her own digital network, KeyTV. And when the internet demanded that she portray Whitney Houston in a biopic because they “act exactly the same,” the former child star was entirely on board. Her reply: “Let’s get the movie made y’all. I’m ready to ACK, we abt to weep in the theaters.”
In 2022, Letitia James was roundly re-elected Attorney General of New York–a stunning vote of confidence after becoming the first African-American and first woman to be elected to the position in 2018. This was also the year that her name became known around the nation. Let’s begin with May. After the Tops Supermarket shooting in Buffalo that left ten African Americans dead, James launched an investigation into the role social media companies played in the shooting by broaching the subject of whether the shooter used these forums to discuss his plan to shoot Black people. James also took on wannabe-titan Donald Trump by investigating the former president’s real estate development company for potential civil infractions–including overstated asset values–to obtain favorable loans and tax breaks. Trump’s attorneys have tried to avoid the investigation by offering James a settlement, but she has continually said “nope” to their offers. James eventually filed a civil fraud suit against Trump and his kids to cap off a three-year investigation of the Trump Organization.
After the Supreme Court declared open season on abortion in 2022, leaders like Alexis McGill Johnson stepped up to defend our reproductive rights. As President and CEO of Planned Parenthood, she is only the second Black woman to lead the historic organization. Running one of the most influential abortion providers in the country in this current climate must come with its lion’s share of challenges. But when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark case establishing the constitutional right to an abortion, McGill Johnson had no choice but to fight back. As a Black woman, McGill Johnson has been quick to point out the disproportionate impact of abortion bans on Black Americans. As McGill Johnson wrote in a May op-ed, “Racial justice and reproductive rights are, and have always been, inseparable. Anti-abortion zealots weaponize our bodies for their ends.”
Earlier this year, Karine Jean Pierre became the first Black and openly gay woman to become the public face for the Biden administration as Press Secretary, succeeding Jenn Psaki. Pierre’s decorated background includes being the Regional Political Director for the White House Office of Political Affairs during the Obama-Biden Administration and Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Legislative and Budget Affairs for two members in the New York City Council. In addition, she has also served as Chief Public Affairs Officer for MoveOn.org and as a political analyst for NBC. In her current role, Jean Pierre runs her podium, her way and keeps even the most prickly White House correspondents in check. However, that hasn’t stopped Fox poster boy Tucker Carlson from trying to degrade her accomplishments by calling her ascent an affirmative action hire. However, his desperation to tear down a Black woman was futile. Pierre has exemplified grace and dignity throughout her tenure, tackling complex issues like abortion and the January 6 insurrection head-on.
Dawn Staley lives, eats and breathes basketball. As a player, she was a two-time Naismith College Player of the Year at the University of Virginia, a six-time WNBA All-Star, and a three-time Olympic gold medalist. So it’s safe to say, Staley is a winner. As a coach, she garnered another gold medal as the leader of the Women’s National Basketball team at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, But 2022 turned out to be her finest hour as she led the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team to its second national championship, following that same feat she accomplished in 2017. Last season, the Gamecocks lost only two of their 37 games. During the NCAA Tournament, they destroyed the competition, eventually winning against UCONN in the National Championship game 64-49. Staley’s team’s run during the 2021-2022 season was nothing short of extraordinary and has surely cemented her as one of the greatest coaches in the history of basketball.
Naomi Osaka has been a strong advocate for mental health since stepping back from tennis in 2021. However, in 2022 she made her great return to the tennis court, playing at the Melbourne Summer Set 1. Although she has had to deal with several injuries, she continues to push through, and credits therapy and prioritizing her health for her healing. Osaka launched the Evolve Sports Agency in 2022, and this is also the year that she formed a media production company, Hana Kuma, in partnership with Lebron James’ SpringHill Company. Hana Kuma is aimed at creating empowering and culturally-relevant content as Osaka explained in a statement: “I’m so excited for what we are building at Hana Kuma. We will bring stories to life with this goal in mind: to make unique perspectives feel universal and inspire people along the way.”
Just when music fans think they’ve heard every type of music genre imaginable, someone breaks through and offers something fresh and new into the mainstream. For the last two years that person has been Jon Batiste, and as a result, he was met with widespread success and acclaim. In 2021, he dropped one of the best albums of the year, WE ARE, which he described as “a culmination of my life to this point.” Nearly a year later, Batiste won Album of the Year at the 2022 Grammys for WE ARE. Batiste also won Grammys for Best Music Video, Best American Roots Performance, Best American Roots Song and Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media. With the Louisiana singer’s music career reaching new heights, Batiste thought it best to leave his gig on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to focus on what’s next. We don’t know what’s next for him along this journey, we just hope it includes more creative and alluring music for fans to enjoy.
Just when sports fans thought Stephen Curry’s status as one of the greatest basketball players ever was cemented, he went on to achieve even greater things during the 2021-2022 NBA season. Already considered the greatest shooter ever, the star guard broke Ray Allen’s record for all-time 3-pointers during a special night at Madison Square Garden. In May, he officially graduated from his alma mater, Davidson College, nearly 13 years after he declared for the NBA Draft in 2009. Two months later, Curry and the Golden State Warriors won their fourth NBA championship in eight years. During the NBA Finals, Curry averaged 31 points per game, five assists and six rebounds, giving him his first Finals MVP ever. The questions on whether Steph could be the best player in the Finals were officially answered. Off of the court, Curry signed a lifetime contract with Under Armour worth nearly $1 billion and was also named one of the 10 richest athletes on the planet. Life’s good for Chef Curry.
Gayle King may have entered most of the American consciousness as the loyal best friend of Oprah Winfrey, but this powerhouse television anchor has wowed audiences everywhere with her thoughtful interviewing style. King has gone toe to toe with combative subjects like disgraced R&B artist R. Kelly. And she’s taken us inside harrowing personal experiences like the night Megan Thee Stallion was shot. Even in moments where she’s taken the heat for her line of questioning like in the infamous Lisa Leslie interview, King has remained true to her convictions. And King isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. In January of this year, King signed a new multi-year deal with CBS to remain on as anchor of CBS Mornings. “I still feel that in many ways I’m just getting started,” said King on her radio show after the news was announced. This champion of the interview arena undoubtedly earns her spot on The Root 100 list. And, we cannot wait to tune into years more of King breaking down news that’s near and dear to the Black community.
George M. Johnson captured the nation’s attention and our hearts at The Root with their debut memoir, All Boys Aren’t Blue. In a series of personal essays aimed at a young-adult audience, Johnson describes growing up as a queer Black person in New Jersey and Virginia. For the book and their commitment to telling stories from diverse perspectives, Johnson landed a coveted spot on this year’s TIME 100 Next list. Johnson told NPR in a 2020 interview that they were inspired to write All Boys Aren’t Blue by author Toni Morrison, who once famously said, “If there’s a book you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” Johnson told NPR that they had that precise saying tattooed on their right arm. The book went on to receive several awards and accolades, including Goodreads Choice Award for Memoir and Autobiography. But as with so many good works these days, the book has also received harsh scrutiny and backlash from the right. In 2022 All Boys Aren’t Blue nearly topped the list of the most banned books in the United States. But they remain undeterred. In fact, the controversy has propelled them even further into the public eye as a staunch advocate for literary freedom.
Best known by her nickname, Pinky, Cole has revolutionized the Black vegan food world. Her plant-based burger empire, The Slutty Vegan, has gained an almost cult-like following in Georgia, Alabama and New York. So it only makes sense that in 2022, Cole released a cookbook, “Eat Plants, B*tch,” which reimagines traditional comfort foods and gives them a plant-based makeover with recipes like avocado egg rolls and oyster mushroom parm. Cole, who was born and raised in Baltimore by her two Jamaican immigrant parents, recently told The Root that her goal isn’t to demonize meat-eaters, but to take everyone along for the ride. And so she has. In 2019, she launched her first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia, before opening more eateries in New York City, Woodlawn and Birmingham, Alabama. Her philanthropic works, such as the Pinky Cole Foundation, are also worthy of praise. Among its many community-based contributions, the foundation offers a scholarship fund to students enrolled at her alma mater, Clark Atlanta University. Pinky’s unparalleled ingenuity and love of our community make her an obvious choice for The Root 100 list.
Though it may seem incredulous that Black folks are still achieving “firsts” in the 21st century, that doesn’t mean we can’t or shouldn’t still give flowers when and where they’re due. That’s exactly why Rashida Jones, president of MSNBC and the first Black woman to lead a major cable news network, deserves to get her recognition now and not later. In this role, Jones is responsible for overseeing all programming, editorial units, business development, technical operations, and MSNBC Films. Jones also oversaw the launch of the MSNBC hub on Peacock, which marked the expansion of MSNBC’s streaming footprint. Prior to becoming president of the network, she served as managing editor and senior vice president. A proud alumna of Hampton University, Jones was recognized as the inaugural recipient of the Media Leadership Award from Montclair State University School of Communication and Media back in October.
Last year, Jazmine Sullivan rocked the music world with the release of her fourth album, Heaux Tales. Not only did she discuss the complexities of Black womanhood when it comes to love, sexuality, commitment and abandonment, but she made it a sonic adventure worth every second of the listen. In 2022, Sullivan doubled down on her creative ambitions by releasing Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe. It consisted of 10 additional songs and interludes. In The Deluxe version, comedian Mona Love prides herself on her endless strides towards pleasure on “Mona’s Tale,” while Issa Rae describes her own intimate proclivities when it comes to getting over a low -value lover on “Issa’s Tale.” As with the original, Anderson .Paak beautifully played the role of besieged boyfriend on “Price Tags,” while newer songs like “Selfish” and “Hurt Me So Good” reminded listeners of just how powerful Sullivan can be when she basks in her truth. When describing the motivation of the Heaux Tales, she stated: “In order to move on and heal and enjoy the life that you’re still living, you have to forgive yourself. I was going through that process while making the project, and I want other women who I know are feeling the same way to know that it’s okay. Learn from your mistakes and move the eff on.”
One thing we can say for sure about Kiese Laymon is that he is the very definition of prolific. His latest novel, Long Division, garnered him a 2022 NAACP Image Award, and the brother is currently in the process of writing two more tomes. As if that weren’t enough, he also has several film and television projects on the back burner. A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Laymon currently teaches English and Creative Writing at Rice University, and between all of that book writing, he has still managed to find time to give back. In 2020 he founded The Catherine Coleman Literary Arts and Justice Initiative, a program based out of the Margaret Walker Center at Jackson State University aimed at aiding young people in Jackson to get more comfortable reading, writing, revising and sharing their writing on their own terms, and in their own communities. As conservative zealots continue to turn up the heat on the topic of banning books, our young ones will need the kinds of knowledge such programs can offer to help them protect their freedom of expression.
36. Benoni Tagoe
Photo: Benoni Tagoe
President, Raedio; Business Development Manager, HOORAE
When one thinks about being an entrepreneur, creating your own fantasy career is a likely goal. But for Benoni Tagoe, it’s been an absolute calling. This serial impresario is not only collaborating with one of the most talented women in Hollywood (psst, it’s Issa), but he is also President of their partnership, Raedio. Together they are building truly next-generation thought leadership in how to amplify more voices of color. To be able to be a part of helping young creators roadmap their artistic journeys is one of the most rewarding parts of the job, he has said: “I have always been passionate about the entertainment industry at large and have worked behind-the-scenes diligently to amplify underrepresented voices by providing tangible opportunities, content creation and acting as a liaison between those on the rise and established industry stakeholders.”
To know that she has a degree in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Florida is impressive enough. But to also understand that this sister has trained–and medalled in–longtrack speed skating is to know that she is a marvel. Originally from Ocala, Florida, Jackson actually dabbled in roller derby before she went on to compete as a Winter Olympian. In 2022, she wowed the crowd and the world stage when she won Gold in the 500m at the Beijing Olympic Winter Games.
Necole Kane’s transformation in 2022 was nothing short of inspirational, and we’ve enjoyed watching the journey. Kane has long been lauded for her entrepreneurial savvy. After all, the NecoleBitchie.com founder had already transformed the way we consumed Black celebrity news while bringing in millions of views a month. Her decision to pivot into a space where she empowered Black folks led to the launch of xoNecole.com, which went on to become acquired by esteemed Hollywood producer Will Packer in 2017. Kane eventually made the choice to step down from xoNecole altogether to focus on her feminine wellness brand, My Happy Flo. She knew how medical conditions like fibroids impact on Black women’s health, so she decided to devise a product containing a plant-based supplement to help with painful periods, which often come with heavy bleeding and cramping. When asked why she felt the need to launch a product that focuses on menstrual health, Kane explained: “I am passionate about helping women of color who are struggling with heavy periods and fibroid symptoms and missing out on life because of it. The statistics regarding Black women and fibroids are alarming and we wanted to help do something about this silent epidemic.”
The stunning visual artistry of Simone Leigh has brought this American artist from Chicago international acclaim. Best known for creating the kind of sculptural art that incorporates elements of African culture from around the world, Leigh’s incredible body of work was showcased earlier this year at The Venice Biennale aka, La Biennale di Venezia. To have one’s work represented at one of the most storied and important art exhibitions in the world would be an honor for any artist. But to do so while becoming the first African American woman to represent the United States at the historical international art exhibit, well, that’s just peak Black excellence.
It isn’t every day that a man builds a dream big enough to not only fill his own cup, but also pour into thousands of others. But with Broadway’s A Strange Loop, a musical within a musical about a Black gay man trying to write a musical about a Black gay man, this Pulitzer Prize-winner has done just that. In 2022, the playwright, composer and lyricist won a coveted Tony Award for Best Musical for his eclectic masterpiece. But lest you think Jackson is an overnight sensation, let us remind you that it took him 20 years to achieve the kind of recognition he’s now receiving for his passion project. Like any true visionary, Jackson trusted his gut and his talent to see him through, and in the process has inspired so many of us to do the same.
In the midst of one of the greatest battles of the reproductive justice movement’s history, it’s worth recognizing one of the movement’s most influential founding mothers who, in 2022, continued to fight the good fight. Ross joined the women’s movement in 1978 by working at the first rape crisis center in the United States. But Ross didn’t stop there. In 1994, she came together with a group of other activists to create the reproductive justice framework that we still rely on today. The three key tenets of reproductive justice, as they designed it, are “the right to have a child, the right not to have a child, and the right to parent a child in a safe and healthy environment.” Ross and her fellow advocates also brought attention to how women of color, and Black and Indigenous women in particular, have been subjected to racist reproductive policies, such as forced sterilization and forced births. Ross co-founded the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective in 1997, and in 2022, the professor, author, organizer and public speaker continues her work as a powerful voice in the reproductive justice movement. For her decades of tireless work on behalf of Black women and women of color in the United States, Ross has more than earned her place on The Root 100 list.
The Root 100 list prides itself on shouting out trailblazers like Waikinya Clanton. As the Director of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Mississippi state office, Clanton partners with organizations throughout the region to do the long-term work necessary to eradicate racial injustice. A Mississippi native, Clanton is no stranger to the history of systemic oppression in the Deep South, which is why her work this year in Jackson, Mississippi has been so inspiring. Back in August, the entire nation turned its attention to the catastrophic water crisis in Jackson after the city’s largest water treatment plant failed, leaving thousands of residents, businesses, schools and hospitals without safe drinking water. The city had already been under a boil-water notice for more than a month, and then came this crisis. Under Clanton’s leadership, the Southern Poverty Law Center allocated $10,000 to bolster the efforts of the Mississippi Rapid Response Coalition, made up of more than 30 grassroots community organizations giving out water, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. Working together with the city, coalition partners delivered water and other supplies to elderly and disabled residents who were unable to get to water distribution sites. They also rented vehicles from U-Haul and enlisted the help of volunteers who owned trucks. And when coalition members realized that some public drinking fountains had not been turned off, they petitioned the city to do so to prevent children from unknowingly drinking harmful water. At the apex of the crisis, Clanton was quick to call out the politics behind it: “What we’re seeing here play out in this water crisis is compounded not only by racial division, but by political division. It has been the motive of those with power to keep those who lack power without it. At the SPLC, our aim is to ensure that people living in poverty in the Deep South can get the help that they need from their local, state and federal government, and that they are not punished or exploited just because of the color of their skin or where their address happens to be.”
Jennifer Hudson may have lost American Idol way back in the day, but in the years since that shocking defeat, she’s gone on to amass even greater successes. Chief among them is this year’s coveted EGOT—an acronym for artists who’ve earned Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and Oscar wins. Thanks to her production credit for the Tony-winning play, A Strange Loop, Hudson finally cinched the once-elusive Tony earlier this summer. She had previously taken home an Emmy in 2021, two Grammys in 2017 and 2009, and an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2007 for her role in Dreamgirls. With this latest feat, she now joins only a handful of notable Black entertainers who’ve earned EGOT status, such as Whoopi Goldberg and John Legend. On top of all of that, in earlier this fall JHud made her daytime television debut as the host of her very own talk show, aptly titled The Jennifer Hudson Show.
Rihanna may be internationally known as “badgalriri” and now “mom,” thanks to the beautiful bundle of joy she welcomed into this world earlier this May. But in July 2022 she added yet another distinction to her body of work as America’s youngest woman to become a self-made billionaire with a rumored net worth of $1.4 billion. This feat is due in large part to her booming beauty empire, Fenty Beauty—of which she owns 50%—and the success of her sexy lingerie line Savage X Fenty—of which she owns 30%. In addition to being a bawse on the business front, the Anti artist has continued to make her mark on music and the culture. This fall, it was revealed that she was the featured artist on the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, marking her return to music after six looong years. She’ll also be making her debut as the headliner for the 2023 Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show next February–an interesting development, considering how different her relationship to the league was in 2018. That year, she rejected an offer to headline the halftime show in support of Colin Kaepernick’s protests against police brutality and social injustice. No matter what, like the rest of the world that night, we’ll be watching.
It’s nearly impossible to have a conversation about contemporary actors and artists without mentioning the sublime greatness that is Viola Davis. Not only is she just one award shy of securing EGOT status, but she also has consistently starred in and championed projects and stories that are impactful to the culture, but she’s largely done so through her production banner JuVee Productions. The most recent example of this? 2022’s critically-acclaimed film, The Woman King, which Davis starred in and also produced. Released in September, Davis played General Nanisca, the leader of an army of women warriors defending the kingdom of Dahomey who must convince her nation’s king to fight back against the Europeans coming to take over Africa. In addition to putting in a dominant performance in one of 2022’s most buzzworthy films, Davis also released her memoir, Finding Me, earlier this year. The book not only landed her a number-one spot on both the New York Times and Amazon bestsellers lists, it also garnered Davis her first-ever Grammy nomination for Best Audiobook, Narration, and Storytelling Recording. Oh, and did we also mention that Davis was the recipient of the prestigious Cannes Women in Motion Award at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival? Wow, what a year it’s been for one the culture’s most revered class acts.
Filmmaker, director, screenwriter, and cinematographer Coodie Simmons, one half of the creative duo Coodie and Chike, has been bringing his creative talents to the music and entertainment industry for over a decade. Born Clarence Ivy Simmons Jr., his first notable project was the music video for Kanye West’s “Through the Wire” in 2003, which would become the first of many collaborations between Ye and the duo. Through their production banner Creative Control founded in 2007, Coodie and Chike would go on to work with other artists such as Common, Erykah Badu, Wale, Mos Def, Rick Ross, Joey Badass and more. In addition to their contributions to the music scene, the duo also flexed their cinematic muscles and created various films and documentaries over the years. Those projects include their critically acclaimed ESPN 30 for 30 film Benji, the short film Good Morning, and most recently jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy, Act 1 for Netflix earlier this February.
While people may have their credible beef with social media, the one thing you can’t deny is its ability to amplify voices and perspectives that arguably need to be heard the most. Such is the case with disability rights and inclusion activist Imani Barbarin who’s been using her platform on TikTok (she’s known as Crutches and Spice for those who aren’t aware) to share knowledge on the ills of our society when it comes to how we treat those in the disability community and the lack of resources and representation those in that community face on a daily basis. Through her engaging videos, informative articles, and by spearheading the hashtag #MyDisabledLifeIsWorthy, Barbarin provides necessary analysis and explanation through the lens of her community (she has cerebral palsy). As a result, she’s gained a massive following of folks who want to know how to better show up and do better for our friends in the disability community and beyond.
As the executive director of the National Network of Abortion Funds, the work Oriaku Njoku does in combatting reproductive oppression is pivotal during a time in our country when reproductive rights are at risk of being overthrown and overruled—especially in the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v. Wade earlier this year. To be clear, her work didn’t start with NNAF, it actually began 10 years ago and proved more and more impactful in 2015 when they co-founded ARC-Southeast. The organization’s mission is to provide funding and logistical support to ensure Southerners receive safe and compassionate reproductive care including abortion services. Through education and leadership development, ARC-Southeast aims to eliminate the economic barriers limiting one’s access to reproductive care; build and encourage community involvement in the movement for reproductive justice in the South; advance equitable rights in reproductive decision-making through public advocacy and education; and increase physical access to healthcare providers and reproductive care. Earlier this year, Njoku was also recognized as one of the honorees on the 2022 TIME100 Next list.
49. Ketanji Brown Jackson
Photo: Ketanji Brown Jackson
Associate Justice
Sector: Politics
Age: 52
📍 Washington DC
🌐 Influence: 98
📢 Reach: 4.00
🏳 Substance: 7
𝕏 Followers: 0
Despite the sad and–quite frankly incredulous–fact that recent Jeopardy contestants could not recall her name, Jackson’s glorious ascent to the nation’s highest court on June 30, 2022 cannot be denied. On that day, Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first Black woman and first former public defender to serve on the Supreme Court. Nominated by President Joe Biden, Jackson took over the seat vacated by Stephen Breyer after he announced his retirement. Jackson is an alumna of both Harvard University and Harvard Law School, where she graduated magna cum laude and Juris Doctor cum laude, respectively. Even with her years of experience in and dedication to the law and public service, it wouldn’t be until the Obama administration took over that Jackson would be nominated and confirmed to serve on the federal district court of Washington, D.C. That role, in turn, led to her emergence, in 2016, as one of five frontrunners to potentially serve on the Supreme Court after the death of Justice Scalia. Though that seat eventually went to someone else, Jackson reached the highest court of the land just six years later, earning both bipartisan support and the admiration of people across the nation.
NBA champion. NBA All-Star. Olympic Gold medalist. Leader. Philanthropist. Cultural icon. A kid from Akron. Those are just a few of the titles belonging to world-class athlete LeBron James. Though he got his start in the NBA as a Cleveland Cavalier, he’s since made his mark as a player on the Miami Heat and now, the Los Angeles Lakers. However, there’s more to the six-foot-nine player than just his stellar athleticism. Unlike the “advice” he was given last year to “shut up and stick to sports,” James cannot be silenced. By exercising his investment prowess and business acumen, in 2022 James became the first active NBA player to reach billionaire status earlier this summer. This is due in large part to his deals with several brands that are household names, including but not limited to Nike, Walmart, Beats by Dre and the Blaze Pizza chain. If you think all the wealth James has realized is just for his own personal consumption, you’d be wrong. Off the court, the MVP uses a good portion of that wealth to empower others through his LeBron James Family Foundation, I Promise School and other philanthropic endeavors.
Though Claire Babineaux-Fontenot has most certainly built a successful career as a lawyer, finance and tax expert, it’s her current role as CEO of Feeding America that will arguably solidify her lasting imprint on our community for generations to come. Under her leadership, over this past year alone, the non-profit—which is dedicated to ending chronic hunger and combatting food insecurity in the United States—provided 6.6 billion meals to people in need. More specifically, her work has provided a critical lifeline to Black and Brown families who’ve been disproportionately affected by hunger in the U.S. Additionally in 2022, Babineaux-Fontenot made it her mission to visit every single member food bank in Feeding America’s network, yet another way she leads by example. Encompassing both a passion for service and a commitment to her community, when Babineaux-Fontenot isn’t working to reduce stigmas and create lasting impacts, she also volunteers and acts as a board member for several non-profits including Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the National Urban League, the National Association of Black Accountants, and the Walmart Foundation, just to name a few.
Thanks to decades of misogyny the term “women’s magazine” has far too often been associated with fluff. But no one could ever truthfully say that about The Cut or Teen Vogue–not when they’ve been powered by the creative genius that is Lindsay Peoples Wagner. Wagner continued to stunt on the competition in 2022 by not only marking the 10th anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s death with a seminal cover package of stories that pulled no punches, but also by utilizing the platform to offer a state-by-state guide to abortion services just as Roe v. Wade was on the cusp of being overturned. The headline was–and forever will be–legendary: “This Magazine Can Help You Get an Abortion.” At the time, Wagner was quoted in WWD as saying, “There’s no point if we’re not actually moving things forward. At The Cut, I really wanted to pursue ambitious journalism, what we were calling our own sense of fearless usefulness, in order to be something that people really needed.”
Tyler Perry can’t stop, won’t stop. So at this point, anyone who tries to pigeonhole Perry as simply the guy behind the Madea franchise should absolutely know better, and do better. Perry always has something new up his sleeves. Like the recent 2022 announcement of his four-film deal with Amazon Studios. Like A Jazzman’s Blues, a deeply emotional melodrama starring Solea Pfiefer and Joshua Boone that Perry dropped on Netflix in September. Like the $500,000 donation he made over the summer to the legendary Apollo Theater, which has been a staple of the Harlem community since it opened in 1914. Need we say more?
Let’s be clear: Chanda Prescod-Weinstein would be notable enough to make the Root 100 list for her impact on the scientific community. In her first book, the Disordered Cosmos: A Journey Into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred, Prescod-Weinstein unwinds the mysteries of the cosmos in a way that’s centered in Black queer feminist thought. The uber-talented assistant professor of physics and astronomy and women and gender studies at the University of New Hampshire has a unique talent for making STEM relevant to the social issues we battle with today. But she also doesn’t back down when it comes to changing the system from within. Last year, she and four other astronomers launched a petition to change the name of NASA’s James Webb telescope because of his role in firing LGBTQ+ employees for their sexual orientation. Ultimately they lost the petition, but that didn’t stop Prescod-Weinstein and her peers from continuing to speak out. “It is hypocritical of NASA to insist on giving Webb credit for the exciting things that happened under his leadership — activities that were actually conducted by other people — but refuse to accept his culpability for the problems,” wrote Prescod-Weinstein and the rest of the group. “NASA’s top leadership is engaging in historical cherry picking, which is deeply unscientific in our view.” For her commitment to talking about the universe through a Black Queer lens and her deft way of standing up for what she believes is right, Prescod-Weinstein more than earns her spot on The Root 100.
Many have counted out this unapologetic progressive during her short political career, but Council Member Janeese Lewis George always rises to the occasion. It’s no wonder, then, that this political superstar made her way onto the Root 100 list. Lewis George emerged on the scene in the 2020 election with a campaign promise to defund the D.C. police force and re-direct funds to desperately needed services for the city’s underserved populations. Many doubted that she could win in the economically and racially diverse community of Ward 4 DC, but she pulled out a victory anyway. Today, she serves her community with a hands-on approach to politics. If there’s a protest over police violence, Lewis George is there. If there is an unhoused person who needs support, Lewis George never fails to show-up in person for her community members. For the unwavering support she’s provided to her constituents, and her commitment to her political beliefs, Lewis George has more than solidified her spot on The Root 100 list.
Michaela Jae Rodriguez is no stranger to the Root 100 list. She first captured our hearts for her breakout role on the hit show Pose. She went on to be nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama series in 2021. But in 2022, Rodriguez became the first transgender woman to win a Golden Globe award. She received the coveted title of Best Actress in a Drama Series for her rich and multilayered performance on Pose. Ever one to shoutout her community, Rodriguez posted on her Instagram that the moment will “open the door for more young talented individuals. They will see that it is more than possible.” There is clearly much more in store for this incredibly talented afro-Latina actress, and we cannot wait to see what she does next!
You cannot count out this theatrical trailblazer. In 2019, Nataki Garrett accepted the role of Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival knowing she’d have a difficult time ahead of her. For one thing, anyone who knows about Oregon’s history, knows that it began as a “whites-only” state. And the history of American theater has often been an exercise in exclusion. But it isn’t just her commitment to her craft and breaking down boundaries that makes Garrett a member of the Root 100 list. In 2022, Garrett began to receive death threats. She told NPR news that her first instinct was to hide. “The act of threatening is supposed to make you feel isolated. And it does,” Garrett told NPR. But she didn’t back down. She continued on with her work never wavering in her belief that art can’t help us better contextualize the world around us. For her work in the arts and her commitment to diversity and inclusion regardless of the personal cost, Garrett is a clear example of what makes someone a contender for The Root 100 list.
Timnit Gebru is no one to mess with in the world of technology and artificial intelligence (AI). Gebru made quite the impression when she co-authored a paper on how AI can worsen racism, sexism and homophobia while at Google. The company, which came under fire last year for its less than stellar treatment of Black people and people of color, promptly fired Gebru for refusing to retract the article. But that could not keep our Root 100 all-star down. In 2022, Gebru launched DAIR, a.k.a the Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research Institute. The mission of this groundbreaking organization is to identify new tech that has the potential to cause harm, rather than wait until the programs start to cause problems. DAIR has already found its fair share of backers. The institute received grants from the MacArthur Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation and several others. For her not letting a big tech company silence her, and for her commitment to making the world a better place through technology Gebru easily slides into her spot on the Root 100 list.
Esi Eggleston Bracey is no stranger to taking on groundbreaking roles in the beauty industry. Over her decades-long career, Eggleston Bracey has led some of the most well-known beauty brands, including Covergirl and Max Factor. And in 2018, she joined Unilever, which oversees big brands like Dove and Axe. But just joining the powerhouse beauty and personal care brand was obviously not enough. In July of 2022, Eggleston Bracey took over as president of the US branch of the company. She’s more than a leader in business. Eggleston Bracey also helped pioneer the CROWN Act, a California law which prohibits discrimination based on hair style and hair texture. “As a Black woman who’s worn my hair natural since 1995, I’ve understood how important hair and hair texture is for women, especially the issues we’ve had surrounding our hair,” Eggleston Bracey told Glamour Magazine in 2019. For her work breaking down barriers in beauty at both legislative and corporate tables, we joyfully welcome Eggeleston Bracey onto the The Root 100 list.
This entrepreneur is no stranger to social impact movements. But with her work as one of the chief architects of the Crown Act Coalition, she just may have given all Black women who’ve had to fight for the right to wear their hair naturally in certain workspaces the greatest gift of all. A multinational citizen of the world who claims Nigeria, the UK, the US and Canada as home, Blanchard broke new ground to help end race-based hair discrimination in this country when her bill came before the U.S. House of Representatives, which then passed the bill by a vote of 235-189 on March 18,2022. It’s these kinds of victories that give our community hope that the battles we wage daily are not in vain.
Soledad O’Brien shows no signs of slowing down despite her decades breaking down barriers in the broadcast journalism and documentary world. The bi-racial afro-cuban journalist got her start at NBC News in the early 90s before going on to anchor shows at NBC and CNN. O’Brien also produced powerful documentary takes on race in America in her two CNN documentaries Black in America and Latino in America. But, O’Brien wasn’t complete just working for other networks. In 2013, she started her own production company Starfish Media Group and partnered with HBO and others to make a stable of incredible documentaries. Her most recent documentary with Peacock, The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks, takes viewers into the real story of activist Rosa Parks. Spoiler: she wasn’t just a woman who was too tired to give up her seat on the bus. For all of her contributions in the media, we’re incredibly excited to place Soledad O’Brien on our Root 100 list.
You have to hand it to this intrepid filmmaker and his partner Coodie (Clarence Simmons Jr.) for playing the long-game. For nearly two decades, Ozah and Coodie chronicled the early days of Kanye West’s music career from his dropout days all the way until his current perch as a lightning rod for controversy. The documentary provides a fly-on-the-wall glimpse into the rise of Kanye West, who has undoubtedly left his mark on popular culture. The timing is also quite interesting as West’s rise to stardom can now be contrasted with his ever-evolving fall from grace, thanks to his antisemitic, racist, and misogynistic comments. Kanye had no hand in producing the film, but of course he tried it–even demanding that he be allowed into the editing room. We can only imagine what Ozah had to go through to make sure he and partner Coodie were able to stay true to their vision. For that reason and so much more, Ozah deserves his spot on The Root 100 list.
This Detroit-based playwright is famous for her dynamic productions that center the city she loves. Her most famous plays, known as the Detroit cycle trilogy, pay homage to Detroit’s vibrance, from which she draws her inspiration. Her latest play in the trilogy, Skeleton Crew, focuses on the start of the Great Recession and one of the last remaining auto plants in Detroit. But Morisseau hasn’t stopped there. Her crowd-pleasing musical, Ain’t Too Proud, a theatrical retelling of the life of the music group The Temptations that made a splash on Broadway last year, is now being performed on stages across the country. For her outstanding contribution to the world of Black storytelling, Morisseau easily cements herself onto The Root 100 list.
How could we have a Root 100 list without including the incandescent Ms. Lewis? It would honestly feel blasphemous to exclude her. The “mother of Black Hollywood” has been running circles around the competition for decades. Her iconic role in Sister Act had us all in stitches back in the early 90s, and she has kept the laughs coming, most recently as the hilarious no-nonsense grandmother on Black-ish. Acting isn’t the only skill Lewis brings to the table. This year, she released her new book, Walking in My Joy, a wildly entertaining look at Lewis’ life through a collection of short stories. This, plus her recent induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, has made her a natural choice for the Root 100 list in 2022.
There are no days-off when you’re taking over the beauty industry one hair care product at a time. Today, products from Monique Rodriguez’ brand Mielle Organics are sold at roughly 100,000 stores across the United States. But, Rodriguez started off as a registered nurse with a passion for creating. “I didn’t feel like I had a creative outlet. I wore the same scrubs every day. I couldn’t really do my hair because I had to wear a surgical cap. It was very boring,” Rodriguez told The Root. Rodriguez found her outlet in different ways. She started posting about her hair and skincare online and creating products in her kitchen. Rodriguez found a chemist to help her create her first product. And from there she’s quickly cornered the market on “natural” hair care products. For all of her work to build-up her empire and give us curly gals some great products, Rodriguez is a clear choice for the Root 100 list.
Garlin Gilchrist first burst onto the scene in 2019, becoming the first Black Lieutenant Governor in Michigan’s history, as well as the highest-ranking Black elected official in Michigan history. We chose Gilchrist as a member of our esteemed Root 100 list in 2020 for his focus on the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Blacks in his state. Since then, the Lieutenant Governor has not let us down. Gilchrist has worked hard to push for much needed infrastructure improvements to help underserved communities. “We can grow our economy and support good paying jobs and harness the talent here in Michigan by making these investments that deploy people during the build out but also lay the foundation for economic activity and opportunity going forward because people, families, companies want to invest in places where infrastructure is strong,” Gilchrist told a local Michigan radio station in mid-November. In 2022, Gilchrist and Governor Gretchen Witmore also helped usher in one of the largest Democratic victories in decades in the state, as Democrats swept the state House and Senate for the first time since 1984. Big things are clearly on the horizon for this trailblazer, and we could not be more pleased to once again offer him a spot on our Root 100 list.
His beats are synonymous with the Chocolate City. For those who don’t already know the addictive music of Olubowale Victor Akintimehin a.k.a “Wale,” D.C.’s favorite rapper, we sincerely recommend a listen. Like, who can live without having heard Flower Bomb? His number 1 albums speak for themselves, and he keeps the music coming year after year, But he’s not just a great artist. He also was one of the few male artists to speak up in support of Megan Thee Stallion after she was allegedly shot by Tory Lanez. So for this hometown hero, we’re happy to extend a spot on The Root 100 list.
This political powerhouse is breaking glass ceilings one budget at a time. In March, Shalanda Young was confirmed as the director of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget after already serving in the role for months. Young is the first Black woman to hold the crucial position, and she’s already made a name for herself at the office. Despite the name (pun very much intended) Young is hardly a newbie to politics. She’s been hard at work in Washington for the last twenty years, with a notable former position as the Democrat’s staff director on the House Appropriations Committee. Young has done more than just break down archaic race and gender barriers in the White House and in Washington. She’s also helped spearhead some pretty major racial equity initiatives from the Biden White House that crossed several agencies. For her work breaking barriers and bringing support to the community, we gladly give her a prime seat on the Root 100 list.
Natalie and her sister-in-law and co-founder Derrica Wilson have shed a much needed light on the issue of missing Black Americans. Their Black and Missing Foundation highlights the massive disparity in attention given to Black Americans that go missing, and vows to do something about those disappearances.“The Black and Missing Foundation was started because of a necessity,” Natalie told CNN during a 2021 interview. In the United States Black women make up just 13 percent of the female population, but accounted for 35 percent of all missing women in the United States, according to the House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. However, generally little attention is paid to Black people who go missing. According to a study published in the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, titled “Missing White Woman Syndrome,” found that Black people received the least amount of media attention of any group. Wilson’s foundation provides resources and tools to families with missing loved ones and helps them navigate a media and police ecosystem that too often leaves them behind. They also offer ways to report missing individuals and search for someone who is missing. For Wilson’s pioneering work to call attention to the issue of missing Black Americans and her commitment to do something about it, she more than earns her spot on The Root 100 list.
Sadly, the work never ends for women like Derrica Wilson, one who has dedicated her life to finding our Black and missing. The news coverage of our missing loved ones is woefully underreported, and Derrica and Natalie each find their own way of breaking through the noise. This was true recently when a community’s outcry that a serial killer targeting young Black women and girls seemed to be dismissed by the Kansas City Police Department. Derrica took to to CNN to call out how often these reports are ignored by police, contributing to a climate that ignores our pleas for help and helping to embolden predators. These women continue to say: not on our watch.
The National Football League has been a man’s world for far too long. Sandra Douglass Morgan is here to shake things up. In 2022, the Las Vegas Raiders named Douglass Morgan President of the Las Vegas Raiders, making her the first Black Woman President of an NFL team. Morgan is an attorney by trade, but that hasn’t stopped her from diving head-first into her role on the Raiders team. The team has had its share of scandals related to racism–in 2021, former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden resigned due to leaked emails containing racist and homophobic language–and the first order of business for this no-nonsense attorney has been getting the team back on track. This isn’t Douglass Morgan’s first time breaking down barriers in the legal or sports world. Douglass Morgan was Nevada’s first Black city attorney. And she also happens to be the first Black woman to chair Nevada’s hugely influential gaming control board. So for breaking about a million barriers in far too many categories to count, we tip our hats to Douglass Morgan and award her a much deserved spot on The Root 100 list.
Dr. Robert S. Harvey is a man with many hats, all of them centered on improving the lives of Black folks and other marginalized communities. No seriously, this man does it all. Dr. Harvey is not only President of Foodcorps, he’s also a minister, author, and educator. Prior to Foodcorps, Harvey served as Superintendent of East Harlem Scholars Academies, a community-based network of public charter schools. And before that, he served as chief operating officer at Simmons College of Kentucky, a historically Black college in Louisville. So what exactly does Foodcorps do? Well, the organization partners with schools and communities to provide hands-on food education, and “nourishing” school meals. The program also strives to “celebrate” different cultural approaches to eating. So whether you want to celebrate this man for his literary success, his ministry, his work in education, or his role in getting the nation’s kids fed, it’s clear why Dr. Harvey has our vote for The Root 100.
No one had more drops in 2022 than social media star/author Tabitha Brown. From her Emmy-nominated children’s series Tab Time, to her Target lifestyle line, to her own McCormick Sunshine Seasoning, to her Food Network competition It’s CompliPlated, Brown has dominated the food and entertainment worlds all year long. What makes her so endearing is that the secret to her success is positivity. Ms. Tab doesn’t let setbacks or criticism bring her down. When Food Network unexpectedly shifted the schedule of her show, essentially burying it where no one would find it, Brown didn’t bash them on social media. The vegan cook simply reminded everyone that she knows exactly who she is and what her purpose is. That self belief paid off, as a few months later Tab Time was nominated for a Children’s & Family Emmy. As big as her 2022 was, we can see her taking things even farther in 2023.
In 2021, Thasunda Brown Duckett became the CEO of retirement services and investment firm TIAA, making her one of the most powerful women in finance, and one of only two Black women leading Fortune 500 companies. With the post-pandemic economy still recovering and inflation a top concern across the country, Duckett’s first year on the job hasn’t been a walk in the park. However, she’s jumped right in, tackling the usual questions about diversity in the corporate world. In an interview with Fortune, she made it clear that it’s not all on her to get more Black women in the C-suite. “It’s not just my responsibility; it’s the responsibility of the boards, of all the companies that may not have the level of representation, as well as my allies and my counterparts leading companies.” The impact of Duckett’s leadership and presence at the highest levels of finance will be felt for decades. There are young Black women and girls who are seeing her rise to the top and believing that they can follow the road she’s paved into the executive level. Duckett is a trailblazer in the truest, most literal sense of the word.
As media platforms become increasingly essential to our lives, it’s never been more important that these companies represent all communities. With Group Black, Travis Montaque established a Black-owned media firm that will tackle the ingrained inequality of the industry. The entrepreneur followed that up with the creator network Crater. “Crater is a first-of-its-kind creator network where the next wave of culture is made and monetized,” Montaque told Adweek. “We’re really trying to change the economic situation of these creators and drive opportunity for them.” New media is the future of the entertainment industry and it’s essential that Black people get just as involved behind the scenes as we are on-camera. We’re the ones who set the trends, so we should be the ones to profit off of them. And something tells us, we’re all going to need a favorite new social media platform very soon.
76. Mike Gauyo
Photo: Mike Gauyo
TV Writer, Co-Creator/Co-Showrunner, Executive Producer
When you have a genre changing, influential hit like Insecure, it can feel impossible to follow. However, Mike Gauyo is using that success to open doors for other aspiring writers. The Black Boy Writes & Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative provides industry contacts and resources to writers who aren’t in the WGA. Despite the influx of streaming services, it is still incredibly difficult for Black writers to get their ideas in front of Hollywood decision makers. Gauyo could have spent his post-Insecure career focused on grabbing a big overall deal at a major studio, something he’s probably still working on, but he’s also made time to support the next generation of great storytellers. Not everyone would be so mindful of making sure the doors they opened, stayed open once they walked through them.
Dr. Monique Couvson (formerly known as Dr. Monique W. Morris) has always prided herself on being a trailblazer throughout her successful career, actively bringing the worlds of education and social justice together. Dr. Couvson is currently the President and CEO of Grantmakers for Girls of Color, composed of four separate funds, including the Black Girl Freedom Fund. She also created the National Black Women’s Justice Institute, which addresses the criminalization of Black women and girls and the many ways those systems should be dismantled. Dr. Couvson has authored several award-winning books including Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools, which speaks to the ways school systems should be changed in order for Black girls to thrive. As she told Philanthropy News Digest, “Trust and respect Black girls, femmes, and gender-expansive youth. Center their leadership and abundantly resource them. When we get out of their way, we all thrive.”
Long-time civil rights lawyer and pastor Chance Lynch has devoted his career to fighting the injustices of police brutality that, after the murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020, seem to only have intensified. A Halifax County native, Lynch graduated from North Carolina Central University State of Law in 2009. From there, he served as the Assistant District Attorney for Halifax County until Lynch became the managing attorney at his law firm, Lynch Law, in 2010. Lynch strives to be a pillar of strength for those whose civil rights have been violated, like in the case of Andrew Brown Jr., a Black man who was shot and killed by sheriff deputies while a drug-related warrant was being served. Lynch recently spoke at this year’s Root Institute about the importance of qualified immunity. For his tireless work to hold law enforcement accountable, we proudly celebrate Lynch on our 2022 list.
Ever since the release of 2017’s Get Out, Jordan Peele’s imaginative, poignant and fresh storytelling has provided the horror genre with a much-needed dose of excitement. From the racial commentary of Get Out, to the Twilight Zone-inspired Us, and the sci-fi twist on society’s need for attention with Nope, Peele continues to find ways to make his releases a must-see for film fans. In 2022, Nope became Peele’s third number-one opening in a row at $44 million and the third film in his filmography to cross the $100 million threshold for box office gross. The writer/director also launched his first fictional audio series produced by his production company, Monkeypaw Productions, and Spotify’s Gimlet Media, named “Quiet Part Loud.” Peele re-teamed with his longtime comedy writing partner Keegan-Michael Key this year as well to voice the main characters in Netflix’s Wendell and Wild.
Aside from having impressively honeyed vocals and a breakthrough catalog, Solange continues to uplift Black artistry through the opportunities she seizes. This year, the award-winning songstress made history by becoming the first Black woman to have an original score commissioned by the New York City Ballet. Her jazz-inspired composition “Villanelle for Times” accompanied “Play Time” from choreographer Gianna Reisen. Of course, Solange has always worked with art institutions to elevate her sonic endeavors. Back in 2017, she held her “A Seat at the Table” showcase at the Guggenheim Museum. In 2020, Solange made a stop at Sydney Opera House and the Kennedy Center for her “Orion’s Rise” tour. She has also staged performances at the Getty Museum and the Elbphilharmonie in Germany. “Villanella for Times” not only captivated audiences, but made her mother Tina Knowles very proud. On Instagram, mom wrote: ““I am beyond proud of Solange ! She is always kicking down doors and opening doors for other artists of color!”
In May of 2022, Lee C. Bollinger, the president of Columbia University wrote, “It is with great pleasure that I write to announce my appointment of Jelani Cobb as the next Dean of Columbia Journalism School, as of August 1, 2022.” The pride we all felt to have a Black man take over the premiere Journalism school is hard to even explain. The son of a New York City electrician with a third grade education, Cobb graduated from Howard University and has written for numerous publications, including Essence and The New Yorker. He now steps into his most recent position as head of one of the great J-schools during an important but dire period in journalism as newsrooms empty out, “fake news” becomes a rallying cry for those who oppose the truth, and reporters around the world are losing their lives.
Reuben Jonathan Miller is a genius. This year he was named a MacArthur Foundation fellow aka “The Genius award.” For five years, he gets $800,000 to use to further his career or studies. But what’s really interesting is what got him this award. Miller, who is an associate professor at Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice at the University of Chicago and a tireless researcher with the American Bar, has been looking for better ways to help newly-released convicts. In fact, Miller followed the life of 250 inmates from the moment they were released until years later. He discovered that getting out of prison, especially if you are Black, is a lonely prison, where rights we all take for granted are often denied.
Patricia McGregor is the new face of New York Theater. In 2022, she was named the artistic director of the New York Theater Workshop, which is a big deal when you think about it. The workshop is known as the birthplace of many great works, including “Rent.” She is credited for directing a load of world premieres such as Lights out, Nat King Cole and Grief, just to name a few. The St. Croix native was a freelance director in the city and a well-respected talent within the workshop before taking the helm at her current home theater. Now, she’s also part of a small but mighty group of Black women running one of the many non-profit theaters both in the Big Apple, and across the country.
84. Mike Grier
Photo: Mike Grier
General Manager
Sector: Sports
Age: 47
📍 San Jose
🌐 Influence: 30.7
📢 Reach: 3.03
🏳 Substance: 4.2
𝕏 Followers: 0
If anyone had told us that one of the biggest boss moves of 2022 would involve a Black man and a hockey team, you could’ve only imagined the side-eyes. But in fact, this year Mike Grier made history when he became the first Black man to lead a National Hockey League franchise as general manager. He’s actually been a student of the game for years, first as an NHL hockey player, then a scout, coach and executive team member. Now as a leader of the San Jose Sharks, he will help groom the next generation of talent, both on and off the ice. Who knows, he may even inspire more of us to become hockey fans.
85. Jordan E. Cooper
Photo: Jordan E. Cooper
Showrunner, Creator & Executive Producer The Ms. Pat Show // Writer and star of AIN’T NO MO’, premiering on Broadway this year
In 2022, Jordan E. Cooper became the youngest Black American playwright in Broadway history, at the age of 27, for writing the Obie Award-winning play, Ain’t No Mo’, which made its Broadway debut this year. Ain’t No Mo,’ a New York Times Critic’s Pick, is a comedic play that wonders what Black Americans would do if the U.S. government gave them one-way tickets to Africa. He has not only written the play but also stars in the lead role, Peaches. As if that weren’t enough, Cooper is also the creator and executive producer alongside comedian Patricia Williams of the Primetime Emmy Award-nominated BET+ series, The Ms. Pat Show. In both of Cooper’s major productions, he highlights the complexities of the Black community. You may have also seen Cooper as MC Tyrone in the final season of FX’s series Pose. In 2019, Cooper was chosen as one of OUT Magazine’s 100 “Entertainers of the Year”.
Tiffany Benjamin became the CEO of the Humana Foundation in 2022. In her role as the CEO she is responsible for equity in healthcare, “establishing new ways to co-create healthy communities, sustain advances in health outcomes, and eliminate unjust differences in health and health care. She brings a strong understanding of the social determinants of health and a passion for closing systemic gaps in education and employment, wealth and financial security, social connectedness, and food security.” Through community investments, partner programs, research, and disaster philanthropy, The Humana Foundation works to improve health across U.S. communities. Prior to joining The Humana Foundation, Benjamin was the President and Senior Director or Social Impact at Eli Lilly and Company. Aside from being the CEO at The Humana Foundation, Benjamin expresses her expertise in philanthropy as the Board Vice Chair for the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. Benjamin has a Harvard law degree and a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University Bloomington in journalism and political science.
Dr. Sangu Delle is the CEO of CarePoint, formerly named Africa Health Holdings, a healthcare system improving financial, managerial, and technological support in healthcare facilities across African countries. In 2022, Delle was elected by his alma mater, Harvard University, to the Board of Overseers. In an Instagram post in recognition of the election, Delle expressed the importance of the position writing, “I look forward to working with my fellow Overseers and to support President Bacow and Harvard’s leadership on DEI, mental health, academic freedom and more.” Delle graduated from the Eisenhower Fellowship Program in 2022, and his project was focused on making Africa Health Holdings’ efforts more sustainable to combat one of our society’s biggest threats, climate change. Delle launched the nonprofit and grant-making Sangu Delle Foundation in 2022. The foundation is focused on health, education, and job creation.
88. Myles Frost
Photo: Myles Frost
Tony Award-winning actor
Sector: Entertainment
Age: 23
📍
🌐 Influence: 26.3
📢 Reach: 2.70
🏳 Substance: 4
𝕏 Followers: 0
In 2022, Myles Frost became the youngest solo actor to win the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his Broadway debut role as Michael Jackson in MJ the Musical. He also won a 2022 Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show and was honored with nominations for a 2022 NY Outer Critics Circle Award, a 2022 Drama Desk Award, and a 2022 Drama League Award. MJ the Musical is Frost’s first major production, only starring in school musicals prior to this year. Before his big Broadway win, Frost appeared in the film All In (2021), garnered a music credit for the Netflix show Family Reunion, and performed a contestant on season 13 of NBC’s The Voice.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Condoleeza Rice has been a trailblazer in American politics who has helped shape our country’s global strategy. Growing up, Rice dreamt of becoming a classical pianist. But when she began studying international relations at the University of Denver at age 15, she never looked back. Rice earned her Bachelor’s degree cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa and went on to receive a Master’s in economics from Notre Dame and a PhD in International Studies from the University of Denver. From there, Rice joined the faculty of Stanford University. At Stanford, Rice received several distinguished honors, including the 1984 Walter J. Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 1993 School of Humanities and Sciences Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching. Rice’s expertise in military and security led her to government service. In 1989, she served as director of Soviet and East European affairs with the National Security Council, where she was a special assistant to President George H.W. Bush during key global events, including the break-up of the Soviet Union and the reunification of Germany. By 2001, Rice had established herself as an influencer in global affairs. That year, President George W. Bush named her National Security Adviser. And in 2005, Rice took on the role of Secretary of State. She was the first African-American woman to hold both positions. Since leaving politics, Rice has not slowed down. In July 2022, she joined the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group, the Denver Broncos’ ownership group. Rice expressed her excitement about joining the team in a tweet which read in part, “I spent much of my younger years in Denver, so to be able to combine my love of the game with my love of this great city and team is an adventure of a lifetime and a great opportunity.”
Mellody Hobson is one of the most influential women in business. While a student at Princeton University, Hobson interned at investment firms Ariel Capital Management and T. Rowe Price Associates. After earning her B.A. in 1991, she joined Ariel full-time, assisting with strategic planning and overseeing client service. Today, she serves as the firm’s co-CEO and President. Hobson has served on several high-profile corpoarate boards, including Estée Lauder, DreamWorks Animation, Groupon, and Starbucks. In March 2021, she joined an elite group of business professionals when she was named Stabucks’ non-executive chair. Only 8 percent of Fortune 500 board seats are held by African-Americans. In June 2022, she expanded her influence into the realm of sports when she became a part-owner of the NFL’s Denver Broncos. Quarterback Russell Wilson was among those who celebrated her being the first African-American woman to become part of a new ownership group buying an NFL team, telling INSIDER, “This is a big deal. I mean, this is history.” A trusted source on financial literacy and investing, she’s a frequent contributor on Good Morning America and CNN. And she stays on the lists of movers and shakers, including Crain’s Chicago Business’ 40 Under 40, Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” in the world, and The Wall Street Journal’s 50 “Women to Watch” in the corporate world. Hobson and her husband, “Star Wars” creator George Lucas, are well-known for their philanthropic efforts. Their George Lucas Family Foundation donates to influential civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, ACLU and Southern Poverty Law Center.
Born in Nassau, Bahamas, Tavares Strachan is an interdisciplinary artist. His innovative work is a fusion of art, science, history, and culture. Strachan received a BFA in Glass from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2003 and an MFA in Sculpture from Yale University in 2006. He became one to watch in the artistic community with his 2005 breakout piece, The Distance Between What We Have and What We Want, a four-and-a-half-ton block of ice he had shipped to the Bahamas via FedEx. When it arrived in his hometown, the block was kept on display at Strachan’s former elementary school in a solar-powered refrigerated case made with the help of scientists from MIT. In 2004, he took on a four-year multimedia project he called Orthostatic Tolerance. The project, which combined photography, video and sculpture documenting Strachan’s experience at the Yuri Gagarin Training Center in Russia and the Bahamas Air and Space Exploration Center (BASEC), was shown in phases from 2008 to 2011. His 2010 piece, Invisible Diver, is a model of the human circulatory system made of hand-blown glass. This year, Strachan’s innovation was recognized at the highest level when he was chosen to receive one of the 2022 MacArthur Fellowships, an unrestricted grant awarded to artists who have shown exceptional creativity in their fields.
Dr. Gabrielle Foreman, an award-winning educator, historian and author, is dedicated to helping institutions address inequity among students and faculty of color, as well as increase their support. The award-winning Colored Conventions Project and the Center for Black Digital Research/#DigBlk at Penn State University are just two examples of the projects and collectives Dr. Foreman has taken part in, in order to diversify the higher education field. Her specialty sits at the intersection of history and the arts and, along with Lynette Young, she has brought together student researchers, choreographers and more to bring Black history to the stage.
Michael D. Tubbs is probably best known as the former mayor of the city of Stockton, where he led the city to a 40 percent drop in homicides and a decrease in police shootings–work that was recognized in the HBO Documentary “Stockton on My Mind.” In addition to addressing crime, Tubbs also made progress in the education system, raising more than $20 million to create a scholarship and mentoring program, Stockton Scholars. It’s no surprise, then, that Tubbs now serves as special adviser for economic mobility and opportunity for Governor Gavin Newsom of California. In 2022, Tubbs founded the nonprofit organization End Poverty In California (EPIC), where he works to help create policies that address the root issues of poverty in the state, from pollution to community violence. Tubbs also published his memoir, The Deeper the Roots: A Memoir of Hope and Home this year. For all these efforts and more, Tubbs has been recognized on Fortune’s Top 40 under 40 list and received a 2021 Civic Leadership Award from The King Center.
In September 2022, Everette Taylor was named CEO of Kickstarter, a crowdfunding platform company. This is just the latest feather in the former marketing executive and entrepreneur’s cap. Taylor most recently served as chief marketing officer for Artsy, an online marketplace for buying and selling fine art. “I am humbled to take on the role of CEO of Kickstarter at a very transformative time for the company,” Taylor said in a statement. “Kickstarter has made such a positive impact on the world, and I’m honored to continue the mission of bringing creative projects to life and support amazing creators across the globe.”
As quiet as it’s kept, public radio is still–and perhaps forever will be–a medium that can move the masses. And if you don’t believe us, just look at the life’s work of media titans like Duchesne Drew, the current president of Minnesota Public Radio. Drew’s news judgment, understanding of how to leverage his platform to serve the community and his overall commitment to using live audio as a conduit for change, is living proof that even those trained up in traditional media can have an incredible influence on the current storytelling climate. Drew does double duty as the Senior Vice President of the American Public Media Group, which produces national shows like Marketplace and The Current. And he’s used these platforms to focus attention on the issues we should never forget, especially throughout the turbulence of 2020 after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the subsequent protests and the trials of the officers involved.
Contrary to his own belief, Ye wasn’t the only college dropout in the early aughts to turn his love of hip-hop culture into a big business. Michael King, a Philly native with a mean pen of his own figured out that he could follow fellow Howard University early-exiter Diddy to the executive suite. Since founding his agency, iPullRank, he’s mastered one of the critical functions for any modern marketing exec: search engine optimization.
97. Depelsha McGruder
Photo: Depelsha McGruder
Founder/President
Sector: Activism/Justice
Age: 50
📍 New York City
🌐 Influence: 19.4
📢 Reach: 0.60
🏳 Substance: 5
𝕏 Followers: 0
Neither a Harvard MBA nor a nearly 20-year career in media prepared Depelsha Thomas McGruder, 50, for her greatest challenge: raising two Black boys. How to keep them safe in a culture that often treats Black males as dangerous, disposable or both, was ever-present in the back of her mind, but it moved to the forefront after a spate of viral videos of cops killing unarmed Black men. That led her to start a Facebook group where she found out thousands of other Black moms had similar concerns but fewer resources to make a difference. That group turned into a nonprofit organization, Moms of Black Boys United (MOBB), that uses media campaigns, partnerships and other advocacy strategies toward its end goal, which is expressed in a hashtag: #ProtectThem
98. Meghan Markle
Photo: Meghan Markle
Podcast Host/Creator
Sector: Business
Age: 41
📍 Santa Barbara, CA
🌐 Influence: 18
📢 Reach: 4.00
🏳 Substance: 3
𝕏 Followers: 0
This one almost needs no explanation. If you weren’t aware of her television work–the most famous being playing paralegal Rachel Zane on NBC’s “Suits”, it was much harder to ignore her marriage into the British royal family when she wed Prince Harry in 2018. Even harder to ignore was the drama that followed–the rumors of racism and hostility inside the House of Windsor, the public distancing from official royal duties, the Oprah interview, the chilly reception during official mourning after Queen Elizabeth’s death. In the meantime, all the Duchess of Windsor has done is launch one of Spotify’s most popular podcasts and line up an impressive line of media projects that will keep her busy and distracted from her haters for a long time to come. You love to see it.
Andre 3000 once rapped that certain words, including “genius” get thrown around too lightly. But when you’re a legit McArthur Foundation Fellow, i.e., a recipient of the org’s $800,000 “genius grant,” the description is well-earned. The Clemson University wildlife biologist has one of those, awarded for his work as an author focused on naturalism and conservation. Specifically, Lanham is considered a pioneer for addressing how those topics impact Black people and communities, who generally aren’t considered a group that’s heavily invested in naturalism but who also face grim consequences of climate change and ecological instability.
In the most recent evolution of Black protest movements, it’s almost easy to forget the roots that the fight for social justice and equity in this country has in the Deep South. After all, the largest and most well-publicized protests against police brutality–the context of much of early aughts protest–happened in places like Ferguson, Missouri; Minneapolis and New York City, places that were never officially segregated. But Justin J. Pearson, an actor and activist with his own roots in Memphis, reminds us that the path to justice is still paved through the south. Pearson founded Memphis Community Against the Pipeline, an advocacy group committed to halting the Byhalia Connection Pipeline that opponents said risked the safety of drinking water for up to a million people. While opposition to oil pipelines bubbles up whenever one is proposed, this one was different for two reasons: the effort was led by local Black leaders and, more importantly, it succeeded in actually getting the pipeline canceled.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, the first female district attorney in Fulton County’s history, made headlines all year for her bold actions. She rose to prominence by charging 19 co-defendants, including former President Donald Trump, in a high-profile case related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Willis has a history of successfully pursuing conspiracy and racketeering charges, using the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) to secure convictions. Willis campaigned on a promise to restore integrity to the DA’s office after ousting a six-term incumbent and has been working toward just that. In addition to the election subversion case, she has taken on other high-profile cases, including anti-corruption indictments against celebrities. Willis’ determination and unconventional methods have solidified her reputation as a relentless prosecutor who prioritizes justice above all else.
Cori “Coco” Gauff took the world by storm when she defeated Venus Williams at the 2020 Wimbledon tennis tournament at just 15 years old. In 2023, she continued to demonstrate her extraordinary talent on the tennis court when she won her first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open, which ranked her #3 in singles and #1 in doubles in the world. Her triumph at the tournament made her the youngest American champion since Serena Williams in 1999. Gauff has proved to be impactful both on and off the court, using her platform to speak on various issues such as the Black Lives Matter Movement, anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Florida and climate change. She made headlines more recently when she called out at an umpire for unjust treatment during the U.S. Open, proving she is a force not to be taken lightly.
Hakeem Jeffries currently serves as the minority leader of the House of Representatives and as leader of the House Democratic Caucus. Rep. Jeffries is popular for the ABCs of Democracy speech he gave after ascending to the Minority Leader role earlier this year. It’s a new role, but the 53-year-old isn’t new to politics. He’s been championing community-centered policy since early in his career when he pushed for criminal justice reform. He wrote, supported and passed bills like the “Stop and Frisk” database bill in 2010, which protects privacy and mitigates prejudice by preventing the NYPD from keeping a database of innocent people who have been stopped and frisked.
Born in 2000, Halle Bailey’s star power has skyrocketed in the last year. She started her career teaming up with her sister to create the dynamic duo “Chloe x Halle,” belting out powerful vocals and harmonious performances. The group earned the mentor of dreams: Beyoncé. Bailey then made waves by snagging the barrier-smashing role of Ariel in Disney’s live-action film “The Little Mermaid.” She will continue in her Hollywood takeover in the upcoming “The Color Purple,” set for a Christmas release. Bailey’s got talent oozing from her pores and her dedication to her craft is on another level. She’s a rising star, an icon of empowerment and an inspiration to all the young artists out there.
5. Jon Batiste
Photo: Jon Batiste
Singer-Songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, tv personality
Grammy- Golden Globe- and Oscar-winning singer, songwriter and composer Jon Batiste, known to many as the former bandleader and musical director of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” is on the ride of his life. After grabbing nearly all the 2022 Grammys, including Album of the Year, Batiste stepped back from his nightly television duties to help care for his wife, author Suleika Jaouad, but didn’t slow his output. Batiste, who has worked with a multitude of other artists, including Stevie Wonder, Mavis Staples, Lenny Kravitz and Trent Reznor, currently serves as the music director of The Atlantic magazine and as creative director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. His current project is the documentary “American Symphony,” which provides a glimpse into his creative process as he composed his inaugural four-part symphony. The Netflix doc is said to be a frontrunner for the Oscars. His latest studio album, “World Music Radio,” features Lana Del Rey, K-pop group NewJeans and Lil Wayne, among others. He also netted six nominations for the upcoming 2024 Grammys.
Keke Palmer stayed at the top of everyone’s mind throughout 2023 – trending for reasons good and ugly but staying Black America’s sweetheart through it all. Having started her career as a child actress best known for roles in “Akeelah and the Bee,” “Madea’s Family Reunion” and as the title character in the Nickelodeon series, “True Jackson VP,” Palmer broke the internet in 2022 when she announced she was pregnant with her first child. Her pregnancy with son Leodis Andrellton Jackson, who was born in February, made her a maternal and postpartum fashion icon, showing the world how sleek and sexy pregnancy and new motherhood can be. Palmer even leveraged a domestic controversy to star in Usher’s “Boyfriend” video in August. With such a wild year, we’re all excited to see what Palmer’s 2024 brings.
Uche Blackstock is an award-winning physician, author, writer and public speaker who addresses bias and racism in medicine and health care. She is also founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity, which has a primary mission of engaging with organizations to dismantle racism in health care. Blackstock won the American Medical Women’s Association’s 2021 Presidential Award, the 2021 Harvard Humanist of the Year and the NAACP Brooklyn Chapter’s 2022 Valiant Service Award. Her book, “Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine,” is set to release in January 2024. Blackstock is a force in the medical field, using her platform to advocate for those who do not have one. She is bridging gaps to create equity in health care for both patients and providers.
Simone Biles is considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time. She became the world’s most decorated gymnast earlier this year after she competed in the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Belgium. The championship marked Biles’ return from a two-year hiatus. She was on the gold medal-winning 2016 Women’s Olympic Team and has since competed in over 36 competitions. “I had to prove to myself that I could still get out here, twist, I could prove all the haters wrong that I’m not a quitter, this, that, the other,” she told NBCSports.
9. Pharrell Williams
Photo: Pharrell Williams
Record producer, songwriter, rapper, singer and founder
Born in 1973, Pharrell Williams is a musical and fashion phenomenon. Starting as a music producer with The Neptunes, Williams produced hits for more than two decades. His solo career, including the mega-hit “Happy,” has raked in awards and accolades, including 13 Grammys. But it doesn’t stop there: Pharrell’s a fashion icon, known for his unique style and major brand collabs. In 2023, he became the men’s creative director for Louis Vuitton, a position once occupied by the late Virgil Abloh. He’s also a vocal advocate for social and environmental causes like education and climate change. In 2020, he founded Black Ambition, a nonprofit organization that focuses on uplifting Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs and closing the opportunity and wealth gap for people of color. On Nov. 9, Williams and his organization hosted this year’s Black Ambition Prize Competition, where millions were granted to 35 visionaries. Williams’ creative genius and philanthropic efforts have cemented his status as a cultural icon and a humanitarian changing the game and setting the pace.
Four years after serving as the chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party and the first African American man to hold the position, 47-year-old Jaime Harrison assumed the office of the chair of the Democratic National Committee with President Joe Biden’s election. The South Carolina native has broken records for funding several times over and has pushed accountability among state parties with the “Every ZIP Code Counts” strategy. “Not all states are the same — what Alabama needs may be quite different from what Arizona or Alaska needs,” he said of the strategy. “My team has been on the ground in every state doing an analysis of each state party to determine what each state needs to win elections. We’ve met with party staff, partner organizations and key allies to get a comprehensive understanding. And we’re reviewing with the state parties what is currently working and what could be working better to help win local, statewide and national elections.”
In 1989, five boys who would come to be known as “The Central Park Five” were accused of rape, imprisoned and incarcerated until a serial rapist confessed to the assault years later. Yusef Salaam was one of those five boys. Nearly seven years passed before he was exonerated, but he was left to live with the weight of an accusation that cost him his childhood and left him to figure out how to move forward. For Salaam, that included going to school, becoming an author, and, as of November’s elections, becoming a New York City councilmember. His story is one of redemption, survival and justice — paralleling his activism, criminal justice reform work and rehabilitation efforts for the formerly incarcerated.
Since her epic win on Season 3 of American Idol, Fantasia has continued to prove that she is a generational talent. She has sold over three million records and won numerous awards and
accolades, including a Grammy Award, three Billboard Awards, three NAACP Image Awards and two ASCAP Awards. Fantasia has distinguished herself as an actress, with a Broadway turn as Celie in the stage adaptation of “The Color Purple,” a role she will reprise in the film production to release this Christmas. Fantasia recently launched a new swimwear line that honors her late grandmother, Apostle Addie Collins, who passed away in 2015. Addie’s Place will also feature swimwear, nightgowns and candles – fitting since Fantasia has always shined so bright.
Ava DuVernay is a visionary filmmaker who has shattered conventions to showcase the Black experience. This year, the spotlight found its way to DuVernay in a never-seen-before way. At the prestigious Venice International Film Festival, the award-winning filmmaker premiered her film “Origin,” becoming the first Black woman to premiere a feature film in competition at the festival. At a festival press conference, she revealed the struggles she faced throughout her journey. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told, ‘Don’t apply to Venice, you won’t get in, it won’t happen,’” she confessed. Against the odds, DuVernay opened a door that remained elusive for so long and made history.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a stalwart representative of California’s 12th District since 1998, has broken barriers and championed progressive causes throughout her distinguished career. Her influence extends to the highest echelons of Democratic leadership, where she serves as the co-chair of the Policy and Steering Committee, advocating for diversity and Democratic ideals. With strategic roles on the influential Budget and Appropriations committees, she wields immense influence over federal spending decisions. Notably, she became the first African American to lead the House Appropriations subcommittee on state and foreign operations; and related programs in 2021. In addition to her leadership roles, Lee chairs the Majority Leader’s task force on poverty and opportunity and co-chairs the pro-choice caucus and the cannabis caucus. Lee isn’t one to hold her tongue when something doesn’t sit well with her. This year, she called for a ceasefire in Gaza, echoing her decision to be the sole vote against former Pres. George W. Bush when he launched “the war on terror” in 2001. She called out her own Gov. Gavin Newsom for his caretaker comment following Sen. Diane Feinstein’s death. And she has launched a run for Senate. Her legacy includes chairmanship of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chairing the Congressional Progressive Caucus, making her a tireless advocate for social justice and a trailblazer in American politics.
Issa Rae, the dynamic American actress, writer, and producer, is a beacon of creativity in the entertainment industry. The Peabody award-winning comedy series “Insecure,” is her most notable work, where she not only stars but also works her magic as a writer and producer. She doesn’t stop at just television; this year, she conquered the silver screen with roles in summer box-office hits like “Barbie” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” showcasing her versatility as an actress. In 2020, the award-winning producer launched Hoorae Media, a platform dedicated to promoting artists of color and women, further expanding her commitment to representation and diversity in the industry. Now, she’s embarking on a new adventure by introducing Viarae, her very own brand of prosecco, to her evermore expanding empire.
Despite pausing her music career seven years ago, Rihanna has become a self-made billionaire through her cosmetics brand Fenty. The Barbados native stunned fans earlier this year with her dazzling performance at the 2023 Super Bowl, where she revealed her second pregnancy with American rapper A$AP Rocky. Rihanna the businesswoman is busy raising her kids and running an empire with hints that she is set to make a long-awaited musical return. As of now, her fans lie in wait for a potential new album and world tour.
For Doug E. Fresh, 2023 was 50 years in the making. As the world stopped to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop, The World’s Greatest Entertainer was standing right in the center of the ring. The incomparable performer conceptualized a block party-style summer celebration tour with other legends called “Masters of the Mic: Hip Hop 50 Tour.” He also used the golden anniversary to help raise awareness for an organization he founded with with Dr. Olajide Williams called Hip-Hop Public Health, a group dedicated to teaching health literacy to historically underserved communities. Fresh said in a statement, “When we celebrate that block party in ’73 with Kool Herc that started it all, we’re celebrating the true spirit of Hip-Hop; everyone coming together and having a party sharing the love of their music and community. That’s the true heart of Hip-Hop culture right there.” Fresh is also a heartbeat of the culture, having rocked stages around the world. He’s an author, entrepreneur and has even had a dance named after him. Fresh currently serves as vice president and co-founder of the Hip-Hop Public Health (HHPH) nonprofit whose mission is to amplify health literacy through music and to foster positive health behavior changes, beginning with school-aged children. According to his agency, Fresh is one of the most actively touring musicians in the U.S. with more than 200 live shows a year.
After releasing the “Renaissance” album in 2022, Queen Bey took Europe and North America by storm in 2023 by traveling to more than 50 cities, making the Renaissance World Tour the highest-grossing concert tour by a female artist of all time before it was dethroned by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. The superstar was viral all summer with videos of her elaborate sets, custom outfits, mute challenges and mommy-daughter moments on stage with Blue Ivy breaking the internet. Along the way, the Houston native singlehandedly made metallic clothing a trend. Renaissance was long overdue, as it was Beyoncé’s first solo tour since 2016. An intimate, behind-the-scenes film of the tour is slated for release in December. She also announced an upcoming perfume line.
19. Alicia Keys
Photo: Alicia Keys
Singer
Sector: Entertainment
Age: 42
📍 La Jolla, California
🌐 Influence: 90.1
📢 Reach: 25.61
🏳 Substance: 8.0
𝕏 Followers: 29.5M
This was a banner year for Alicia Keys. The 15-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter embarked on a new tour performing new songs alongside her classic hits. She and producer Swizz Beatz celebrated 13 years of marriage. She had success with her skincare line, Keys Soulcare. Finally, “Hell’s Kitchen,” a musical inspired by her teenage years, recently opened off-Broadway. ”Hell’s Kitchen” depicts a few months in the life of a 17-year-old named Ali. “It’s really so much more about relationships and identity and trying to find who you are,” Keys explained to The New York Times. “Which, I think, is a continuous theme in all of our lives: Who are we? Who do we want to be? Who are we becoming?” The play features many of Keys classic songs reimagined for the stage. More and more, Keys reminds us that not only do we know her name…we will never forget it.
Usher has dominated the music industry for nearly 30 years, from his self-titled debut album to his Las Vegas residency. He’s an award-winning singer, songwriter, and dancer with popular albums like “Confessions” — an album that earned Diamond status — several chart-topping songs such as “Nice & Slow” and “You Make Me Wanna;” and collaborations with artists like Alicia Keys and Lil’ Jon. His Vegas residency has been the talk of the town and brought out celebs including Saweetie, Queen Latifah, Diddy, Issa Rae, LeBron James, and most memorably, Keke Palmer. His recent collaborations with artists such as the City Girls and Summer Walker just prove he’s here for the long haul, no matter the generation. Soon the living legend will be taking the stage during the Apple Music Halftime Show at the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas — a performance that is long overdue.
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is on a mission. The longtime front man of the The Roots is trying to build a world for himself that he never had growing up. Most recently, he’s set out to achieve this goal by entering the book publishing industry. AUWA Books, an imprint by Questlove and MCD Books, is set to tell stories that will impact the next generation. The imprint is a continuation of the musical genius’ artistry. Documentaries such as “Summer of Soul” about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival have showcased Questlove’s talents outside of music, emulating his commitment to empowering the Black community through his various mediums of creative expression.
Leslie Odom Jr. is a theater superstar, celebrated for his Tony and Grammy Award-winning performance as the original Aaron Burr in the acclaimed musical “Hamilton.” In 2023, the renowned Broadway veteran graced the stage in a revival of “Purlie Victorious.” In this production, he not only takes on the lead actor’s role but also serves as a producer. This captivating return allows the star to showcase his remarkable talent, leaving an indelible mark on the theater world and reaffirming his status as a luminary of the stage. As if that’s not enough to keep Odom busy, he displays his vocal chops with the release of 10 tracks on “When a Crooner Dies,” his fifth studio album and first release of all-new original music since 2019.
Colman Domingo is a critically acclaimed actor, playwright, and director and known for various roles in The Color Purple, Rustin, Candyman, and Euphoria. Although graduating with a degree in journalism from Temple University, Domingo found his passion in acting, earning a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama for his role as Ali in the HBO drama Euphoria. He has been nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play as a producer for “Fat Ham.” In addition to his successful acting career, Colman wears many hats; he hosts “Bottomless Brunch at Colman’s,” a talk show on AMC; produces, directs and is faculty member at University of Southern California, School of Dramatic Arts.
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) is a voice for the voiceless and a symbol of resilience. Elected to represent Massachusetts’ 7th Congressional District in 2018, she shattered barriers, becoming the first woman of color from Massachusetts to serve in Congress. Pressley’s career is defined by her dedication to serving her community. From her early work as an aide to Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II and Sen. John Kerry to her historic election as the first woman of color to the Boston City Council, she has consistently fought for justice and equality. In Congress, Pressley continues her fearless advocacy, championing legislation for fair wages, supporting survivors of sexual assault, reforming the criminal justice system and, with Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH), pressing the FDA to remove harmful chemicals in relaxers Black women use on their hair. She is a powerful advocate for immigrant rights, reproductive freedom and government accountability. Her unwavering commitment to making a difference has earned her numerous accolades and recognition as a true leader.
Keith Lee is proof that social media can sometimes make the right people famous. With nearly 15 million followers on TikTok, the former MMA fighter is using his platform to change lives — one food review at a time. His reviews of mom-and-pop restaurants immediately turn into viral videos, which in turn gain small businesses more followers, orders, and sometimes donations. This is known as the “Keith Lee Effect.” His most viewed video to date, with 48.2 million views, is his review of Frankensons Pizzeria earlier this year. A staff member reached out to Lee because the restaurant wasn’t getting much business. After posting his review, Frankensons had a line out the door and even ran out of product. The story made national news as Lee and his family traveled to New York for a “Today Show” appearance. Although the Detroit native’s content has always centered around food and family, the Frankensons review catapulted his following. As TikTok’s favorite food reviewer, Lee now has brand deals with Wingstop, Chipotle, and other major corporations. He highlights Black businesses and food trucks on his page often and gives back to his community by buying sneakers for kids at his favorite local shoe store or buying all the ice cream from an ice cream vendor and passing it out at schools. A self-proclaimed family man and foodie who leaves inspirational messages about faith and perseverance throughout his content, it’s impossible not to love this guy.
Hailing from France and towering over opponents at 7-foot-4, Victor Wembanyama was the face of the NBA Draft this year. Wembanyama, who’s only 19, was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs as the No. 1 pick overall. The young baller was all the rage over the summer, receiving praise from many of basketball’s greats, including LeBron James and Kevin Durant. So far, Wembanyama has maintained the hype, averaging 19 points, eight rebounds and two blocks per game in the first few weeks of the season — something Indiana coach Rick Carlisle reportedly believes is unlike anything the league has ever seen.
Oni Blackstock is a physician, entrepreneur, researcher, executive director and founder of Health Justice, a racial and health equity consulting practice whose primary focus is to center anti-racism and equity in the workplace and reduce health inequities in the communities they serve. Blackstock was inspired to become a doctor after witnessing her mother do the same in New York. As a former assistant commissioner of the New York City Health Department, Blackstock led the city’s response to the HIV epidemic. Blackstock is championed in the public health sphere as she is passionate and vocal about achieving health equity for folks in marginalized communities. “My background, the way I was raised, was always very much rooted in social justice,” she said. “And I think so much of my work had maybe not explicitly addressed issues around social justice, but it was always sort of a part of my work.”
Sherri Shepherd has made us laugh for most of our lives, and 2023 was no different. A seasoned comedian and actress, Shepherd hosts the “Sherri” talk show, where she discusses everything from pop culture to food choices. Only in its second season, the show has hosted some notable guests, including Katt Williams, Kirk Franklin and Tina Knowles. She also has four Emmy nominations and an NAACP Image Award under her belt.
Sha’Carri Richardson ran through trials and tribulations these past few years only to triumph and cross the finish line in first place at both the 2023 USA and World Track and Field championships. She proved her “I’m not back; I’m better” mantra to be true this year — from getting suspended and no longer being qualified to compete in the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for marijuana to losing to Jamaican runner Elaine Thompson-Herah in the Prefontaine Classic. The 23-year-old track star ran to claim her title as the fastest woman in the world. Her perseverance is what led the board of the Dallas Independent School District, where she was a student from elementary to high school, to vote unanimously to rename a track in her honor. Let’s see who follows in her fast footsteps on the Sha’Carri Richardson Track.
Flau’jae Johnson is the embodiment of a rising star — a rare blend of musical artistry and athletic prowess making her mark in the world in extraordinary ways. At the tender age of 13, she made her debut on “The Rap Game,” showcasing her rap skills. The spotlight only grew brighter when, at 14, she stunned the world on “America’s Got Talent” by becoming the first rapper to receive the coveted golden buzzer. Johnson’s talents extend beyond music: she’s a dynamic athlete on the basketball court. As a freshman at Louisiana State University, the young athlete assumed the role of the team’s starting point guard, contributing to their triumph in the Southeastern Conference and earning the title of Freshman of the Year. As her journey reached its pinnacle in 2023, Johnson’s signing with Roc Nation stood as a testament to the recognition of her remarkable talent. Furthermore, she ascended to the ranks of the highest earners in the realm of name, image, and likeness (NIL), firmly cementing 2023 as the year when her star truly soared.
Daymond “The Shark” John may have gotten his nickname in part due to his 10 years on the hit show “Shark Tank,” but the entrepreneur is a go-getter in both life and business, using his success story to inspire others. Starting his brand “For Us By Us (FUBU),” with only 10 shirts, John has impacted the Black community by sharing his wealth of knowledge. The “Power of Broke” author has opened doors for Black business owners to create their own success stories through “Black Entrepreneurs Day.” The event gives Black entrepreneurs the chance to learn from successful business owners and market themselves to various companies and investors.
A’ja Wilson was the name on everybody’s lips this past basketball season after successfully leading the Las Vegas Aces to their second consecutive victory at the WNBA Finals, making them the first WNBA team in 21 years to win back-to-back titles. Along the way, Wilson snagged the 2023 Finals MVP. Her recent accomplishments at the finals simply scratch the surface of her success: she has a nice collection of hardware on her shelf, with an Olympic gold medal, another WNBA Finals MVP and two WNBA Defensive Player of the Year awards. She has become a household name, and this looks like just the beginning of her professional athletic journey.
Joia Crear-Perry is a physician and champion of health equity. Her awards — including the Congressional Black Caucus’ Health Hero Award and the Global Visionary award from the Maternal Health Task Force at Harvard University — are evidence that she lives up to her reputation. In addition to being a practicing OB-GYN doctor, Crear-Perry’s career has focused largely on improving maternal mortality rates, experiences, and outcomes. She addressed the United Nations’ Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights to petition the establishment of a framework that improves maternal outcomes. Her work also pulls the thread on anti-racism teaching and training.
34. Nija Charles
Photo: Nija Charles
Grammy-winning, multi-platinum songwriter and artist
Not many songwriters can say they got a Beyoncè placement before 25, let alone two. But Nija Charles can brag about doing just that. In 2017, Charles dropped out of school at New York University — where she was studying at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music — and signed a publishing deal with Universal Music Group. Since then, she’s penned hits for Cardi B (on her Grammy-winning debut album), DJ Khaled, Summer Walker, Lady Gaga, Teyana Taylor, Chloe x Halle and Ariana Grande, among others. Charles wrote and sang on “My Power,” the song Blue Ivy Carter danced to, capturing hearts throughout the Renaissance Tour. At 26, Charles has several platinum plaques for her work. She began releasing her own music in 2021 and now has 1.3 million listeners on Spotify. This year, she executive produced her first album with R&B songstress Kiana Ledè. Her latest release is titled “Stay Awhile” and is featured on Diddy’s newest album. This singer-songwriter is ahead of the game and it’s only a matter of time before everyone knows her name.
From his role as Erik Killmonger in “Black Panther” to his portrayal of Adonis Creed in the Creed series, Jordan has become something of a household name in recent years. Though he began his career with small cameos and memorable roles in TV shows and movies like “The Sopranos” and “Hardball,” it was 2006 when the Creed actor received his breakthrough role on “The Wire” before going on to star in “Friday Night Lights.” From there, the sky was the limit for Jordan, and it was not long before blockbuster hits such as “Fruitvale Station” and “Creed” made the multi-threat creative a household name. After being recognized by TIME Magazine as one of the 30 under 30 changemakers of 2013, the publication circled back a decade later to honor the heartthrob as one of the 100 most influential people in 2023. Jordan set his sights past acting and made his directorial debut this year with “Creed III,” which earned $100 million in its first week of release. Jordan admitted to TIME in an April interview that he’s looking forward to his next directorial opportunity and can’t wait to be “sitting behind the camera” again. Along with his contributions in the entertainment industry, Jordan was also featured in Calvin Klein’s Spring/Summer ’23 campaign at the top of the year.
36. Claudine Gay
Photo: Claudine Gay
President
Sector: Arts/Culture
Age: 53
📍 New York City
🌐 Influence: 78.5
📢 Reach: 6.57
🏳 Substance: 9.8
𝕏 Followers: 1.0K
For 387 years, no Black person ever ran the illustrious Harvard University until Claudine Gay assumed office as the school’s 30th president. The Haitian-American is the first Black president since the school was founded in 1636. The political scientist is no stranger to Harvard’s campus: she was recruited as a professor of government in 2006 and later served as the dean of social sciences and then the Harvard’s Edgerley Family Dean of Arts and Sciences. Outside of Harvard’s walls, she explores the ongoing racial issues in the country as a political scholar and founding chair of the Inequality in America Initiative.
37. Deion Sanders
Photo: Deion Sanders
Former NFL Defensive Back, NFL Hall of Famer, Head Coach of Colorado Buffaloes Football Team
Deion Sanders, also known as Coach Prime, took over the college football landscape overnight. After leading Jackson State to two SWAC championships the last two seasons as well as a Celebration Bowl appearance in 2022, Coach Prime took his talents to Boulder, Colo. to become the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes. Controversy surrounded the move, but Sanders kept it business as usual. After Colorado finished with a 1-11 record last season, he brought in over 50 new players from the transfer portal, including his two sons, Shiloh and Shedeur Sanders, as well as star wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter. Since becoming the head coach, Sanders has made Boulder the place to be this season, as Colorado football tickets are the most expensive average ticket costs in the nation.
Al Roker, an institution in the television world, has been a beloved figure for over 40 years. Known as the weatherman on NBC’s TODAY Show and co-anchor of the 3rd Hour of TODAY, Roker garners an impressive 30 million viewers each week. His 14 Emmy awards and numerous accomplishments speak to his enduring talent. Roker is not limited to weather forecasting; he conducts engaging interviews with celebrities and covers a wide array of topics. He’s also a prolific author with 13 books to his name, including a humorous and personal collection of essays, “You Look So Much Better In Person.” Beyond TV, Roker is an award-winning producer and the CEO of Al Roker Entertainment, Inc., creating content for various platforms. He’s even taken the TED stage to discuss the effects of extreme weather due to climate change. Despite health challenges and stormy weather, Roker remains dedicated to the advancement of journalism and content creation.
Karine Jean-Pierre showed us she was a force to be reckoned with back in 2019 when she stood between a protester and the future Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris. The then-senator was speaking at a MoveOn.org event when a protester rushed to the stage and grabbed the microphone from her hands. Karine, chief public affairs officer for the group, also rushed to Kamala and brought her arm in front of her as a wall between her and her objector. Three years later, Karine made history in the White House as the first Black and proud gay woman to serve as the public face for a presidential administration. She is well known for her bold, fiery comebacks and responses while remaining outspoken and passionate about the Biden administration and a variety of political topics. It’s possible that Karine’s daring spirit came from her childhood, which she details in her memoir, “Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard Work, and the Promise of America.” In her book, Karine recounts her time growing up in New York and taking care of her siblings while undergoing abuse and mental health issues. After enrolling in a class by urban policy expert Ester Fuchs, Karine later realized that there were issues within the country that she wanted to challenge and thus her journey into politics began.
Best known for her role on popular television shows “Black-ish” and “Grown-ish,” Yara Shahidi is a Hollywood veteran. Her work in film this past year — she became the first Black woman to play Tinkerbell in Disney’s live action film “Peter Pan and Wendy” — solidified her icon status. The young actress also stepped behind the camera, serving as executive producer of “Grown-ish,” “Yara Shahidi’s Day Off” and “Sitting in Bars with Cake.” She’s also won numerous awards, including the WIF Max Mara Face of the Future Award, the first Cameron Boyce Youth Empowerment Award and the Shining Star Award at the 2023 Maui Film Festival. Shahidi also dedicates herself to helping young people get involved in politics through her creative platform WeVoteNext. Her ability to navigate different fields so effortlessly continues to leave us stunned.
41. Marques Brownlee
Photo: Marques Brownlee
YouTuber (MKBHD), Professional Ultimate Frisbee Player
Product reviews are a big category on YouTube, but Marques Brownlee is the only tech reviewer who has appeared on the hit digital show “Hot Ones” and has his own signature shoe. Brownlee began posting his thoughts on technology products to YouTube when he was a high schooler in 2009. His longevity has paid off: he now has more than 17 million subscribers on YouTube, where he’s interviewed celebrities including Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Kobe Bryant and Barack Obama.
Rich Paul is the CEO of KLUTCH Sports Group, which he founded in 2012. At KLUTCH, he forged a unique and personal approach to representing NBA talent – putting athletes first and empowering them to build careers and brands on and off the court. KLUTCH Sports now represents some of the biggest athletes across major professional sports including the NBA, NFL and WNBA. In 2019, KLUTCH Sports partnered with UTA, and Paul now serves as UTA’s Head of Sports. In 2021, TIME recognized KLUTCH Sports on its first-ever list of TIME100 Most Influential Companies, and Variety recently named Paul to its “Variety500” list of the most influential business leaders shaping the global media industry.
Nikole Hannah-Jones is the closest incarnation of investigative journalist Ida B. Wells. Like her role model, she uses her pen to fight for truth and democracy while slaying haters (especially on Twitter aka X). And they both faced personal danger for keeping it real. Nikole’s work is especially crucial today with growing threats on civil, voting and reproductive rights. No matter how much racists try to ban “The 1619 Project,” dubbed “the greatest story never told,” Nikole’s mission is to spread the word by any means necessary. That includes her new Democracy Summit – a meeting of brilliant minds like Sherrilyn Ifill and Ta-Nehisi Coates — and the 1619 series on Hulu, which won the 2023 Critic’s Choice Award for Best Limited Documentary Series. After all, Nikole insists, “It is Black people who have been the perfectors of our democracy.” She’s paying it forward by training her peers to go deeper through the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, which was relocated from her alma mater at the University of North Carolina to Morehouse College. She’s also teaching the next generation of truth tellers through her 1619 course at Howard University and a variety of new HBCU programs launched there by her Center for Journalism & Democracy. In the process, she is also shining a light on other lingering issues like health equity and reparations.
Ayo Edebiri’s meteoric rise to stardom has captivated audiences across the world. Best known for her star turn as Sydney Adamu on Hulu’s hit series “The Bear,” Edebiri’s voice and live acting can be found in “Spiderman: Across The Spiderverse,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” Netflix’s “Big Mouth” and the comedy film “Bottoms.” She also has a recurring role on ABC’s hit sitcom “Abbott Elementary.” After winning the IMDb “Breakout Star” StarMeter Award at the South by Southwest Festival, she detailed the reason why she became a comedian and actor. “There’s a host of character actors who are like strange older men who I really love,” she said. “I love Danny Glover. I love Tony Shalhoub…I love Erika Alexander. Like the whole cast of ‘Living Single’ just made a big imprint on me.”
Muti-hyphenate Teyana Taylor is a singer, dancer, choreographer, model and actor who stole her way into our hearts before semi-retiring from the music scene in 2022. (She felt undervalued by the industry after 15 years, she said.) Music’s loss is Hollywood’s gain, as Taylor, who has had roles in Lee Daniels’ “Star,” VH-1’s “The Breaks” and Amazon Prime’s “Coming 2 America,” turned in a tour de force performance as a single mother who kidnaps her son out of foster care in the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize-winning film “A Thousand and One.” In November, Femme It Forward named her among their second-annual Give Her FlowHERS honorees. Taylor is also being recognized with The Visionary Award that “highlights a multi-dimensional creative who is changing the game for the future of women in music.”
Nate Burleson is not much for staying in one lane. The Canadian-born former NFL wide receiver played for several teams, finishing his football career with the Cleveland Browns in 2014 and segueing immediately into an analyst role with the NFL Network. Since then, he’s built a robust broadcast career, now serving as an integral (and well-dressed) part of the “CBS Mornings” squad. Burleson is also a voice for mental health, discussing openly how he spiraled when a 2008 injury put his football career on pause. His advocacy included reciting his poem, “Won Day at a Time,” on air for Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Burleson is also father to three teenagers with his college sweetheart and wife, Atoya. Oh, and if you want to hear his rapping chops, look for his tracks as a guest on Seattle rapper Wizdom’s albums, rapping under the moniker “New Balance.”
Megan Pete, also known as Megan Thee Stallion is THEE hottie of 2023. The Grammy award-winner isn’t just a rap icon — this year, Megan stepped into the world of acting, making her silver screen debut in “Dicks: The Musical” and demonstrating the boundless nature of her talent. Her journey in 2023 is marked by resilience and determination, having triumphed over a 2020 shooting incident. She graced the stage with none other than Beyoncé during the Renaissance Tour in their hometown of Houston. Her most recent achievement involves successfully resolving a contentious lawsuit with her former record label, paving the way for the rapper to independently release new music and revitalize the signature “Hot Girl” energy with new music.
Melonie Parker is a Chief Diversity Officer at Google and has a history of advocating for diversity in the tech industry. Melonie has been working to diversify industries from Lockheed Martin to Sandia National Laboratories, a science and engineering laboratory based in various locations across the United States for nearly three decades. A natural leader in every role she occupies, she is committed to opening doors and breaking glass ceilings for young and marginalized groups to enter the tech industry.
Laphonza Butler made history when she took the oath to serve as the junior U.S. Senator from California in October 2023. She became the first openly queer Black representative to join the U.S. Senate from California and just the third Black woman to hold this position. Butler was the first Black woman president of EMILY’s List, an organization dedicated to electing Democratic pro-choice women. She served as president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) of California, representing 700,000 members and emphasizing her commitment to championing gender equality, women’s rights and labor advocacy. Butler’s impressive political journey includes serving as a senior adviser on both Kamala Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign and Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. Her unwavering dedication earned her praise from former President Barack Obama, who described her as a “champion for change.” In a recent announcement, Butler revealed she won’t seek re-election in 2024, emphasizing her devotion to California’s voters and their pressing concerns. With under a year left in her term, she is determined to make each moment count.
Rep. Shontel Brown has been in Congress since 2021, but she hit the ground running. Less than 48 hours after being sworn into office, she supported passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which brought jobs to Northeast Ohio, improved public transportation, delivered clean water to families and expanded access to high-speed internet. Brown has also worked to improve access to nutritious meals for students and enroll more veterans in preventive health programs. If that wasn’t enough, she recently teamed with Rep. Ayanna Pressley to pressure the FDA to ban cancer-causing chemicals in hair care products geared toward Black women. Talk about serving with constituents in mind!
Sean Combs, rapper, clothing designer and a man of many nicknames including P-Diddy and now Sean Love Combs, was born and raised in Harlem. In 1993 he started his own record label, Bad Boy Records, grooming stars like Mary J. Blige and rapper Notorious B.I.G. He has gone on to produce multiple award-winning albums and singles. He is also a philanthropist, donating $1 million to the School of Business at his alma mater, Howard University, in 2016 and recently fulfilled a promise to donate another $1 million to Howard after a pledge he announced at the BET awards.
For Khabane ”Khaby” Lame, silence is golden. TikTok’s million-dollar mime fetches $750,000 to feature a product in a TikTok and Instagram post. In 2019, Lame was assembling car filters in a factory outside the Italian city of Turin; he now has more than 240 million social media followers and has scored lucrative partnerships with Hugo Boss, State Farm and Middle Eastern bank QNB. This fall, he was featured as a character in “Fortnite,” the blockbuster multiplayer video game with more than 230 million monthly players.
Jada Pinkett Smith started as an actress, rocking our screens in “A Different World” and in iconic films like “Set It Off” and the Matrix series. But she’s not just a silver screen siren — she was the lead singer of the metal band Wicked Wisdom, turning heads with her eclectic talents. In recent years, she’s taken over the talk show space, co-hosting the mega-hit “Red Table Talk.” The Daytime Emmy Award-winning show, which ran for five seasons, taught the world about “entanglements” and gave Facebook Watch viewers candid conversations about personal topics. Pinkett Smith is also a fierce advocate for mental health and the well-being of women. Her memoir “Worthy,” released on Oct. 17, provides readers insight into her life and the struggles of fame and marriage. The memoir, an ode to self-love, is just another reason why she’s the star you can’t help but respect.
54. Taraji P. Henson
Photo: Taraji P. Henson
Actress/Author
Sector: Entertainment
Age: 53
📍
🌐 Influence: 66.7
📢 Reach: 22.97
🏳 Substance: 7.0
𝕏 Followers: 5.3M
Since her star-making debut in “Baby Boy,” Taraji P. Henson has become everyone’s favorite big sister in their head. The Academy Award-nominated superstar is known for her quick wit, thoughtful acting portrayals and iconic fashion sense. She was destined for greatness. Her great-great-grand uncle, Matthew Alexander Henson, made a massive contribution to science by being the first to reach the North Pole. One of Henson’s most iconic roles may be as the incomparable Cookie Lyon on “Empire,” which ran on Fox for six seasons. That incredible portrayal elevated her to a new untouchable status that may soon be eclipsed by her forthcoming portrayal as Shug Avery in the film adaptation of “The Color Purple.” In an interview with Essence, Henson talked about the weight of playing such a difficult role: “I know when you’re doing something so heavy like this, it can be triggering. You have to learn to live in between takes.”
DeMarco Morgan is a broadcast journalist known for his work on CBS and ABC News. He helped found the chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists at Columbia University as a student. Morgan has also worked in higher education, teaching journalism classes at Morehouse College and Jackson State University. In undergrad, he became the first African American male to rank in Scripps Howard’s Top 10 Collegiate Journalists in the country. In 2023, Morgan took over for T.J. Holmes as co-anchor of “GMA3: What You Need to Know.”
Angel “Bayou Barbie” Reese is a rising star in the world of basketball. She represents a resurgence in women’s collegiate basketball after helping lead her Louisiana State University team to win the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. Hailing from Baltimore, this embodiment of perseverance and excellence inspires aspiring athletes everywhere. While her legacy is still in the making, Reese’s journey is one of grit, determination, authenticity and an unwavering passion for the game. As she enters her senior year at LSU, she’s an AP Preseason All-American and one of the highest NIL earners. Bayou Barbie, we’re rooting for you!
If you’re not familiar with Bianca Belair, she’s putting on for Black women in World Wrestling Entertainment. The self-proclaimed “EST of the WWE” has dominated women’s wrestling since being drafted to Raw, the promotional brand that showcases its wrestlers on Monday Night Raw, in 2021. In May, Belair surpassed WWE icon Becky Lynch as the longest reigning Raw women’s champion after facing off against Iyo Sky. Belair is also half of WWE’s hottest couple: she’s married to pro wrestler Montez Ford. The pair has a new reality series: “Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez,” scheduled to air on Hulu next year.
After being snubbed for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” at the 2023 Oscars, Angela Bassett is slated to become one of four Hollywood figures to receive an honorary Oscar at this year’s Governors Awards, hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in November. The 64-year-old star has gotten her flowers all year, snagging Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture at the 54th NAACP Image Awards and Best Actress at the 2023 BET Awards for her Queen Ramonda role. Bassett also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the iconic “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” this year. Not content to rest on her laurels, Bassett is working on her latest film with her actor husband Courtney B. Vance and Showtime, and she continues to portray police officer Athena Grant on the fire and police drama “9-1-1.”
59. LaChanze
Photo: LaChanze
Actress, singer, producer, dancer, president of Black Theatre United
Multi-hyphenate performer LaChanze’s stage name is Creole for “the charmed one.” If her 2023 is any indication, the sobriquet is speaking truth to power. The Florida native, who started her acting, dancing and singing career in the 1980s, became a two-time Tony Award-winning producer in June, taking home statues for Best Musical winner “Kimberly Akimbo” and Best Revival of a Play winner “Topdog/Underdog.” They mark Tony wins two and three for LaChanze – she won Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical in 2006 for her performance as Celie in “The Color Purple.” Since 2022, she has served as president of Black Theatre United, a nonprofit designed to create opportunities and support for Black students and professionals in the theater industry. Her legacy of performance has passed on to her child, Celia Rose Gooding, who plays Uhura in the Paramount+ series “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.”
60. Erica Loewe
Photo: Erica Loewe
Special Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff
Inside 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Erica P. Loewe makes sure that what goes on in the “People’s House” trickles down to the people. She does this in her new role as Special Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff for the Office of Public Engagement, known as the “front door of the White House.” In addition to keeping communities and organizations in the know, she has fulfilled the dreams of everyday folks who thought they’d never visit the White House. Loewe also made sure that the issues important to them were covered by making sure that Black journalists had access to the nation’s movers and shakers in her previous position as the White House Director of African American Media. Born in Charleston and reared in the Miami area, Loewe developed an interest in public service from her parents who were government workers. She became a White House intern in college during the Obama administration and later worked with U.S. Representative Maxine Waters and then U.S. Majority Whip James Clyburn. During the January 6th insurrection, she was among the Congressional staffers barricading doors with furniture to keep out the angry mobs. Despite this low point, she has high hopes for America and for herself as one of the key Black women in the Biden-Harris Administration.
Victoria Monét, a breakout talent who signed with RCA Records in March 2023, has continued to make her mark in the music industry. She released her debut album, “Jaguar II,” in August 2023, captivating audiences with her diverse musical style. Her 2023 single “On My Mama” only further catapulted her into the limelight as the music video paid homage to 1990s artists, 2000s fashion and the Divine 9. Monét’s success continued to shine as she headlined The Jaguar Tour, with every show selling out, solidifying her popularity among fans. Her touring experience extends to sharing the stage with popular acts like Fifth Harmony and Ariana Grande. Not confined to a single genre, Monét’s versatility shines through her songwriting for artists such as Chloe x Halle, GOOD Music, Ariana Grande, Brandy, BLACKPINK and Selena Gomez, among others. With over a decade of experience in singing, songwriting, and production, Monét is a seasoned professional in the music industry. Her work has received critical acclaim from various publications and her sold-out headlining tour is a testament to her growing success. As Monét’s star continues to rise, she remains a noteworthy and influential figure in the world of music.
Myechia Minter-Jordan, M.D., MBA, is president and CEO of the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. With a distinguished reputation in health care, she is celebrated for her unwavering commitment to advancing equity and accessibility. In 2023, Minter-Jordan was honored with the Terrance Keenan Leadership Award in Health Philanthropy by Grantmakers In Health, recognizing her innovative and courageous contributions to the field of health philanthropy. Minter-Jordan’s commitment extends beyond her role at the CareQuest Institute. She is a passionate advocate for addressing social inequities and played a pivotal role in the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund, collaborating with Black and brown executives to provide support in the fight against systemic racism in Massachusetts. “A safe and healthy pregnancy should be a fundamental right, not a privilege. But getting there will require treating Black maternal health with the urgency it requires—all year long—and demanding policies that we know will make a difference,” emphasized Dr. Minter-Jordan in an article she wrote in April 2023. “If we do, we will deliver more than a week’s worth of empty words. We will save lives.”
Aurora James is a fashion designer, author and activist who has more than earned her spot on the Root 100 list. You may know her from her luxury brand, Brother Vellies, but James brings more to the table. She launched the Fifteen Percent pledge, asking retail brands to pledge 15 percent of their shelf space to Black brands. James uses her massive social media platform — nearly a quarter million followers on Instagram — to reach an audience that cares about fashion and activism. She’s also a talented author whose memoir “Wildflower” is a must-read!
Monet McMichael is an O.G. beauty, fashion and lifestyle influencer with a massive following and loyal fan base that landed her at #47 on Forbes Top Creator List. In 2022, she graduated from Rutgers Nursing School, where she shared more than her regular lifestyle content as a student…opening up about nursing school stress and how she maintained a work-life balance. Over the past year, McMichael has blended her beauty influence and nursing school hacks into a $4 million dollar brand. She described the bond she’s built with her fans in an interview with Forbes: “I kind of feel like the big sister, where it’s like you know you can look up to me whether you’re older or younger, it’s a place where we can all learn from each other,” she said. McMichael has also landed major brand deals, partnering with Google, MAC Cosmetics, L’Oréal Paris and more.
Misty Copeland, the world-renowned ballerina, has etched her name in history as a trailblazer. She shattered barriers as the first Black principal dancer in the American Ballet, paving the way for others to follow. After a brief hiatus from performing, the prima ballerina graced the world with her presence in a powerful new role in the activism short film “Flowers,” which premiered at the coveted Tribeca Film Festival. She not only stepped into her first on-screen acting role but also took on co-producing the independent film. “Flowers” sheds light on the housing crisis in the country, highlighting her commitment to addressing critical societal issues. Her production company, Life in Motion Productions, is a beacon of hope for artists of color and marginalized communities. Copeland’s mission is to empower these voices and bring their stories to the forefront.
66. Noah Lyles
Photo: Noah Lyles
American Professional Track & Field Sprinter, 100 meters and 200 meters
Noah Lyles has been proclaimed by many to be the next Usain Bolt. At the age of 26, many say that he could be better than Bolt given that he is running faster than Bolt was at this age. Lyles, a primarily 200 meter sprinter, won the gold medal in the 100 meter Championships in August. After his win was confirmed, he told the camera, “They said I wasn’t the one, but I thank God that I am!” He also won the 200 meter World Championship five days later, becoming the first man to win the 100 meter and 200 meter at the same World Championships since Bolt in 2015, and the first American man to accomplish the feat since 2007.
67. Terrell Grice
Photo: Terrell Grice
Social media personality, Host of The Terrell Show on Youtube
Television casting producer turned media personality Terrell Grice has become a force to be reckoned with. He’s built a platform of over 1.2 million followers that focuses on music, culture and entertainment with his web series titled “The Terrell Show.” Guests have included The Clark Sisters, Kelly Clarkson, Keke Palmer, Tia Mowry and others. The infamous blue wall is a staple of the show, along with “Song Association,” a game in which each of his guests must sing a song with the given word. Since his initial launch, he’s aired several other projects, including a competition show where viewers competed for the chance to appear on “The Terrell Show” and a cooking series with R&B songstress Coco Jones. Grice has also hosted the 62nd Grammy Awards red carpet, appeared at 2023 Culture Con as a featured speaker and performed in his first professional acting role on Season Three of “The Ms. Pat Show” earlier this year. As he closes out Season 6 of his show, which will feature Houston legend, Kelly Rowland, his influence on Black culture continues to grow.
Jalen Hurts has taken the NFL world by storm since being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He had his breakout performance in week 12 of the 2020 NFL season against the Green Bay Packers; since then, he’s been the starting quarterback for the Eagles the last two seasons and led the team to Super Bowl LVII last season — an accomplishment that made him and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes the first two Black quarterbacks to start in a Super Bowl in NFL history. In the off season, Hurts signed one of the richest contracts in NFL history — a five-year, $255 million contract with his all-women management team leading the negotiations.
On weekdays at 10 p.m., Abby Phillip graces our TV screens with her nightly show “CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip.” Formerly known for her work as a news anchor for “Inside Politics Sunday,” Phillip took her career to new heights when she became a full-time primetime host for the network this past year. “One of the things that I think people know me for is raising perspectives that are not always the obvious ones, getting us to think harder about what is happening and why it’s important to you,” Phillip told the Los Angeles Times. It has undoubtedly been a successful year for Phillip, and we can’t wait to see what more she has in store!
Jackie Aina is an American influencer and beauty blogger with more than 10 years in the social media and influencing space. Known as a pioneer for women of color in beauty, she has amassed over 8 million followers across various social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. But Aina doesn’t just represent diversity for Black beauty influencers. She’s also the CEO and founder of FORVR MOOD, a candle company sold at notable shops like Sephora.
Arian Simone showed other businesses that there was something to fear when she founded her organization, The Fearless Fund, to address and challenge the funding gap for businesses owned by women of color (WOC). With over 17 years of serial entrepreneurial experience on her hip and her humbling journey of homelessness to Hollywood, Arian expresses the importance of lifting up other Black-owned businesses when others aren’t quick to give entrepreneurs who resemble her an easy path, including the parties who caused a federal court to block The Fearless Fund from granting funds to those businesses. Despite the loss, however, the fearless entrepreneur said, “Activism is in our DNA. We are not scared.” She promises to continue her fight to assist and fund WOC businesses throughout the country.
This year, Kristen Welker became the first Black person to host NBC News’ “Meet the Press” and only the second woman to serve in the role. Welker stole America’s heart when she moderated the 2020 presidential debate between candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump. She didn’t come to play that night, setting firm boundaries on time and allowing no one to speak over her. She was only the second Black woman to moderate a presidential debate. Welker graduated from Harvard University and matriculated her way through NBC News, where she served as White House correspondent before succeeding Chuck Todd as host of “Meet the Press.”
At just 21 years old, Rikki Lee has already amassed tens of thousands of followers with her feel-good content. Whether she’s using her insightful wisdom to guide young women in her podcast or documenting her life at Ohio State University on YouTube, it’s easy to be inspired by Lee when she uses her social media platforms to help elevate and uplift young women using podcasts, blog posts and YouTube videos. When she’s not creating content or being a full-time college student, she operates her own agency, The Rikki Lee Agency, where she uses her creative consulting skills to help brands and influencers.
Tamron Hall is an award-winning daytime television host most known for her work on the “Today Show” and her eponymous daytime show, which entered its fifth season in September. Hall was nominated for the 2023 Daytime Emmys and won twice in previous years. Prior to hosting the “Tamron Hall Show,” she hosted the third hour of “Today Show” and hosted and anchored segments for MSNBC and NBC. In March, the New York City Council honored the Texas native with a proclamation for Outstanding Service and Achievements. With a career spanning over 30 years, Hall has certainly proved she’s one of the best in her field and broken barriers for Black women journalists.
Deborah Roberts, a trailblazing figure in broadcast journalism, carved her path to success with talent and tenacity. Her journalistic prowess led her to become a key reporter on NBC’s Dateline and eventually a contributor to “20/20” at ABC, where she delved into an array of pressing topics, from the Amish community’s sexual abuse to the emotional journeys of African Americans returning to their ancestral homelands. Her impactful work continues to earn accolades and is a testament to her excellence in communications; Roberts received the prestigious Clarion Award and an Emmy. She remains a powerful voice in journalism, inspiring many with her groundbreaking career, and she was just announced co-anchor of “20/20” after more than 25 years contributing to the show.
76. Ron Nixon
Photo: Ron Nixon
Vice President for News and Head of Investigations, Enterprise and Grants, Editor, Journalist, Pulitzer Prize & Emmy award winner
Under Ronald Nixon, the Associated Press is receiving Emmy nominations and praise for its visual investigations, complete with 3D modeling, satellite imagery and other tech tools to create an accurate account of bombings and other casualties around the world. It’s no surprise since the award-winning investigative journalist has trained a substantial number of investigative journalists over the years. An author and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Nixon rose from global investigations editor and is now vice president of news, overseeing investigations, enterprise, grants and partnerships. Nixon has won a host of awards throughout his career, including an Emmy in 2020 for his work at the AP. He is co-founder of a team that includes Nikole Hannah-Jones of the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, which is dedicated to increasing and retaining reporters and editors of color as well as educating news organizations and journalists on the transformative impact of diverse voices. Nixon is also the author of “Selling Apartheid: Apartheid South Africa’s Global Propaganda War.”
If there’s anyone who could teach a class on being a boss, it’s Mellody Hobson. She’s the co-CEO of Ariel Investments and the Chairwoman of Starbucks Corporation, making her the first Black woman to be chairperson of an S&P 500 company. Hobson’s philanthropic resume is long, as she has previously served on several other boards including DreamWorks Animation and Esteè Lauder. She’s been a longtime advocate of financial literacy, especially for the Black community. Her alma mater, Princeton University, named a college house after her — the first at the institution to be named after a Black woman. In September, the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) — an organization for Black CEOs, executives, board directors and entrepreneurs — announced that it will honor Hobson with the 2023 ELC Achievement Award.
Nicole Lynn is a trailblazer in the NFL agency world, not only because she is a Black woman in a male-dominated space, but because of her success story to reach her level. In 2015, Nicole became the first female agent to represent a top NFL agency in PlayersRep. However, most people know her as the agent that negotiated the richest contract in NFL history this offseason, when quarterback Jalen Hurts re-signed with the Philadelphia Eagles for a five-year, $255 million contract extension. Her clientele list also includes New York Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams — who signed a four-year, $96 million deal to stay with the Jets this past offseason — Browns defensive lineman Myles Garrett, and rookies Brian Branch, Bijan Robinson, and Will Anderson.
Ubah Hassan is no stranger to television. The Somali model and businesswoman caught the attention of numerous viewers with her star power on the reboot of “The Real Housewives of New York City,” enticing the audience with her charisma and spunk. Hassan’s work, however, goes beyond the screen: The reality star broke out into the culinary space in June 2021 when she launched her own line of hot sauces, UBAH HOT. “I created UBAH HOT for myself and anyone who strives to eat healthier and wants to consume more vegetables and less processed food without compromising the flavor,” Hassan said on the UBAH HOT website. She also keeps charity at the forefront of her endeavors, working a telethon earlier this year to help raise money for the nonprofit organization All Hands and Hearts. She continues to show her dedication to giving back while growing her business.
For many reasons, it is hard to conceive that, in 2023, Black people still have to worry about being discriminated against because of their hair – but it happens often. Which is why Adjoa B. Asamoah, a 45-year-old political and social impact strategist, chose to work with state and federal lawmakers over several years to introduce the CROWN Act, an acronym for Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. The law explicitly bans race-based discrimination in relation to hair choices. It allows Black men, women and children to legally wear their twists, locs, braids or teeny-weeny Afros proudly. “The thing I’m out here working for is to preserve and protect our right to do what we want to do with our crown,” Asomoah told The Zoe Report. “I think part of the beauty of Black hair is the versatility, and so I like to try different things with my hair, and I don’t believe I should be discriminated against.” With Asamoah’s diligent work, the CROWN Act has passed in 23 of the 50 states in the U.S. It is still awaiting a passing Senate vote to become a federal law. With continuing hair-based racial discrimination lawsuits cropping up across the country, the legislation won’t come a moment too soon.
Racquel is Head of Wealth and Personal Banking for HSBC Bank USA, leading the bank’s wealth management, global private banking and retail businesses in the US and Latin America. Prior to her current role, she was the managing director and head of Network Expansion at JP Morgan Chase, and she’d served as the head of the firm’s National Sales. In this role, Racquel serviced over 20 million customers in multiple states. Before her stint at JP Morgan, she was an executive member at Merrill Lynch and UBS. On top of this, Oden also serves on the Board of Directors for the Apollo Theater, New York City’s Prep for Prep, The New York City Police Foundation and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
With her knowledge of the media’s reach and power, Natalie Wilson is ideal as co-founder and chief operating officer for the Black and Missing Foundation Inc. (BAMFI). This is captured in the award-winning HBO docuseries “Black and Missing,” which followed Wilson and her sister-in-law, Derrica Wilson, continued fight to bring awareness to the Black women, men and children who remain missing in the United States. Tamika Huston was the inspiration. Natalie noticed that Tamika’s story couldn’t be heard over the endless news coverage of a white woman who had gone missing months after Huston’s disappearance. Since then, Wilson and her sister-in-law have spent the last 15 years on the frontlines, acting as the voice for several thousand missing Black women, men and children who didn’t make it to national headlines. By doing this, the two have assisted in bringing awareness, justice and peace to several families who felt like no one else was listening and are now extending their reach after they announced their up-and-coming production company, with several projects in the works.
Blake Van Putten is an innovative tech entrepreneur who has made significant contributions to the world of artificial intelligence and robotics. Born in 1986, he showed an early aptitude for computer science and engineering. After completing his doctorate in robotics, Van Putten co-founded a cutting-edge tech company specializing in AI-driven automation. His work has led to groundbreaking advancements in various industries, from health care to manufacturing, where his robots have improved efficiency and productivity. Van Putten’s visionary approach to technology and his commitment to making the world a better place through innovation have made him a respected leader in the tech sector.
Best known for her compelling portrayal of Olivia Pope on the hit series “Scandal,” Kerry Washington has been recognized for her groundbreaking roles and has received numerous accolades, including Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. She’s been a luminous star of the entertainment world for more than two decades and has continually captivated audiences with her talent and versatility. Her impact is undeniable, leaving an indelible mark on the realms of film, television, and advocacy. Most recently, she took her storytelling talents to the book world with her new book “Thicker than Water: A Memoir,” which recently landed on the New York Times Bestsellers List.
85. Danyel Surrency-Jones
Photo: Danyel Surrency-Jones
Head of Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator, Founder
Danyel Surrency-Jones, former CEO of Powerhandz, assumed a groundbreaking role as the director and head of the Amazon Black Business Accelerator (BBA) Program. This visionary program is designed to empower and uplift Black-owned businesses, providing vital resources and support within Amazon’s marketplace. Under Surrency-Jones’s leadership, the BBA Program offers a wealth of benefits to Black entrepreneurs, including credits and cash investment opportunities, complimentary services and credits for brand owners, onboarding support, access to an educational library and monthly webinars featuring guidance and mentorship. Furthermore, the program collaborates with organizations experienced in supporting Black businesses and communities. Surrency-Jones is a dynamic figure in the world of business, known for her global strategic insights, philanthropic endeavors and inspiring speeches. With over two decades of experience in Fortune 100 and 500 companies, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role. “This role goes far beyond selling products and is a tremendous opportunity to aid in the building of legacies for Black entrepreneurs, which is deeply fulfilling at this stage in my career. I cannot wait to work alongside the brilliant minds at Amazon to amplify the stories and innovations that come from the Black community of entrepreneurs,” she said.
Brandice Daniel peeped the fashion game and noticed the lack of representation for people of color. So, she did what any trailblazer would do: In 2007, she founded Harlem’s Fashion Row, an organization dedicated to promoting and supporting Black and minority designers. This movement became a platform for emerging talents, shaking up the fashion world and celebrating diversity in style. Daniel’s relentless hustle to challenge the status quo and uplift underrepresented voices in the fashion realm has scored her serious recognition and respect. She’s a key player in the mission for inclusivity…a game-changer with style.
87. Joey Badass
Photo: Joey Badass
Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Actor (Power Book III:Raising Kanan), Founder of Impact Mentorship
Joey Badass is known for his hard-hitting lyrics as a rapper, but he is also an actor, fashion model, singer, songwriter. As a rapper, he tackles the important topics of race and social justice; as an actor, he starred in the USA Network show “Mr. Robot” and as Unique in the Starz hit show “Power Book III: Raising Kanan.” He is the founder of a new mentorship program titled Impact Mentorship, designed for young Black men to become equipped with critical life skills across the landscapes of art, culinary arts, fashion, film/TV, media, music and sports.
Amanda Seales, the witty and fearless comedic force, lights up stages with her sharp humor and candid insights. With an unapologetic style, Seales tackles social and political issues, making audiences both laugh and think. Her unique blend of stand-up comedy is infused with a bold perspective that challenges societal norms, leaving no topic untouched. Known for her razor-sharp wit and unwavering authenticity, Seales deftly navigates the absurdities of everyday life, sparking uproarious laughter and thought-provoking conversations. The self-proclaimed common sense specialist launched her Patreon platform with the exclusive release of her brand new political comedy documentary, “In Amanda We Trust,” which allowed the public to digest the political landscape in a more lighthearted fashion than the norm. As an artist, actress and comedian, she masterfully uses her platform to amplify diverse voices and create change in the world.
Dr. Gbolahan Olanubi is a senior UX researcher at Google who aims to use Artificial Intelligence to collect speech patterns and dialects from African Americans to help create an AAE (African American English) dataset. With AI being all the rage this decade, Olanubi uses it to close the racial biases between Black people and technology.
Shericka Jackson is a 29-year-old Jamaican sprinter who competes in the 100 meter, 200 meter, and 400 meter races. As of 2022, Jackson is the fastest woman alive and second fastest woman of all-time, just behind Florence Griffith-Joyner. Jackson has dominated the 200 meter category while also holding a torch in the 4×100 relay and recording the third- and fourth-best times in the overlap distance. Including her gold medal as part of Jamaica’s 4×100 relay team, Jackson has received five Olympic medals. Most recently, the track star made headlines for her consecutive victories in the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, and then again at the Diamond League Weltklasse Zürich. On Aug. 19, Jackson retained her women’s 200 meter title and cleared her competition with a time of 21.41, beating her own record from the previous year and marking the second fastest time in history, which was only bested by 10 seconds in 1988 by Griffith-Joyner. Just 12 days later, on Aug. 31, the awarded Olympian took home another win at the Diamond League event, clocking 21.82. As of Oct. 11, Jackson is among 11 candidates nominated for the Female World Athlete of the Year 2023. The winner will be announced Dec. 11.
91. Kenny Beecham
Photo: Kenny Beecham
YouTuber, Co-Host of the Through The Wire Podcast, Host of the Kenny Beecham Podcast, Owner of Enjoy Basketball
Kentrell “Kenny” Beecham is the blueprint for bridging content creation and basketball. Through YouTube, Beecham has created a platform that allows viewers to watch him rebuild a team from scratch on NBA 2K or talk about the most recent NBA news. With a subscriber count of over 2 million across four different channels, Beecham is also featured on two podcasts, “Through The Wire” and “The Kenny Beecham Podcast.” He also started a basketball newsletter titled “Enjoy Basketball,” which garnered over 35,000 subscriptions in six months after launching in 2022. In April, he appeared on ESPN’s hit show “First Take” and was dubbed by Stephen A. Smith as “The Future of Sports Media.”
In the realm of dance and choreography, Sean Bankhead is a name synonymous with unforgettable moves. His mesmerizing choreography has left an indelible mark on the music industry. Bankhead’s choreography for Normani’s chart-topping hits, “Motivation” and “Wildside,” breathed life into every step and catapulted him to the forefront of the dance scene, ensuring his name would be etched in the public’s memory. His captivating choreography for Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “Up” was a perfect match for the fun-filled music video that set screens ablaze. In 2023, Bankhead’s influence grew even larger with his work on Victoria Monét’s “On My Mama.” This dance sensation was celebrated for the video’s nostalgic 2000s realness. Bankhead’s collaborations with numerous artists have provided electrifying dance moves to complement their songs, but he is more than a choreographer — he is a creative visionary. His work transcends language, fostering a global celebration of dance and music.
93. Jaylen Brown
Photo: Jaylen Brown
NBA player – Shooting Guard for the Boston Celtics
Jaylen Brown is the shooting guard for the Boston Celtics. Since he was drafted the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Brown has blossomed into an All-NBA-caliber player. Brown is a two-time All-Star and was named to the All-NBA second team last season after posting career highs in points, rebounds, assists and field goal percentage. In the offseason, Brown signed the richest contract in NBA history, staying with the Celtics on a five-year, $304 million extension. During his contract signing press conference, Brown said, “I want to launch a project to bring Black Wall Street here in Boston. I want to attack the wealth disparity here. I think there’s analytics that support that stimulating the wealth gap could actually be something that could be better…for the entire economy.”
Thanks in part to her 2023 championship-winning Las Vegas Aces, Sydney Colson is one of the faces of the WNBA. Her sarcastic humor, transparency about her sexuality and frequent twerk pictures — which she says are influenced of her Houston upbringing — have made her a fan favorite on Instagram and TikTok. In addition to being a national champ, Colson is the star of an unscripted comedy, “The Syd and TP Show,” produced by Togethxr, a women’s sports brand. Colson was a leading point guard at Texas A&M University before being drafted by the Connecticut Sun in the 2011 WNBA draft.
As the visionary behind the Hanifa luxury wear fashion brand, Anifa Mvuemba’s entry into the fashion world as a self-taught designer has been one for the books. The Congolese fashion designer uses tech and bright colors to not only set herself apart from her peers in the space but also to cultivate a unique look. Her designs have been worn by many celebrities, including Beyoncé, Zendaya, Iman, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae and Sarah Jessica Parker. This year, Mvuemba set out to bring accessibility and innovation to bridal fashion. Her recent Hanifa Bridal show made a significant impact, not only showcasing stunning designs but also highlighting her commitment to inclusivity and cultural consciousness. Mvuemba is truly the epitome of Black luxury and innovation.
If you don’t know Telfar Clemens or the brand Telfar, you’ve missed out on one of the most notable yet affordable designer brands of the 2020s. With its iconic TC logo and various shopping bags, boots and other accessories, it’s no wonder Clemens has solidified himself as one of the most iconic Black designers of this generation. Telfar bags made with vegan leather have been called the “it” bag. A-list celebrities have supported them: Oprah picked it as one of her “Favorite Things.” Clemens’ success has resulted in a banner 2023: He delivered the commencement speech to his alma mater Pace University and now commands $7 million per drop.
If each one reach one was a person, it would be Tasha Mccaskiel. After struggling to find her footing in the media after graduation from North Carolina A&T, she decided to create her own space. According to the media strategist, what was started as a GroupMe chat has now grown into a worldwide community. Today, Black Girls in the Media is a 1,000-member strong platform designed to help Black women, both novices and experts, network, train and equip themselves with the tools necessary to have their dream media careers. And that’s just her side gig; Mccaskiel’s 9-5 is as an editorial strategist at HBO.
Ever since Kai Cenat created his YouTube channel in 2018 and joined the YouTube group “AMP” with six other members in 2019, he’s shaken the streaming world with his alluring, contagious energy and smile. On both channels, the creator would post videos that ranged from reactions and vlogs to challenges and comedy skits. The determination and effort he puts into his work goes without question after he streamed for 30 days straight on the Twitch platform in an unceasing “subathon.” He served his viewers a plethora of entertainment, with some streams including yoga, karate, hypnosis and celebrity interviews. The creative ideas that brew from Kai’s mind to the front of his lens are endless, but behind his engaging smile and lively spirit comes a humble beginning. Kai once revealed that he grew up in shelters during times when his mother struggled financially. The subathon would eventually capture the moment when the streamer became the first to surpass 300,000 subscribers on Twitch and his committed road to success showed his supporters that anything is possible. After he flooded the streets of New York with thousands and shut down the city in an attempted giveaway to show gratitude toward his fans, it became clear that Kai is a significant part of the influencer community.
1A self-proclaimed “Queen of Pivoting,” Necole Kane has built three brands for herself. The former gossip blogger founded Xonecole, a lifestyle website for African American women, which was acquired by Will Packer Productions to further extend the reach of the brand. Kane continues her legacy with her brand MyHappyFlo, a plant-based period product company dedicated to helping women achieve painless and healthy periods.
Van Lathan Jr., the Oscar award-winning producer, host, and media personality, brings a distinctive passion to his work. His deep love for sports, entertainment and news is woven into his reporting and shines brightly in his insightful interviews. If you tune into The Ringer, you’ll find Lathan as the co-host of shows that immerse you in the world of sports and entertainment, like the enthralling podcast “The Ringerverse.” If you’re in pursuit of knowledge, his podcast with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay, aptly named “Higher Learning,” offers thoughtful discussions on pressing issues. Lathan’s voice isn’t just a sound…it’s a conduit to a world where sports, entertainment, and knowledge converge, leaving his mark in the realm of media and making him an unmistakable and influential personality in the industry.
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Vice President Kamala Harris made history in 2024 by becoming the first Black and first South Asian woman to run for President of the United States. After President Joe Biden shocked the world with his late July announcement that revealed he would not be seeking re-election, Harris picked up the torch and re-galvanized the Democratic Party. Harris’ career has always centered democracy and public service. She was elected District Attorney of San Francisco in 2004, and six years later she was chosen as Attorney General of California, where she oversaw the largest state justice department in the country. In 2017, Harris was sworn into the United States Senate, where she championed legislation to fight hunger, provide rent relief, improve maternal health care, expand access to capital for small businesses, revitalize America’s infrastructure, and combat the climate crisis. Her legacy will be one of resilience, determination, and the resolve to help all Americans regardless of the obstacles she faced.
She’s the GOAT for a reason. Simone Biles is a singular talent; a gymnastics legend whose legacy was eternally cemented this year at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Biles was already an icon before this summer, with her gravity-defying talent so unprecedented that a move was named after her. But in Paris this year, Biles left it all on the mat, leading our U.S. team to Gold and officially becoming the most decorated US gymnast in history with eight Olympics medals. Again, Biles is the GOAT. Outside of her masterful work in gymnastics, Biles has also used her platform for good, becoming an outspoken advocate for the importance of recognizing mental health.
“It’s just big me!” With that lyric from his guest verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That” this past March, Kendrick Lamar set off the most high-profile war of words that hip-hop has ever seen. But as always with Kendrick, he changed the rules of rap beef. He didn’t just bring contempt to the battle: his creative psychoanalysis, storytelling, and wordplay had fans indulging in their love for hip-hop, communing to endlessly inspecting his lyrics and single art for deeper meanings. And the chart-topping, record-breaking single “Not Like Us” was used not only as a diss, but as a vehicle to unify the disparate factions in his stomping grounds of Los Angeles. That strength in numbers mentality coalesced at the epic “The Pop Out: Ken and Friends” concert, which brought more than a dozen of the most respected rappers on the West Coast out for a celebratory night at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Kendrick capped off his incredible summer with a major announcement: that he would be headlining the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans, becoming the first rapper in history to do so as a solo act. And in November, he became the rapper with the most Grammy nominations this year — all without even releasing a full album. We’re hopeful that that comes soon, but he’s already given us plenty.
4. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
Photo: Beyoncé Knowles-Carter/Getty Images
Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, Actress, Model, Director, Businesswoman, and Fashion Designer.
Beyoncé has been running the music world for decades, but in 2024, the Queen proved yet again exactly why she’s on top and not going anywhere. Starting off, Beyoncé launched Cécred, a haircare line designed for people of all hair types. Quickly after, Bey tapped into her country roots with her eighth studio album, “Cowboy Carter.” The critically acclaimed project merged multiple genres — in true Beyoncé fashion — while still maintaining traditional country roots and celebrating Black culture. If that wasn’t enough, Beyoncé dipped into the alcohol industry with the launch of Sir Davis, her own whiskey brand inspired by her family heritage. We’ve seen Beyoncé outside more than ever before, and if you’re having a year anything close to hers, then you would be too!
5. Dawn Staley
Photo: Dawn Staley/Getty Images
University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball Coach
From being a member of the historic 1996 USA Women’s Olympic Basketball Team to being enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 for her accomplishments as a player, Dawn Staley has been a trailblazer for the growth of women’s basketball. Last season, Staley coached the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team to a national championship and a perfect 38-0 season, becoming the 10th team in women’s college basketball history to accomplish the feat. Since taking over the South Carolina program in 2008, Staley has turned the Gamecocks into one of the premier powerhouse programs in women’s basketball, and has had numerous players become stars in the WNBA, such as A’ja Wilson, Aliyah Boston and Allisha Gray.
An award-winning actor and star of many notable projects such as “Rustin,” ‘The Color Purple” and “If Beale Street Could Talk” under his belt, Colman Domingo’s charm and vulnerability radiates on screen. His latest drama “The Madness” produced by Netflix is a chilling conspiracy thriller, set to be released this Thanksgiving. In the A24 drama, “Sing Sing,” he plays Divine G, who has been imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit but manages to find community in the prison theatre group. The film has received a great deal of Oscar buzz, and according to Ireland’s RTE, his place on the Academy Awards Actor shortlist is “guaranteed.”
Bragg’s place in history was secured in 2021 when he became the first African American to be elected Manhattan District Attorney. In May of this year, Bragg eclipsed that distinction when his office prosecuted former President Donald Trump and secured his conviction on 34 of a 34-count indictment. It made Trump the first United States president to be convicted of a crime, prompting unprecedented debate on the powers of the president and presidential office that continue to reverberate through the 2024 election campaign. Trump’s sentencing was postponed until November 26, but where the public stands on Bragg’s successful prosecution and conviction will be made clear at the ballot box on Election Day.
In the face of a conservative majority in the United States Supreme Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has been the voice of the underserved in 2024. Along with Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, her powerful oral and written dissents on rulings that impact the future of reproductive health care, affirmative action, and other important issues have been key in preserving alternative viewpoints and influencing future legislation.
Jackson made history in 2022 when she became the first Black woman to serve on the highest court in the land. A Washington, D.C. native, Jackson is the daughter of educators and says her parents always inspired her to pursue her dreams. “My parents just never gave me the option of not doing anything I wanted to do. They instilled in me that kind of grit and determination, so I just kept putting one foot in front of the other,” she told The Root in an exclusive interview. In September 2024, Jackson released her memoir, “Lovely One,” a book she calls a love letter to her parents and other mentors who helped her shatter the glass ceiling.
Alicia Keys’ artistry and musical prowess has been clear throughout her decades-long career. The singer-songwriter-author-actress-activist has proven that she can do it all. Her range is on display on Broadway, for which she wrote lyrics and music for “Hell’s Kitchen,” which premiered in March. The show, inspired by Keys’ upbringing in New York City, features hits such as “If I Ain’t Got You,” “Girl on Fire” and “Empire State of Mind.” With 13 Tony nominations, “Hell’s Kitchen” won 2024 best actress awards for leading and supporting roles in a musical. Keys adds “Hell’s Kitchen” to a diverse set of accolades including a New York Times best-selling book and 15 Grammy Awards. Her song-writing camp, “She Is the Music,” is featured in the documentary “Uncharted,” released this fall on Paramount+. She also has Keys Soulcare beauty products and a clothing line with Athleta.
10. Hakeem Jeffries
Photo: Hakeem Jeffries/Getty Images
House Minority Leader and Leader of the House Democratic Caucus
Ballots from the election are still being counted as of the writing of this profile, so it’s still unclear whether Hakeem Jeffries will be the House of Representatives’ speaker or the minority leader. But either way, after the election of Donald Trump for a second term as President of the United States, his work will be more important than ever.
The representative of the Eighth Congressional District of New York has used a slogan of “people over politics” to steer a portfolio of initiatives to protect American people from criminal injustice and socio-economic inequality. The Brooklyn native soared in his first years of Congress, making laws to support a variety of communities including families of slain officers, veterans, incarcerated individuals, students and even music artists. Jeffries also fought to update current ones such as pitching to revise federal regulations to remove racially offensive language. Most notably, his work in criminal justice reform led to the passing of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act not once, but twice in the House. Now, with the GOP taking over both the Oval Office and Senate, Jeffries is seen by many as a leading voice in the Democratic resistance to MAGA.
Jeffrey Wright’s Oscar-nominated performance in the dark comedy “American Fiction” was exactly what viewers of his work have come to love from him: thoughtful, stirring, and jaundiced. He portrays Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, an educator and author who’s jaded by the difficulties of the publishing industry. He ends up writing a pseudonymous, satirical novel that everyone takes far too seriously. The reaction leaving him to maneuver around his faceless persona while grappling with finally receiving the financial freedom he’s been chasing, but for a work that he hates. Ellison is also dealing with the death of his sister, the ailing health of his mother, and strained relationships with two other siblings. The character is stubborn, haughty, and unaware of his flaws – traits that Wright delivers convincingly. This role is just one of many that have earned him a rep as one of the best in the business. Whether it’s his Tony Award-winning performance as Norman “Belize” Arriaga in “Angels in America,” his portrayal in Jean-Michael Basquiat in the late artist’s eponymous 1996 biopic, or even as Commissioner Jim Gordon in “The Batman,” you can never turn away from him on the screen.
Jennifer Hudson continues to shine. The EGOT winner has found a new stride with her successful talk series “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” which sees the host interviewing some of the biggest stars in the game. Along with taping a daily talk show, Hudson found time to produce “A Strange Loop,” the Broadway hit that earned her the last letter of that coveted EGOT acronym. She’s also recorded a Christmas album called “The Gift of Love,” set to debut later this year. At this point the question shouldn’t be, “What can Jennifer Hudson do,” but rather, “What can’t Jennifer Hudson do?” We can’t wait to see what other projects are up the American Idol alum’s sleeve, but we know whatever it is, we will be tuned in.
Let’s give it up for Da’Vine Joy Randolph. The acclaimed actress of the stage and screen had her breakout moment with last year’s “The Holdovers,” bringing her all the way to the Oscars stage. A powerful and intimate performance, Randolph made audiences around the world fall in love with her turn as Mary Lamb, a grieving cafeteria worker at an all-boys preparatory school in 1970, opposite Paul Giamatti. Randolph earned all of the big awards for her marvelous performance, from the BAFTA to the Golden Globe and ultimately, the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Audiences were further endeared by her moving acceptance speeches, in which she spoke of her faith and persistence in the entertainment industry and how much the role of Mary Lamb meant to her. With such a huge splash, Randolph has plenty of roles coming her way. Her next gig is the upcoming musical film “Atlantis,” in which she’ll star alongside Halle Bailey and Brian Tyree Henry.
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson is steadily adding more material to a GOAT-like resume. This season, she became only the fourth player ever to win three WNBA MVP awards, and the second to win the award unanimously. Plus, this past September, she was the first WNBA player to score 1,000 points in a single season. Her reign also extended to the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she led the undefeated Team USA to a gold medal victory. Her on-court prowess has translated to the endorsement world as well: she landed a multi-year endorsement deal with Gatorade in May and teamed with Nike to announce that she would be the 13th player in WNBA history to design and release a signature sneaker. Off the court, Wilson is dedicated to being a role model for young Black girls. In February, she published “Dear Black Girls: How To Be True To You,” a collection of journal entries that share stories and lessons from her life. The book became a New York Times Bestseller.
Cord Jefferson challenged Hollywood executives to take more chances on Black directors in his 2024 Oscar speech after winning Best Adapted Screenplay, one of five Academy Award nominations for “American Fiction.” The first-time director, who has written for numerous TV shows including “Survivor’s Remorse,” “The Good Place” and “Watchmen,” endured his own share of rejection. In 2020, for example, Apple pulled his first TV series in late stages of development. That moment led Jefferson to pick up “Erasure” by Percival Everett, a novel on race and pop culture. Three years later, he adapted “Erasure” into “American Fiction,” his critically acclaimed film about a suburban writer named Monk Ellison whose well-respected novels barely sell any copies until he uses a pseudonym to write parodies of ghetto fiction. “American Fiction” made $22 million at the box office on a budget “significantly less than $10 million.”
Noah Lyles’s mouth gets him in trouble nearly as quickly as his feet cross a finish line – how else can you explain the 2024 Olympic 100-meter dash gold medalist taunting both NBA and NFL stars for not being world-class athletes since they faced only national competition? “I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have world champion on their heads,” Lyles said in a press conference. “World champions of what? The United States?” Lyles could face a challenge race from NFL football wide receiver Xavier Worthy (who this year broke the NFL record for the fastest 40-yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine) and other players in the future. But a guy who this summer won the Olympic gold medal in the 100-meter against the best competitors from around the world, earned a bronze in the 200-meter dash despite having COVID, and still holds the American record in that race – can probably outrun the competition!
Singer and Oscar-nominated actress Andra Day gave an amazing performance of “Lift Every Voice And Sing” ahead of Super Bowl LVIII in March 2024, and she continued to glow up for the rest of the year. In the months that followed, Day’s sophomore album “Cassandra (Cherith)” landed in the Number One spot on Apple Music’s R&B Albums chart. She also starred in the lead role in Netflix’s highly talked about horror film, “The Deliverance,” opposite heavy hitters like Glenn Close and Mo’Nique, with her performance garnering praise from viewers. And as if things couldn’t get any better, her recently released film “Exhibiting Forgiveness” is already garnering major awards buzz. From the stage to the screen, it’s abundantly clear that Day’s star is destined to rise higher and higher with each passing year.
At just 28, Keith Lee has made an impressive transition from MMA fighter to one of the internet’s favorite food critics, amassing over 16 million followers on TikTok alone. Lee’s authentic approach to food reviews, showcasing his love for local eateries, resonated deeply with audiences, solidifying his reputation as the go-to voice for culinary experiences. In 2024, Lee’s success reached new heights as he partnered with major brands like Pizza Hut, further expanding his influence in the food industry. He was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Social Media Personality of the Year, highlighting his impact as a leading voice in digital culture.
Singer and New Orleans native Ledisi is determined to live her good life. And if you needed some convincing, look no further than her latest album “Good Life,” released in March 2024. With collaborators like Kenny Lattimore and Marsha Ambrosius in tow, it’s no wonder why not one but two singles — “I Need to Know” and “Sell Me No Dreams” — wound up on Billboard’s Adult R&B Songs and Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs charts, respectively. Ledisi’s 13-track album also received positive reviews from music critics who praised her jazzy, smooth vocals as “a throwback to the classic-sounding contemporary R&B and soul.” Shortly after the album’s release, Ledisi embarked on her “Good Life Tour,” which saw her sharing her sweet sounds across 33 cities all over the country.
If you’re looking for amazing food, eight-time James Beard award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson specializes in it. Samuelsson is the chef behind restaurants like Red Rooster in Harlem, Vibe BBQ in Newark and several other restaurants globally. The author of several cookbooks, he is the youngest person to nab a three-star review from The New York Times. The Ethiopian culinary artist is considered an innovative expert in his field. Not only was Samuelsson the guest chef for the Obama administration’s first state dinner, but he was also named one of the Great Chefs of America by the Culinary Institute of America. This year, he was named as an Official Chef Ambassador for All-Clad, a cookware brand. He also collaborated with West Elm on a collection that reflects the places he’s called home in Ethiopia, Harlem and Sweden. Samuelsson serves on the board of the New York City Harvest, a nonprofit group that focuses on feeding the hungry. It’s clear that Samuelsson is changing the culinary industry with his unique blends of American comfort food, African and Scandinavian cuisines – one dish at a time.
Versatility has been a hallmark of Denzel Washington’s career with numerous notable roles in films such as “Malcolm X,” “Training Day” and “The Book of Eli.” The latest addition to his filmography is “Gladiator II,” the sequel to the 2000 classic. Also in the works for Washington is “High and Low,” a remake of the 1963 film by Akira Kurosawa to be directed by Spike Lee. Washington is also set to star in an untitled Netflix film directed by Antoine Fuqua where the two-time, Academy Award-winning actor will play General Hannibal. Additionally, Washington spent the year producing “The Piano Lesson,” working alongside sons Malcolm and John David with daughter Katia, as a producer. “The Piano Lesson” is Washington’s third film adaptation of the work of revered playwright August Wilson, whom Washington has pledged to honor by bringing the plays in his Century Cycle to the screen. These roles only affirm what we have known to be true: that Washington can step into any pair of shoes and, frankly, excel each time.
Quinta Brunson started off the year making more history as only the second Black actress — and the first in over 40 years — to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. It was the fourth Emmy for her sitcom “Abbott Elementary,” now in its fourth season. In June, Brunson was honored as the Peabody Trailblazer Award winner for her work on the show and how she has used its platform to illuminate the experiences of public school educators nationwide. The Environmental Media Association also selected Brunson for its 2024 EMA Futures Award for her environmental leadership and storytelling. She has been making strides over the last decade since her days making comedic content on “A Black Lady Sketch Show” and at BuzzFeed.
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has had a colossal 2024, showing growth in various areas of his career as multi-hyphenate artist and businessman. After the success of the hit “Power” franchise that he executive produced and starred in, he expanded his company, G-Unit Film and Television Inc., by recently investing more than $2 million into properties in downtown Shreveport, Louisiana, to establish the city as the new headquarters for G-Unit Studios. He reportedly has multiple shows in development for Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock and BET, including a series based on Eminem’s 2002 film “8 Mile” and a Netflix documentary about Sean “Diddy” Combs. Jackson also published a novel called “The Accomplice,” which tells the story of a Black female Texas Ranger. In May, Jackson was awarded the Entrepreneurial Leadership Award at the 2024 NFTE Awards Gala. Despite his other endeavors, music is still the foundation to Jackson’s career. After wrapping his global 103-date Final Lap Tour this past March, he’ll perform his catalog of hit records in his first-ever Las Vegas residency in December.
24. Jasmine Crockett
Photo: Jasmine Crockett/Getty Images
U.S. Representative for 30th congressional district in Texas
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, has represented the state’s 30th Congressional District in Congress since 2023. However, 2024 turned out to be the year that made the outspoken politician a household name. In May, Crockett put far-right conspiracy theorist and congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene in her place during an Oversight Committee hearing after Greene went after her “fake eyelashes.” Crockett fired back at Greene’s “bleach-blonde, bad-built butch body,” which immediately went viral prompting Crockett to trademark the phrase. From being quoted on “Saturday Night Live” to appearing on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” Crockett permeated culture in 2024 in a truly unexpected way. Her powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention in August played on her alliterative success as she dubbed 2024 Republican nominee Donald Trump as “a vindictive, vile villain” who would “violate voters’ vision for a better America.” The Harris-Walz campaign was lucky to have Crockett in their corner.
25. Shalanda Young
Photo: Shalanda Young/Getty Images
Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget
In 2022, Shalanda Young became the first Black woman to serve as director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. Since then, the Loyola University and Tulane University graduate has made it her mission and duty not only to ensure the government is making great investments, but also to make sure the government is spending money the right way. As the fifth Black woman hired to President Joe Biden’s cabinet, Young also worked to secure funding for assistance to Ukraine, relief for communities that have been devastated by natural disasters and investments in education, child care and climate change.
Tony Award-winning actor Wendell Pierce says he wasn’t criticizing former President Barack Obama after the chief executive accused Black men of having a “problem” with Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential race. “The (Democratic) party has to stop scapegoating Black men,” Pierce tweeted as the Obama clip made international headlines. “Black men aren’t the problem.” The social media post got him a call from Obama, who Pierce has worked with for years. “We spoke and realized we’re on the same page,” Pierce told CNN’s Abby Phillips. “It’s just a matter of messaging.” Currently co-starring on the CBS hit detective drama “Elsbeth” and known for his roles in “Suits,” “The Wire” and many more, Pierce told Phillips he has been visiting Black barber shops nationwide and urging patrons “to vote for what you want. I find that to be most effective.”
As the voice of the United States on the world stage that is the United Nations, Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield uses diplomatic skills honed during more than three decades working in America’s foreign service corp. In her role as U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. and the U.N. Security Council, she is the nation’s highest diplomat second only to the secretary of state. She has dealt with a range of issues such as wars in Ukraine, Sudan and Gaza; civil unrest in Haiti; and the impact of global warming on sub-Saharan Africa. A member of Biden’s cabinet, she has negotiated the diplomatic maze that is foreign policy so that enemies are kept at bay and solutions encouraged.
Glamour’s 2024 Woman of the Year Taraji P. Henson is undoubtedly a powerhouse in her field. From roles in “The Color Purple” and “Empire,” to “Hidden Figures” and Abbott Elementary,” she’s won NAACP Image Awards, Golden Globe awards, and has even been nminated for an Oscar. This year she added New York Times bestselling author to her oeuvre after publishing the children’s book “You Can Be a Good Friend.” She called her current starring role in Peacock’s “Fight Night” a “dream.” Her co-stars include heavy hitters Samuel L. Jackson, “Empire” co-star Terrence Howard, Don Cheadle and Kevin Hart. Always one to speak her mind, she has addressed pay inequity in Hollywood and she’s an advocate for mental health through the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, named in honor of her late father.
Grammy Award-winning musician, actor and interior designer Lenny Kravitz is the hottest 60-year-old on the planet. He has demonstrated his versatility for decades — from his work with Kravitz Design to his astonishing roles in “Precious,” “The Hunger Games,” and “The Butler.” The “American Woman” singer released his 12th studio album, “Blue Electric Light,” earlier this year and will tour Europe next year. His new album oozes sex appeal with its blend of rock, soul, funk and pop. The music video for “TK421,” named after a “Star Wars” character, features Kravitz’s first nude scene and was shot in his home with class and swag. Despite the seductive nature of the video, Kravitz has not been in a serious relationship in nine years, embracing celibacy instead, according to The Guardian. “It’s a spiritual thing,” he explains. While he’s open to a relationship, he fears “I have become very set in my ways, in the way I live.”
After four decades on the stage, 2024 was a banner year for Kecia Lewis. The 59-year-old singer and actress who made her Broadway debut at age 18 in the 1981 musical “Dreamgirls,” found her way back to the stage this year, playing music teacher Miss Liza Jane in the acclaimed musical “Hell’s Kitchen,” inspired by Alicia Keys’ life growing up in New York City. Her performance won Lewis her first Tony for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role at the 2024 awards, making her the first Black actress to win in the category since Renée Elise Goldsberry’s performance in “Hamilton” in 2016.
While she’s enjoying her time in the spotlight, Lewis is always happy to share what she knows by mentoring her younger co-stars. “She’s an earthy and royal woman and she brings a sense of powerful groundedness to every room she walks in,” her “Hell’s Kitchen” co-star Maleah Joi Moon told the AP, “I knew from our first conversation that I wanted to learn as much as I could from her.”
Lewis is preparing to star alongside Tracy Morgan in “The Neighborhood” spinoff, “Crutch” on Paramount+.
Olympic star Sha’Carri Richardson is a world-title holder and an inspiration for many young athletes. Hailing from Dallas, Tx., Richardson’s natural speed was evident early in her career, breaking the 100 m collegiate record and becoming one of the fastest women in history. After one year at Louisiana State University, Richardson turned pro in 2019 and signed an endorsement deal with Nike. She became a star in the sport, known for her bright, boldly colored hair and long nails.
In the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Richardson received the silver medal in the 100-meter dash, running 10.87 seconds. The prize served as Richardson’s first in the Olympics, and most likely not the last. Richardson has overcome controversy throughout her track matriculation, including deaths in her family and a one-month ban for use of marijuana. To see Richardson return at the top of her game is a sight to see.
Don Lemon remains one of the biggest voices in television and journalism. Last year, Lemon was let go from CNN after more than a decade, in a pretty messy fallout between talent and network. But in the time since, Lemon was able to carve out his own space on the internet for himself, launching his own series and podcast “The Don Lemon Show.” Still at the forefront of the conversation in the middle of one of the biggest election years in recent memory, Lemon has found a way to relaunch himself and continue to provide impressive and necessary journalistic work into the fold. As he told USA Today last month, “You can always reinvent yourself. That’s really the beauty of America, and as long as you just not hang on to the past, or not hang on to whatever mistake you feel that you’ve made, or even whether you think it’s whatever happened to you is warranted or not, that there’s always room for reinvention, and there’s always room for reciprocity.”
Daytime television host and author Tamron Hall has graced screens for over 30 years on NBC News, MSNBC, and the “Today” show. Her work is critically acclaimed, and her poised energy keeps viewers coming back for more. The Texas native has received two Emmy awards, an NAACP Image Award, and other accolades. She recently released “A Confident Cook: Recipes for Joyous, No-Pressure Fun in the Kitchen” with Lish Steiling. “The Tamron Hall Show” is currently the second-longest-running Disney-produced syndicated talk show and is one of the highest-rated daytime television shows. Her leadership in the media industry is remarkable and undeniable. When asked by “Forbes” about the most enjoyable part of her career journey she said, “Never expecting [TV success], but always feeling it was possible.”
Sabrina Greenlee is a survivor in every sense of the word. In 2002, the South Carolina native was the victim of an attack with a mixture of bleach and lye that left her blind and fighting for her life. But with faith and the support of her family, she fought her way through the emotional and physical pain to raise four successful children –– including her son, NFL star DeAndre Hopkins. Today, Greenlee shares her message of strength and overcoming adversity with others through S.M.O.O.O.T.H., her non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women impacted by domestic violence. In July 2024, she released an inspiring memoir about her journey, “Grant Me Vision.”“I was living my best life before the attack. But one bad decision – attaching myself to the wrong people – changed my life in an instant,” Greenlee told The Root in a July 2024 interview. “It was a journey for me to get myself together for my children, but I was determined to do it.”
Love him or hate him, Tyler Perry is a true Hollywood changemaker. The director, producer, writer, and actor has created his own empire with Tyler Perry Studios and churned out numerous TV shows, films, plays, and more for millions of viewers. His projects, whether on Netflix, BET, or Prime Video, bring in record-breaking numbers, as his audience continues to come back for more each and every time. Tyler Perry Studios became the first Black-owned studio lot when it opened officially in 2019 in Atlanta. He continued his prosperous career this year with “Divorce in the Black,” earning more new Prime Video subscriptions than any other Amazon MGM film. With upcoming projects like “The Six Triple Eight” and “Madea’s Destination Wedding,” expect more from Perry’s empire as it continues to grow and grow.
As the co-CEO of Ariel Investments, Mellody Hobson is one of the most powerful women in the world. In 2021, she became the first Black woman to chair an S&P 500 company when she accepted the leadership role at Starbucks. But in 2024, the Chicago native used her power and knowledge to give back to those who need it in the children’s book “Priceless Facts About Money.” The 80-page book makes financial literacy easy to understand and gives young people a head start when managing their “cheddar.” The 55-year-old is also the chairman of After School Matters, a non profit that helps Chicago-area teenagers find beneficial programs that will assist them in the future.
Robin Roberts has never been accused of being a fashion slouch, as her “glam fam” of viewers who tune in each morning to watch her share daily prayers from her dressing room know so well. But the “Good Morning America” co-host set the internet ablaze with emojis as fans swooned over the sparkly, floor-length, silver and blue dress with a halter top and plunging back that Roberts sported recently while co-hosting the “On the Red Carpet: Live at the Emmys.” She jokingly dubbed the revealing rear of the dress “the party.” It was a stellar night for Roberts, whose GMA program has won four Emmy Awards during her tenure. It also came a month after her first wedding anniversary to her wife, Amber Laign. Both are cancer survivors.
Whoopi Goldberg has been a veteran in the film and television industry for years, but her political advocacy work during the 2024 presidential election cycle on her daytime talk show “The View,” has garnered much attention and praise from viewers. She’s constantly debunking disinformation, calling out Donald Trump and his lies, speaking truth to power on a variety of issues, and simply keeping it comically real on screen with her co-hosts. Goldberg’s actions over the course of the year just goes to show that no matter the platform and no matter the medium, you always have an opportunity to make a difference. What’s more is that the EGOT-winner also teased she’d be tapping back into her acting roots and bringing another installment of the “Sister Act” franchise to our screens soon, as evidenced by a reunion special that aired on “The View” back in June.
39. Snoop Dogg
Photo: Snoop Dogg/Getty Images
Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Media Personality, Actor
Rapper, actor and occasional co-chef to Martha Stewart, Snoop Dogg has had an amazing year. This summer, he carried the torch during the opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics, served as a correspondent for NBC, and performed with friend and longtime collaborator Dr. Dre during the closing ceremony. He also launched a gin-based cocktail with Dre, based on the duo’s classic hit “Gin & Juice.” With a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, an Emmy nomination, a plethora of BET and MTV awards, and multiple Grammy nominations, Snoop has earned just about every accomplishment the entertainment industry has to offer. He’s also one of the most versatile musicians ever, way beyond his original stomping grounds of Hip-Hop. He’s released funk, retro R&B, reggae and even gospel music. He plans to drop an album this December with Dr. Dre called “Missionary.” In a recent visit on “Today Show,” he announced an upcoming collaboration with country artist Zach Bryan. That same television appearance birthed another viral moment with Snoop joining co-host Al Roker to help with a “special Snoop weather report” that had highlights from “Stoner, Colorado, Roach, Missouri, Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and High Point, North Carolina.” Snoop Dogg is hilarious, charming and adaptable — all crucial ingredients in the longevity that he’s enjoyed.
Brittney Griner’s critically acclaimed memoir “Coming Home,” which she wrote after her release from a Russian prison in 2022, “could be shelved under horror,” according to The Guardian. The six-time WNBA All-Star and center for the Phoenix Mercury won her third Olympic gold medal during the 2024 Summer Games. ESPN ranked her 15 out of the top 25 players for the WNBA playoffs, and in January she’s set to join the new off-season 3-on-3 Unrivaled Basketball League. In July, she and her wife welcomed their baby boy to the world. Griner told the Hollywood Reporter “that her whole phone has turned into him.”
Vladimir Duthiers has worked in broadcast media for more than a decade after a late start to his journalism career. He has moved up the ranks, now being a featured host of “CBS Mornings” and an anchor on CBS News 24/7. Duthiers first came on the scene in 2009 as a production assistant with CNN after starting his career as a managing director at an investment company. That following year he responded to the earthquake in Haiti, one of the first journalists on the scene to cover the tragedy. With Duthiers being a first-generation American of French-Haitian descent and having a first name inspired by his biological father’s admiration for Russian literature, it was noble to see him meet that call to action. After working for five years at CNN, Duthiers joined CBS News as a news correspondent, which ultimately catapulted his journalism career to the space audiences respect him for today.
With the stroke of a pen on an executive order last June, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore pardoned 175,000 people convicted of low-level marijuana offenses in the state. It was the largest group pardoned by a state in American history. Marijuana was decriminalized in Maryland in January 2023. “Maryland is going to use this moment to right many historical wrongs,” said the Rhodes Scholar who attended Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. “Legalization does not erase the fact that nearly half of all drug arrests in Maryland during the early 2000s were for cannabis. It doesn’t erase the fact that Black Marylanders were three times more likely to be arrested for cannabis than White Marylanders before legalization.” Mention this the next time someone says your vote doesn’t count.
LL Cool J celebrated hip-hop’s 50th anniversary in 2023 by headlining the “F.O.R.C.E. (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy) Live Tour.” For his first tour in 30 years, he joined fellow legends like The Roots, Ice-T and Queen Latifah. And this fall, he teamed up with revered producer Q-Tip for “THE FORCE,” his first studio album in 11 years and one of the best rap records of 2024. By reasserting his dominance as a performer, curator and recording artist, he provided a triumphant reminder of his enduring impact on music and culture. LL Cool J further solidified his acting legacy by co-starring in the 14th and final season of “NCIS: Los Angeles.” Bridging generations, LL Cool J continues to push boundaries, remaining one of the most dynamic figures in entertainment.
44. RuPaul
Photo: RuPaul/Getty Images
TV personality, TV Host, singer, actor, Drag performer
RuPaul has spent decades pursuing queer representation in mainstream media with fearlessness and flair, and he’s still not slowing down. The multitalented artist is known as the mother of commercial drag, hosting an eponymous television talk show and morning radio show in the 90s before launching the reality competition series “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in 2009. The show, which RuPaul, 64, both produces and hosts, has since earned 27 Primetime Emmy Awards and aired its 16th season this year. RuPaul also published his fourth book in 2024, a memoir titled “The House of Hidden Meanings” that covers the first 40 years of his life before his hit show began.
Donald Glover’s career is nothing short of dynamic. This year, Glover made waves, taking on a lead role in the Prime Video remake of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” The series earned him 16 Primetime Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Lead Actor. His ability to seamlessly shift between acting, music and writing has solidified his stance as one of the most versatile and creative talents in entertainment. He first gained attention as a writer for “30 Rock” and later became a fan favorite as Troy Barnes on “Community.” He also created, directed and starred in the critically acclaimed “Atlanta,” a TV show which won him multiple Emmys. But that’s only one side of Glover’s talents. Under the name Childish Gambino, he has achieved massive success in music, including Grammy Awards for the genre-bending hit “This Is America.” While he may have announced that his 2024 album “Bando Stone & the New World” is set to be the last under that name, he continues to bridge the gap between music and acting with innovative projects.
Whether on or off the basketball court, Angel Reese is making waves as a multi-talented force. She earned various individual and team awards as a collegiate athlete, including leading her Louisiana State University Tigers to their first NCAA Women’s National Championship in 2023 against Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes. Since taking her skills to WNBA’s Chicago Sky, she’s continued her dominance in the pros. Reese’s rookie season saw her put up historic numbers. She broke WNBA records for the most consecutive double-doubles with 15 straight games, and for the most rebounds per game. The “Bayou Barbie” is also a business-savvy entrepreneur and a budding fashionista. Recent ventures include a limited edition brand deal with Reese’s Pieces candy, a fashion campaign with Good American, and the September launch of a podcast called “Unapologetically Angel” that features interviews with stars like Latto, GloRilla and retired NBA player Dwayne Wade.
47. Jotaka Eaddy
Photo: Jotaka Eaddy/Getty Images
Founder and CEO, Full Circle Strategies, #WinWithBlackWomen
Jotaka Eaddy, founder and CEO of Full Circle Strategies, is a leader in social impact and political advocacy. Leading the movement #WinWithBlackWomen, she organized a total of over 44,000 Black women for a Zoom call about championing political causes and supporting Kamala Harrs as the democratic presidential candidate. Eaddy’s work extends beyond elections though, as she tackles issues such as reproductive justice, racism, and economic inequality. Notably, she was instrumental in a national and international lobbying campaign that led to the abolition of the juvenile death penalty with the Supreme Court’s 2005 ruling on Roper v. Simmons. Reflecting on the work of #WinWithBlackWomen, Eaddy says, “We’re about the heart space, because it’s just as important to Black women to have a place where our hearts can flourish. Where we can be seen and heard.”
Yamiche Alcindor is a seasoned journalist and commentator, best known for her coverage of U.S. politics. After previous roles as a White House correspondent for PBS NewsHour and a reporter for the New York Times, she is now a correspondent for NBC News covering the Harris-Walz campaign. Alcindor has earned widespread recognition for her analysis on marginalized communities, including her recent coverage of former President Trump’s false allegations of Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.
Alcindor’s various accomplishments include the Peabody Award for her work on the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, the John F. Hogan Distinguished Service Award, the Gwen Ifill Award, Zenger Award for Press Freedom and more. Whether she’s covering Capitol Hill or Black Lives Matter protests, she continues to raise the bar for Black journalists and stands firm in the truth.
49. Symone Sanders-Townsend
Photo: Symone Sanders-Townsend/Getty Images
MSNBC Anchor and Former Counsel to the Vice President of the United States
Symone Sanders Townsend is both a powerhouse political strategist and one of the most respected names in media. The North Omaha, Neb. native previously made history as the youngest presidential press secretary for Bernie Sanders’ campaign in 2016. She would later serve as a senior advisor and chief spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris. Sanders Townsend left the Biden administration in 2022, but she’s still a powerful voice in news and politics as the co-host of MSNBC’s “The Weekend.” This year, Sanders received Black Enterprise’s Luminary Award at the Women of Power Summit.
Filmmaker Will Packer’s impact is undeniable. He has amassed over $1 billion in box office revenue with several of his films debuting at No.1, including “Ride Along,” “Think Like a Man,” and the blockbuster N.W.A. biopic “Straight Outta Compton.” His television prowess shines through with projects like the Emmy-nominated remake of “Roots” and the comedy series “Uncle Buck.” In 2024, Packer executive produced Peacock’s ensemble cast miniseries “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist.” We’re on pins and needles knowing he’s revisiting “Girls Trip 2.” With deals at Universal Studios and membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Will Packer continues to shape the future of entertainment.
Issa Rae, 39, bets on herself and wins. Rae consistently demonstrates her versatility as an actress, writer and producer, from creating the recent HBO Max series “Rap Sh!t” to co-starring in the critically acclaimed “American Fiction” and the global blockbuster “Barbie.” She’s also appearing in “Black Mirror,” lending her voice again to the “Spider-Verse” animated film franchise and releasing the buddy comedy “One of Them Days,” which she’s producing, in January 2025. And even though her hit series “Insecure” ended in 2021, it continues to resonate with audiences. But Issa Rae’s work behind-the-scenes is just as important as what shows up on the camera. Her production company Hoorae Media delivers multiplatform content at the intersection of culture and identity. She shows her commitment to empowering emerging talent through her management company ColorCreative and the Black and Unlimited digital development program, and she also founded a record label called Raedio. Outside of entertainment, Rae’s entrepreneurial ventures include her year-old Viarae Prosecco’s new Rosé. Her growing empire is a testament to the power of creating your own authentic lane — and letting others share the journey.
Shannon Sharpe immediately had the internet buzzing at the top of the year with his viral interview with Katt Williams on his “Club Shay Shay” podcast. The controversial comedian shared his insane theories about Sean “Diddy” Combs and his other rivals in the industry. Since that moment, Sharpe’s one-on-one interviews with celebrity guests have become a must-watch as the internet waits for them to say something as insane as Williams did. The 56-year-old has interviewed LL Cool J, Tyrese, Devante Adams, Marlon Wayans, Karl-Anthony Towns, Fat Joe, Ray J, Amanda Seales, and anyone relevant to current popular culture. Sharpe also hosts a live show with Chad Ochocinco titled “Nightcap” where the two former NFL players recap the sporting events of that night and anything else that the internet has been discussing, even if it may be too embarrassing for one of the hosts. And he’s doing all of this while maintaining a day job as a commentator on television’s top sports debate show, “First Take” on ESPN.
As one of the most polarizing figures in the entertainment world, Katt Williams always has people talking about him. However, 2024 was definitely different, even by his standards. His unforgettable appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” podcast saw the comedian spill his particular brand of tea on the likes of Kevin Hart, Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, Tyler Perry, Diddy, and more. The episode has amassed 80 million views since dropping in January, and people are still quoting it. It led to sold out shows for the 53-year-old’s comedy tour and increased bookings on other podcasts. With his name back in the mainstream, Katt introduced himself to a whole new audience. What made his reemergence so fascinating is that he did it just by being the same unpredictable, wild Katt Williams we’ve always known. We’re not going to pretend that everything he spouts is worth paying attention to, but he certainly made 2024 a lot more interesting.
Bakari T. Sellers is an American attorney, political commentator, and politician known for speaking his mind and advocating for the Black community. In April of this year, Sellers released his new book called “The Moment: Thoughts on the Race Reckoning That Wasn’t and How We All Can Move Forward Now.” Joy-Ann Reid, New York Times bestselling author and host of MSNBC’s “The Reid Out,” called Sellers’ book “a must read,” saying “Sellers brilliantly and precisely cuts through the noise of the calculated, well-financed, and relentless campaign by conservative media, think tanks, and politicians to end the post-George Floyd ‘racial reckoning’ and reverse the civil rights victories of the past fifty years.” But that wasn’t all Sellers was up to this year. His podcast, “The Bakari Sellers Podcast,” was also nominated for a NAACP Award for Outstanding Podcast: Society and Culture. Sellers continues to rise in the political world, and now he’s getting his well-earned props.
Laura Coates is a dynamic voice for justice who breaks down complexities of the law in a way that’s resonant for her audience. She’s an attorney and SiriusXM host by day, as well as anchor of “Laura Coates Live” and chief legal analyst on CNN by night. Coates is known for being outspoken on women’s rights, social justice, and advocating for Black women in the political sphere. After practicing privately in Minnesota and New York, she became a federal prosecutor for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice during the Bush and Obama administrations. Additionally, beyond the courtroom and newsroom, she’s a bestselling author. In “Just Pursuit: A Black Prosecutor’s Fight for Fairness,” Coates shines a light on issues impacting the Black communities and reminds others to fight for justice in the courts.
Harry Dunn served 15 years as a member of the United States Capitol Police, where he was one of the brave officers who protected the country from insurrectionists trying to storm the Capitol building on January 6, 2021. He released a New York Times Bestseller memoir called “Standing My Ground” two years later, and after an unsuccessful bid for a House seat for the state of Maryland last May, he turned his attention towards starting a political action committee (PAC). The goal of Dunn’s Democracy Defenders, according to its website, is to support candidates who “will take on the MAGA extremists and the massive super PACs that undermine our democracy.” Dunn was also on the campaign trail with President Joe Biden before he dropped out of the race.
Michelle Buteau has captivated audiences and shown the world that you can have your big break at any age. At 47, she’s taken the comedy industry by storm by turning her 2020 memoir “Survival of the Thickest” into a hit Netflix show that she stars in. On top of that, as a seasoned stand-up comic, she was the first woman to have a comedy show taping that was shot at Radio City Music Hall, and she released a new film “Babes” in May. Buteau’s comedic brilliance and relatable charm made her a standout as she continued to redefine what it means to be a leading lady. Off-screen, she advocates for self-acceptance and body inclusivity, flawlessly blending humor with heart.
Glory Edim, author of “Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me,” has spread her love for words to a half-million Black women. Since beginning Well-Read Black Girl in 2015, Edim has built a space to amplify Black women’s stories. It all started as a Brooklyn-based book club that has developed into a community and digital literary platform with a podcast, newsletter and robust social media presence. In 2017, Edim added an annual festival complete with panels, discussions and celebrations of the stories that are so often not granted the limelight. For the 2024 book fest, she invited authors ranging from Edwidge Danticat to Nikole Hannah-Jones. In addition to her new memoir, Edim published two anthologies, “Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves” and “On Girlhood: 15 Stories From the Well-Read Black Girl Library.” Now she’s acquiring books through a new series with Liveright Publishing. “If we continue to make communities that are supportive, and are nurturing, and allow us to create these open spaces where we can center ourselves,” Edim once told NPR, “the talent will emerge.”
Visual artist Mickalene Thomas, 53, shook our tables with her newest exhibit “All About Love,” which celebrates Black womanhood through bold, audacious and vibrant portraits that fuse modern art with historical references. Known for her signature use of rhinestones, acrylic and enamel, her work challenges conventional beauty standards while paying homage to Black femininity and culture. Thomas’ unique visual language, blending pop art with elements of classical portraiture, has made her a leading voice in contemporary art. From her early days transforming iconic images with new narratives to her multimedia installations, Thomas continues to inspire by centering marginalized voices. Without a doubt, she cemented her legacy as an artist whose work speaks to empowerment, identity, and the complexity of representation.
Known for her show “The ReidOut” on MSNBC, author, journalist, and political analyst Joy Reid is a prominent force in news precisely because she’s relentless in discussing issues that impact us all, especially those in the Black community. From her call outs of Donald Trump and Amber Rose to constantly highlighting Black history and Black news, the Harvard graduate has spent her career dedicated to effecting change. During this election cycle, she was one of the first journalists to provide a detailed description of what “Project 2025” is, perfectly outlining the implications of the 900-word document for everyday Americans to digest. This year, Reid also released her New York Times best-selling book “Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America.”
From “New Girl” to starring in a new film about the origins of “Saturday Night Live,” Lamorne Morris has come somewhat face-to-face with his lifelong dream of being on “SNL.” Now he’s starring as his idol Garrett Morris (no relation) in a biopic about “the not ready for prime time players.” The Chicago native cut his teeth at Second City, where quite a few “SNL” cast members have trained. Fresh from winning an Emmy for his role in FX’s “Fargo,” Morris stars in “Saturday Night,” which highlights the intricacies that nearly prevented Lorne Michaels’ comedy series from debuting almost 50 years ago. Next up for Morris? A role in Prime Video’s new live-action series “Spider-Noir.”
Danielle Brooks has been on a meteoric rise in 2024, with her portrayal of Sofia in “The Color Purple” musical film earning her critical acclaim and over 20 awards and nominations including an Oscar nod and a British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) for Best Supporting Actress. The role is deeply personal for Brooks, who played Sofia on Broadway, and it marks a powerful full-circle moment in her career. Brooks has been addressing the importance of using her platform to champion stories of Black womanhood and resilience. As a performer known for her authenticity and grace, she’s committed to creating space for diverse narratives on screen and stage. Beyond acting, Brooks has become a voice of advocacy for body positivity and Black women in Hollywood, recognizing that her visibility is part of a larger cultural shift. “I want to be a vessel for change,” Brooks shared in an interview with the Golden Globes, highlighting her dedication, not only to her craft, but also to the impact her presence has on future generations of performers.
Every morning, millions of Americans start their day with Craig Melvin. One of the hosts of the third hour of NBC’s “Today” show, Melvin has appeared alongside Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Carson Daly. Melvin in particular has been open about his friendship with Roker, crediting it for helping him get through some of his “darkest moments.” This year, Melvin published what he describes as “a love letter to fatherhood:” a picture book called “I’m Proud of You” that illustrates his relationship with his two kids, Delano and Sybil. “I didn’t even realize some of the emotions I’m capable of having until I had my own children,” he told Garden & Gun magazine earlier this year. “I wanted to write a book that helped all the dads out there.”
Kimberly Bryant continues to push boundaries, leveraging her expertise to advocate for inclusion in tech. As the founder of Black Girls Code, Bryant played a pivotal role in creating pathways for young Black girls in STEM. Now she’s using her Silicon Valley experience and ties to develop a startup district on Black Wall Street in Memphis, her hometown. “There’s even a greater need to have more women of color and people from marginalized communities really starting these tech companies — not just going to work at them,” said Bryant, founder and CEO of the Black Innovation Lab. Her pre-accelerator will be housed in the Black-owned Grigg’s Business and Practical Arts College, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places last year. “I believe we’re on the cusp of a new golden era of innovation,” the biotech engineer predicted, “marking the onset of what I term the fourth Industrial Revolution.”
Known for styling such iconic stars as Zendaya, Kerry Washington, and Celine Dion, Law Roach has shaken up the fashion landscape. In his new book, “How to Build a Fashion Icon: Notes on Confidence from the World’s Only Image Architect,” he emphasizes the most important part of style: confidence. His fashion career began in Chicago after he opened Deliciously Vintage, a used clothing store and Kanye West dropped in for a visit, putting Law Roach on the map as a celebrity stylist. From his appearances on TV’s “America’s Next Top Model,” to being one of the judges on Legendary, a reality competition series that explored the world of ballroom culture in NYC, he waxed effusively to E! about next year’s Met Gala’s theme, which will pay tribute Black men and their impact on fashion. “I am pleasantly surprised and honored that such a huge body are finally paying homage to the contribution that my people have made to fashion.” In March, the “Image Architect,” announced his retirement from styling celebs to his 1.6 million Instagram followers, but he says his styling relationship with Zendaya isn’t finished.
Country music artist Shaboozey had an audience before now, but in 2024 he became a household name. In a year when everyone was talking about Black country artists, he topped the charts and opened up the genre to a new fanbase. His hit single “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is one of the biggest songs of 2024, breaking records with its run at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. While the 29-year-old’s music is definitely country, it also has a hip-hop vibe to it that allows it to bridge a musical divide. We’ll never forget his mash up of “Tipsy” with J-Kwon’s original 2000 cut at the 2024 BET Awards. There’s an authenticity to his voice that listeners are instantly drawn to. He’s the kind of artist you want to invest time in, because you know he means what he sings. As if that wasn’t enough, he was also featured on Beyoncé’s groundbreaking album “Cowboy Carter.” Anyone who tops the charts, changes their genre and collaborates with Queen Bey is having the best year ever.
67. Antjuan Seawright
Photo: Antjuan Seawright/Getty Images
Political Strategist, CBS Correspondent, CEO of Blueprint Strategy
It’s a testament to Seawright’s skills as a much-sought-after democratic political strategist and consultant that he’s carved out a national reputation as CEO of Blueprint Strategy LLC, a firm based in his Columbia, S.C., home. A former advisor on Hilliary Clinton’s 2008 and 2016 presidential campaigns, he’s worked with Democratic campaign committees in S.C., Georgia, and New York and advises the Democratic National Committee. A frequent guest on political talk shows, Seawright is a former advisor to CBS News, an opinion writer for The Hill, BuzzFeed News, BETNews.com, and The Christian Recorder. He hosts the “Insight with Antjuan Seawright,” a weekly public affairs radio show based in South Carolina, and co-host of “Hot Button Monday’s” segment on Reverend Al Sharpton’s national radio show. He regularly debates Fox News conservatives on-air while still managing to keep much of his private life private – a strategy more public figures should adopt! This year, he won numerous awards for his community work, including traveling all over the country, stopping in barbershops and churches to talk to Black men in order to understand what they were feeling prior to the election.
Vincent Evans has been committed to political change, especially in the Black community, for over a decade. A graduate of Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, Evans worked for the Biden-Harris Administration and even took on the role of Deputy Director of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs to the Vice President. President Biden himself appointed Evans to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans. In 2022, he became the Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus. Recently, the Jacksonville native was recognized by The Hill as one of the ‘25 Staffers Who Make Capitol Hill Run.’ Evans was also awarded the 2024 Do Something Award from the National Urban League for his diligence and enthusiasm to advocacy that uplifts his community. We need more people like Vincent Evans in this world.
At 27 years old, United States Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost is the youngest member of Congress and the first Gen Zer to ever win a seat. Since being elected in 2023, as a Democratic representative in a conservative state, Frost has been steadfast in his fight against gun violence. And with the help of President Joe Biden, Frost introduced legislation to create what he touts as the first-ever Office of Gun Violence Prevention. He is also a former organizer with an extensive background in activism and youth engagement.
From her Academy Award-nominated performance in “King Richard,” to her dynamic portrayals in “Origin,” “The Color Purple,” “Lovecraft Country,” and “The Help,” award-winning actress Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor never ceases to amaze us. With a BA in African American Studies from Brown University and an MFA in Acting from the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, she has been gracing us with her impeccable and gut-wrenching dramatic performances for decades. The multi-talented actress, producer and activist, Ellis-Taylor has released four projects this year alone, including Lee Daniels’ “The Deliverance,” “The Supremes At Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat,” “Nickel Boys,” based on Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize Winning novel and “Exhibiting Forgiveness.” As an activist, she told Elle Magazine “I always try to go for my purpose and my paycheck at the same time.”
Actor Andre Holland has been all business this year. His new film, “Exhibiting Forgiveness” with Andra Day is about a Black artist and his path to success while struggling with forgiveness. Earlier this year, he starred in “The Big Cigar” as Black Panther Party leader Huey P. Newton and in Netflix’s “Shirley” about politician Shirley Chisolm. But one of the things he’s most proud of is the restoration of an old movie theater in his hometown in Bessemer Alabama, which he’s doing with his mother through his non-profit organization The Holland Project. “It was a heavy lift” ferrying him to theater companies in pursuit of acting, he told PEOPLE. “So one of the passions that [his mother] has, and that I have, is to bring arts programming to my immediate community that I grew up in…” Holland hit his stride with his performance in the Academy Award-winning “Moonlight.” He’s since starred in featured in “Selma,” “42,” and “A Wrinkle in Time.”
72. Stephen A. Smith
Photo: Stephen A. Smith/Getty Images
Host of ESPN’s First Take; Host of The Stephen A. Smith Show; Sports media personality
Stephen A. Smith reigns as one of sports media’s most unapologetic dust-kickers. The Bronx native is the face of “First Take,” ESPN’s most popular morning sports show. His career progression is the envy of Black sports journalists: He started in the 1990s as a print journalist in Winston-Salem before moving to the Philadelphia Inquirer to serve as a columnist for the 76ers. He launched his television career in 1999 on CNN/SI and was a staple on “ESPN Sportscenter” for years before settling into “First Take.” His assertive, often brash speaking style makes him divisive to many, but Smith is one of the highest-paid and most popular sportscasters at ESPN for good reason.
73. Duchesne Drew
Photo: Duchesne Drew/Getty Images
SVP of American Public Media Group, President of MPR, Member of Columbia Board of Trustees
Duchesne Drew has shown exemplary leadership and excellence in the media and journalism industry for over 20 years. Previously, he merged innovation and communications as the Community Network Vice President of the Bush Foundation. Now, the Columbia University alumnus works as the Senior Vice President of the American Public Media Group and the President of Minnesota Public Radio where he leads the teams that produce MPR News, APM Reports, and the Marketplace. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the McKnight Foundation and the Board of Trustees for Columbia University. With his work ethic and commitment to community building, Duchesne Drew’s contributions to journalism are undeniable.
It is likely to spot sports journalist Taylor Rooks on the sidelines at a game with the most stunning outfit in the stadium or arena. But don’t mistake her classy and chic style for a lack of knowledge. She’s also known for her unique and daring interviewing style as well as her sports expertise. Rooks is the host and executive producer of “Take It There With Taylor Rooks” on Bleacher Report, and also works with Turner Sports. The Georgia native is one of the featured reporters on Amazon Prime’s “Thursday Night Football.” With her large social media following, she is not only a sportscaster but an influencer as well, as followers and other aspiring sports journalists see her “Get Ready With Me” videos and behind-the-scenes content as inspiration. Earlier this year, Rooks was inducted into the Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame at home in Georgia for her outstanding work in journalism. At only 32, Taylor Rooks is climbing the ranks to become one of the most respected individuals in her field.
Cameo George serves as the executive producer for “American Experience,” PBS’ longest running and most-watched history documentary series. Prior to PBS, George worked as the Head of Development of ABC News Originals at Walt Disney Television. The Georgetown University graduate also spent time as a supervising producer at CNN, where she developed and oversaw launch plans for original series and films.
Since becoming the first African American woman and second African American mayor of Los Angeles in 2022, Karen Bass, 71, has done her absolute best to elevate the city. She has decreased violent crimes and homicides. She also instituted solutions to battle the homelessness crisis, including the construction of new housing projects and the creation of a program called Inside Safe that works to get people out of street encampments and into transitional housing. She has also secured millions of dollars in funding from federal and state governments to combat climate change. But perhaps the biggest moment of her first term as mayor was having the Olympic flag handed to her by the Paris Olympics delegation at the end of the 2024 Summer Olympics, signifying that Los Angeles would be the next host of the Olympic games in 2028.
There’s television before Shonda Rhimes, and television after Shonda Rhimes. A true titan of the medium, Rhimes changed the game with her record-breaking medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy” when it premiered on ABC almost 20 years ago. Since then, her Shondaland empire has grown with culture-shifting shows like “Scandal” and “How To Get Away With Murder,” literally owning an entire night of programming on the network during an era appropriately dubbed, “TGIT.” And when the streaming era came and upended linear TV, she continued to show out. Rhimes nabbed a massive deal with Netflix, bringing her studio to the streaming service and launching one of the biggest shows the platform has ever seen: “Bridgerton.” Rhimes continues to create boundary-pushing, addictive TV that captures the zeitgeist, and she shows no signs of stopping.
“Industry” is an HBO drama about a group of young graduates climbing the corporate ladder in London’s hypercompetitive finance world. And if you’ve watched the series at all through its three seasons, then the star of the show is crystal clear: Harper Stern, the ruthless finance prodigy whose deceptive charm, sharp analysis, and amoral ethics always keep her several steps ahead of her competition. Whether it’s insider trading or screwing over her mentor before forcing him to work with her, Harper is willing to do whatever it takes to get where she’s going. The character is memorably portrayed by Herrold, an actress whose other roles have included films like “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” “Leave The World Behind,” and an episode of “Black Mirror.”
Harriette Cole went from recovering from hamstring surgery to lighting the world on fire with her two Dreamleapers podcasts and the talk show she launched during the pandemic, “Real Conversations With AARP.” Just this year, she has interviewed firebrands including Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., Sheila Johnson, Don Lemon, Donna Karan, Chelsea Clinton, Anthony Hamilton, Mickalene Thomas and Kecia Lewis, inspiring others to leap into their dreams. The Baltimore native started her career at Essence where she ran the lifestyle and fashion departments. She was co-founder of Savoy, editorial director of Uptown, and creative director and editor-in-chief of Ebony where she produced iconic covers of Michael Jackson, Prince, and Barack and Michelle Obama. Her seven bestsellers include “Jumping the Broom” and “How to Be.” She writes the syndicated advice column “Sense & Sensitivity” and has been media trainer to Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Andra Day, PartyNextDoor, Shyne, Anderson .Paak, Caresha aka Yung Miami and Lori Harvey.
Acting as the Senior Advisor to the President and Director of Public Engagement for the Biden Administration, Stephen K. Benjamin works as the “the bridge between the people and the highest echelons of power,” according to the Washington Informer. Through his work, he continues to ensure the strong relationship between the White House leaders and the Americans that they pledge to serve. In his role as director, he also works to increase inclusivity and accessibility to communities across the country. He played a significant part in the $175 billion in student loan debt forgiveness and first ever celebration of Black Excellence and this year’s Juneteenth on the White House South Lawn. Before working in the White House, Benjamin was the Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina from April 2010 to December 2021.
Media expert and activist Trell Thomas has always believed in the importance of representation and sharing stories of success — particularly within communities of color.
Since 2018, the South Carolina native has hosted The Black Excellence Brunch, a celebration of Black history and culture that pays tribute to the Sunday dinners he grew up having with loved ones after church. The brunch has grown to become one of the hottest tickets in town, expanding to locations across the United States and Africa while attracting celebrities like Anthony Anderson, Iyanla Vanzant and Al Sharpton to show up in their finest white and enjoy good food and fellowship.
In September 2024, Thomas’ event was held at one of the most sought-after locations in the country – the White House South Lawn.
“Bringing Black Excellence Brunch to the White House is not just a dream come true, but a powerful statement about the significance of Black culture and achievement in America,” he said in a statement. “This event is a tribute to the resilience, talent, and beauty of the Black community, and I am honored to celebrate it in such a historic and meaningful setting.”
Keia Clarke serves as the CEO of the 2024 WNBA Champion New York Liberty. In this role, she leads and manages all business initiatives of the franchise. Clarke has been with the Liberty for 14 years, but her four-year tenure as CEO has seen the team become one of the most prominent franchises in the league: the Liberty are loaded with all-star talent on the court, boast the WNBA’s most beloved mascot in Ellie the Elephant, and have turned their home games at Barclays Center into one of the hottest tickets in New York City. Before being elevated to the role of CEO, Clarke worked as the team’s chief operating officer. The New York University grad also spent time at Golf Digest as a marketing analyst.
Fearless Fund co-founder Ayana Parsons had a fiery 2024 as she fought to keep her company afloat. Alongside Arian Simone and Keisha Knight Pulliam, she started Fearless Fund in 2019 to address racial disparities that impact Black women business owners. However, the company faced a federal lawsuit last year from conservative group American Alliance for Equal Rights (led by anti-Affirmative Action litigant Edward Blum) alleging racial discrimination. Despite being challenged by Blum, Parsons and her counterparts had already helped raise nearly $27 million for dozens of businesses with Black women at the helm, including Slutty Vegan and Thirteen Lune. Though Parsons stepped down from Fearless Fund over the summer, she remains committed to helping Black women thrive.
James Manyika is Google’s Senior Vice President of Research, Technology, and Society, a newly-created position reporting directly to the CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc. Utilizing his knowledge and expertise, Manyika researches the intersection of technology and the economy, looking at artificial intelligence, robotic automation, and the future of work. In September, Manyika spoke at Semafor’s “The Next 3 Billion” event in New York, where he stated that the world should work together to make sure that the existing digital divide between countries doesn’t turn into an AI divide that could leave out the Global South. In May 2024, Manyika and Google launched LearnLM, which allows teachers to better utilize technology in order to guide their students as they move to a digital world.
Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry (“Monster’s Ball”) is now tackling a new issue: menopause. This is after a doctor misdiagnosed her with herpes when she shared that she was pain the morning after sex. The experience prompted the star of “Never Let Go,” “The Union,” and “John Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum” to found Respin, a business dedicated to helping women going through menopause by sharing information, including scientifically proven solutions. Berry has not only used her celebrity to erase the stigma placed on the life change; she has appeared before Congress to press for more research on menopause. Berry is advocating for the Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women’s Health Act, a bi-partisan bill seeking $275 million for research into menopause. Noting that only 13 percent of doctors are certified by the North American Menopause Society, Berry said, “Women are worthy of doctors who won’t tell patients they have herpes when they don’t.”
86. Colin Allred
Photo: Colin Allred/Getty Images
Representative of Texas’ 32nd Congressional District, Former Football Player
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, a football player-turned-politician, is making history in the 32nd Congressional District in Texas. He has been praised for bipartisan work on issues ranging from infrastructure to health care. He was also the frontrunner among nine candidates challenging Senator Ted Cruz, infamously known for reading “Green Eggs and Ham” during a 21-hour filibuster. The San Antonio Express-News, which endorsed Allred (along with the Houston Chronicle), described him as “solid, smart and dedicated to his responsibilities as a public servant.” A former linebacker for the Tennessee Titans, Allred played in the NFL for nearly four years until injuries led him back to earlier goals. He obtained his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 2014 and began working as a civil rights attorney. In 2018, he ran for Congress, breaking a Republican’s 22-year streak in the seat. Allred was reelected in 2020 and won a third term in his battleground district in 2022. Allred is a trendsetter in politics, too, as the first member of Congress to take paternity leave.
87. Renee Montgomery
Photo: Renee Montgomery/Getty Images
Vice President and Co-Owner of Atlanta Dream, Former WNBA
Becoming a two-time WNBA champion is already an accomplishment in its own right, but Renee Montgomery earned even more respect after she retired. She became the first former WNBA player to serve as both a co-owner and executive of a WNBA team after purchasing the Atlanta Dream in 2021. That same year, she also became the first female team owner in the Fan Controlled Football League, teaming up with former NFL star and Marshawn Lynch and professional wrestler Miro to purchase the FCF Beasts. This year, Montgomery is the subject of a documentary executive produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter. The film, titled “A Radical Act: Renee Montgomery,” will open the LA Micheaux Film Festival and explores her life growing up in West Virginia and her career as an athlete.
As president of Xbox, Sarah Bond oversees Microsoft’s multi-billion-dollar global gaming platform. In 2023, the 46-year-old Harvard and Yale graduate played a major role in the $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard Inc., the creators of Candy Crush and Call of Duty. But the story doesn’t end there. The acquisition would be America gaming’s largest deal — ever. Despite being a Black woman in a man’s game, the Jersey native has been a rising star at Microsoft for some time. According to Bloomberg: “Seven years into her tenure, she can still seem like a newcomer in an industry whose prominent leaders are often lifers. And given the demographics of the industry, a Black woman who tends to wear 4-inch heels is easy to pigeon hole as an outsider.” This year was another good one for Bond. Xbox bought its cloud gaming service to Amazon Fire TV devices, and Bond and her team also helped turn the game Palword into a surprise success.
Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura had already made a name for herself through her 15-year career with hit songs such as “Me & U” and “Long Way 2 Go.” But her name made international headlines last November when she utilized New York’s Adult Survivors Act to file a lawsuit against her ex-boyfriend, Sean “Diddy” Combs. Six months later, she made headlines once again when CNN released video of Diddy beating on her in a hotel hallway, removing all doubt anyone had left regarding her claims against Diddy. It was arguably Cassie’s courage in coming forward with her lawsuit that set in motion Diddy’s ongoing legal issues; she could have unwittingly served as the catalyst for a long-awaited #MeToo-style reckoning in the hip-hop community.
It’s hard to think of another actress who has had a two-year run like Ayo Edebiri. Starting in the New York City comedy scene in the late 2010s, Edebiri worked her way up to become one of the industry’s biggest breakout stars with her role in Hulu’s hit series “The Bear.” Audiences and critics alike have fallen in love with her character Sydney Adamu, the dedicated chef de cuisine whose brilliant recipes and earnest leadership have held the kitchen together for the show’s three seasons. Her turn in the series has earned her Emmy and Golden Globe awards, making fans tune into other roles li films like “Bottoms” and “Inside Out 2.” Edebiri’s journey in Hollywood is just getting started, and we can’t wait to see where she goes next.
A “Saturday Night Live” legend, Maya Rudolph remains one of the best to ever do it on NBC’s sketch comedy show. The daughter of the late Minnie Riperton, Rudolph’s comedy stylings and spot-on vocal chops have kept audiences laughing for decades. From impressions of Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, to an iconic turn as Vice President Kamala Harris, Rudolph has more than cemented herself into the legacy of SNL, appearing on the series full-time from 2000 through 2007 while appearing as a host and guest player in the years since. Rudolph has also branched out beyond sketch comedy, appearing in other successful ventures like her Emmy-nominated series “Loot” and starring in the acclaimed comedy “Bridesmaids.” As she returns to SNL once again alongside Vice President Harris’ run for president, Rudolph’s impact on comedy at large is undeniable.
“The Body Politic,” a new PBS documentary, reveals how much Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott loves his hometown and why he’s on a mission to improve it. Scott believes in putting people first — from his street-level initiative to save lives while cutting crime in Charm City to his admonishments to reporters pressing him about repairing a collapsed bridge when he was first concerned about the search-and-rescue mission. This sentiment is partly why voters put him back in office for a second term. In 2020, Scott became Baltimore’s youngest mayor at 36 amid the COVID-19 pandemic and George Floyd unrest. He also became the youngest city council member at 27 in 2011 and was elected unanimously as president in 2019. Brushing off ageism and naysayers, the mayor claims the “largest reduction in homicides Baltimore has ever seen” through his Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan. So far, homicides dropped 29.3% and nonfatal shootings by 36.5% compared to 2023. As supporters chanted “four more years” at his victory party, Scott gave them a charge: “Let us finish what we started!”
With memorable roles in films like “The Harder They Fall” and “Jurassic World: Dominion,” DeWanda Wise has already begun to make a name for herself in Hollywood. The 40-year-old rode into 2024 on a wave of acclaim for her work in the Starz series “Three Women,” and then terrified audiences in 2024 with the horror thriller “Imaginary,” which she both starred in and executive produced. From action, to drama, to horror, Wise’s range is amazing: she feels completely at home in every genre. She brings an authenticity to every performance that makes even the most outrageous stories believable. Trust us, this is a rare and special talent. As much as she caught our attention this year, we can’t wait to see the heights she reaches in 2025.
ABC News broadcast journalist and best-selling author, Linsey Davis has launched her sixth children’s book this year, “Girls of the World.” The book celebrates equality, and fairness, and aims to encourage girls to “be brave and take their place in a challenging world.” An anchor for ABC News Live Prime—the network’s first streaming evening newscast, she also anchors “World News Tonight” on Sundays. She’s recognized for spearheading the 2020’s presidential coverage of ABC’s News’ Democratic debates. A self-described Christian, wife, and mom, she is also a two-time Emmy Award winner who falls in the footsteps of those continuing to pave the way for female journalists of color worldwide.
Esquire has said that Steve Toussaint’s character Corlys “the Sea Snake,” Velaryon in HBO’s “House of the Dragon,” is the show’s “secret weapon.” “Dragon” is a prequel to the critically acclaimed “Game of Thrones” and making waves of its own, now in its second season. Toussaint is a British actor who has become a fan favorite with speculations that the character might get a spin-off series, according to the Economic Times. Toussaint also starred in BBC One’s mini-series Small Axe (2020), inspired by real-life events of London’s West Indian community between 1969 and 1982, and the crime thriller series “Before We Die.” He’s also appeared in the iconic “Doctor Who” series. In an interview with The Guardian on his career and “House of the Dragon’s” success Toussaint said, “If it does well, and people like what I do, fabulous. If it doesn’t do so well? Well, I still had a great time making it and I met some lovely people.” But it’s clear to see that people love his “House of the Dragon” and Toussaint’s role in it.
96. Aldis Hodge
Photo: Aldis Hodge/Getty Images
Actor (Cross, Straight Outta Compton, City on a Hill); Entrepreneur,
Aldis Hodge, who won a SAG Award for “Hidden Figures, isn’t just known for film and television. He’s also a scriptwriter and producer. This year he starred in the sci-fi thriller Parallel, a remake of a 2020 film, which he co-wrote and stars alongside with his older brother, Edwin. Most recently, he appeared in “Marmalade.” Fans will recognize him from “What Men Want,” with Taraji P. Henson and Tracy Morgan as well as “Straight Outta Compton.” He was also nominated for two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting actor in the motion pictures “Black Adam,” and “One Night in Miami.” Hodge has been making headway in the popular TV drama “Leverage: Redemption,” and “City On A Hill.” James Patterson fans can catch him as Alex Cross in his brand new crime series “Cross,” now streaming on Prime Video.
CNBC journalist Jon Fortt covers technology, finance, and innovation. As the co-anchor of “Closing Bell Overtime,” he reports and analyzes after-hours moves such as breaking news and post-market trading. He also created two weekly segments for other CNBC shows. “On The Other Hand,” a segment on the morning show “Squawk Box,” finds him analyzing the various sides of a contentious issue. And “Working Lunch,” a segment on the show “Power Lunch,” is an interview series with high-profile CEOs.
While he may be most known for his finance and tech coverage, the DePauw graduate has also led powerful coverage of race. After the killing of George Floyd in 2020, he launched “The Course,” an 18-lesson curriculum modeled after “The Talk” that Black parents around the country give their children about racism in America. Fortt’s course “pulls from sources as diverse as Shakespeare and NWA, Miles Morales and Toni Morrison” to illustrate the complexities of the Black experience in America.
Stephanie Dinkins is a transdisciplinary artist who focuses on the dialogue of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) at the intersection of race, gender, aging, and future histories. Dinkins uses technology to investigate ways to make A.I. more inclusive and accessible, in addition to illustrating why a well-rounded perspective is needed to reflect the real world. Additionally, Dinkins’ projects connect art and technology in order to create positive change. This past year, she was selected as the inaugural recipient for the LG Guggenheim Award, which is an award given by the Guggenheim Museum in connection with the electronics company LG. Her work has been showcased across multiple states and countries including Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Canada, Austria, Taipei, Canada, and Sweden.
British Actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste is said to “dazzle” in her new drama “Hard Truths” according to the BBC. In this film, Jean-Baptiste has reunited with director Mike Leigh, a pairing that led to Jean-Baptiste’s Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a supporting role in 1997. That film made her an instant, worldwide star. In an interview with “The Hollywood Reporter,” on working with Mike Leigh again Jean-Baptiste said that it was “terrifying and exciting … to get back to trusting someone wholeheartedly in a process and knowing that you’re going to be looked after.” According to Variety the pair have made another film that is Oscar-worthy, stating that Jean-Baptiste’s performance is a “tour de force.” She has also starred in “The Book of Clarence,” “Robocop,” “Spy Game,” “Edge of Tomorrow,” the TV series “Without A Trace,” “Blindspot” and Amazon Prime’s “Homecoming.”
At just 35 years old, Damola Adamolekun is making his name in the restaurant industry. In September, the Nigerian-American business executive assumed the role as the youngest CEO of Red Lobster. Adamolekun accepted the job during a critical time for the company, which filed for bankruptcy in May.
Facing the challenge head-on, Adamolekun plans to revitalize the beloved seafood restaurant chain through strategies that include reducing the menu, ending the restaurant’s famous $20 endless shrimp deal, and livening up the design of dining areas. Adamolekun has a proven track record: he graduated from Harvard Business School, worked as an investment banking analyst with Goldman Sachs, and at age 30, became the first Black CEO of P.F. Chang’s. Under his leadership, the casual Asian fusion restaurant chain generated nearly $1 billion in yearly revenue. He’s hoping to bring similar success to Red Lobster, one of the first chain restaurants he ate at with his family after moving to the U.S. at nine years old.
