Stacey Abrams
Nipsey Hussle
Lizzo
Steven Canals
Oronike Odeleye
Colin Kaepernick
Ilhan Omar
Rodney Robinson
Janet Mock
Karen Attiah
Alysia Montaño
Crystal Dunn
Jeremy O. Harris
LeBron James
Ibram X. Kendi
Serena Williams
Tomi Adeyemi
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
Jackie Aina
Janelle Monáe
Nikole Hannah-Jones
Stephen Curry
Blair Imani
Donald Glover
Kristen Clarke
Allyson Felix
Lena Waithe
Ayanna Pressley
Virgil Abloh
Crissle West
Glory Edim
Ritchie Torres
Jaime Harrison
Kid Fury
Rich Paul
Karine Jean-Pierre
Jason Reynolds
Elaine Welteroth
Brandon Bryant
Zach Stafford
Kerby Jean-Raymond
John Henry
Law Roach
Angelica Ross
Cardi B
Lauren Underwood
Latoya Shauntay Snell
Mahershala Ali
Melina Matsoukas
Mashama Bailey
Matthew Cherry
Kawhi Leonard
Tanisha C. Ford
Arlan Hamilton
Jordan Peele
Adam Serwer
Rhiana Gunn-Wright
Kwame Onwuachi
Kiese Laymon
Jeffreen Hayes
Amanda Williams
Tiffany Cross
Kezia Williams
Latham Thomas
Manu Platt
John Edmonds
Micah McDonald
Joy Buolamwini
Bassey Ikpi
Candice Elder
Elie Mystal
Henri Pierre-Jacques
Candice Payne
Jemele Hill
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Wayman Bannerman
Lorin Crawford
Akbar Cook
MiAngel Cody
Brittany K. Barnett
Lauren Wesley Wilson
Maya Rupert
Brandi Collins-Dexter
Dantley Davis
Meghan Markle
Kamilah Forbes
Chaédria LaBouvier
Diamond Stingily
Alexandra Bell
Denise Woodard
Jarrid Tingle
Naomi Washington-Leapheart
Marcus Bullock
Kiki Ayers
Raniyah Copeland
Delano Dunn
Dorian Burton
William Tarpeh
Brooke Obie
Elizabeth Lindsey
The Root 100 is our annual list of the most influential African Americans, ages 25 to 45. It’s our way of honoring the innovators, the leaders, the public figures and game changers whose work from the past year is breaking down barriers and paving the way for the next generation. This year’s list of honorees is a reminder of the beauty and brilliance of blackness, at a time when the political and cultural landscape has grown even more hostile to the idea of black achievement.