The Root 100 – 2022

1. Michelle Obama

Former First Lady

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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.

2. Serena Williams

Champion/Investor

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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.

3. Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson

Multi-hyphenate

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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.”

4. Megan Thee Stallion

Rapper

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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.

5. Stacey Abrams

Gubernatorial Candidate

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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.

6. Lizzo Melissa Viviane Jefferson

Singer

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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.

7. Trevor Noah

Talk show host

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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.

8. Issa Rae

Producer, Writer, Actress

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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.

9. Kamala Harris

Vice President

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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.

10. Quinta Brunson

Writer/producer/actress

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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!

11. LeVar Burton

Actor/Literacy Advocate

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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.”

12. Simone Biles

Olympian

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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.

13. Sheryl Lee Ralph

Actor

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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.”

14. Kendrick Lamar

Rapper/Artist

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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.

15. Shonda Rhimes

Producer, Writer

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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.

16. Eric Adams

Mayor

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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.

17. Chloe Bailey

Singer/actress: ONE TO WATCH AWARD

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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.

18. Christian Smalls

President

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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.

19. Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman

Actor

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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.”

20. Aaron Judge

Single-season Home Run King

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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.

21. Jessica Watkins

Astronaut

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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.

22. Keke Palmer

Television Network

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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.”

23. Letitia James

Attorney General

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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.

24. Alexis McGill Johnson

President/CEO

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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.”

25. Karine Jean Pierre

Press Secretary

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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.

26. Dawn Staley

Head Coach

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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.

27. Naomi Osaka

Tennis Champion

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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.”

28. Jon Batiste

Musician/composer

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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.

29. Steph Curry

NBA Champion

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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.

30. Gayle King

Anchor

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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. 

31. George M. Johnson

Author

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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.

32. Aisha Pinky Cole

CEO/Founder

Instagram, Twitter

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.

33. Rashida Jones

President

Twitter

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.

34. Jazmine Sullivan

Singer/songwriter

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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.”

35. Kiese Laymon

Author

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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

President, Raedio; Business Development Manager, HOORAE

Instagram, Twitter

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.”

37. Erin Jackson

Olympian

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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. 

38. Necole Kane

Founder/CEO

Instagram, Twitter

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.”

39. Simone Leigh

Visual Artist

Instagram

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.

40. Michael R. Jackson

Playwright, Composer, Lyricist

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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.

41. Loretta Ross

Reproductive Justice and Human Rights Advocate

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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.

42. Waikinya Clanton

Mississippi State Office Director

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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.”

43. Jennifer Hudson

Actor/singer/talkshowhost

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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.

44. Rihanna Fenty

Singer/actor/entreprneur

Twitter

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.

45. Viola Davis

Oscar-winning actress

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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.

46. Coodie Simmons

Directors/screenwriters/cinematophers/producers

Instagram, Twitter

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.

47. Imani Barbarin

Creator

Instagram, Twitter, TikTok

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.

48. Oriaku Njoku

Executive Director

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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

Associate Justice

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.

50. LeBron James

Champion/Philanthropist

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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.

51. Claire Babineaux-Fontenot

CEO

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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.

52. Lindsay Peoples Wagner

Editor in chief

Instagram

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.”

53. Tyler Perry

Actor/filmmaker/playwright

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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?

54. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

Asst. Professor,Physics

Instagram, Twitter

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.

55. Janeese Lewis George

Councilmember

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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.

56. Michaela Jae Rodriguez

Actress

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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!

57. Nataki Garrett

Artistic Director

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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.  

58. Timnit Gebru

Founder

Twitter

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. 

59. Esi Eggleston Bracey

Co-founder

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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.

60. Orlena Nwokah Blanchard

Co-founder

Instagram

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.

61. Soledad O’Brien

Broadcaster

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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. 

62. Chike Ozah

Directors/screenwriters/cinematophers/producers

Instagram

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.

63. Dominique Morisseau

Executive Artistic Producer

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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.

64. Jenifer Lewis

Actor

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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.

65. Monique Rodriguez

CEO/Founder

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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. 

66. Garlin Gilchrist II

Lt. Governor

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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.

67. Olubowale Victor Akintimehin

Rapper

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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.

68. Shalanda Young

Director

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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.

69. Natalie Wilson

Co-founder/COO

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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. 

70. Derrica Wilson

Co-founder/CEO

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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. 

71. Sandra Douglass Morgan

Team President

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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.

72. Dr. Robert S. Harvey

President

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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. 

73. Tabitha Brown

Author/actress

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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.

74. Thasunda Brown Duckett

President/CEO

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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.

75. Travis Montaque

CEO/Co-founder

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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

TV Writer, Co-Creator/Co-Showrunner, Executive Producer

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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.

77. Dr. Monique W. Couvson

President/CEO

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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.”

78. Chance Lynch

Civil Rights Attorney

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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.

79. Jordan Peele

Actor/comedian/filmmaker

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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.

80. Solange Knowles

Composer

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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!”

81. Jelani Cobb

Dean

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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. 

82. Reuben Jonathan Miller

Criminologist

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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.  

83. Patricia McGregor

Artistic Director

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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

General Manager

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

Showrunner, Creator & Executive Producer The Ms. Pat Show // Writer and star of AIN’T NO MO’, premiering on Broadway this year

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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”.

86. Tiffany Benjamin

CEO

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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. 

87. Sangu Delle

Founder/CEO

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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

Tony Award-winning actor

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.

89. Condoleeza Rice

Co-owner

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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.”

90. Mellody Hobson

Co-owner

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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. 

91. Tavares Strachan

Visual Artist

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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.

92. P. Gabrielle Forman

Public Historian

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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.

93. Michael D. Tubbs

Founder

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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.

94. Everette Taylor

CEO

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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.”

95. Duchesne Drew

President

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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.

96. Michael King

Founder/CEO

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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

Founder/President

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

Podcast Host/Creator

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. 

99. J. Drew Lanham

Ornithologist

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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. 

100. Justin J. Pearson

Co-founder

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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.