“When it comes down to telling our stories and telling them accurately, we can rely on Black media to do that,” Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) (above with former CNN host Don Lemon). Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice NEW YORK — On Wednesday, December 4, The Root unveiled its 2025 Root 100 list, honoring Black Americans whose influence spans culture, politics, entertainment, business, activism, and social impact. The annual gala returned Dec. 3 at Gotham Hall in Manhattan, marking the publication’s first celebration under new owner Ashley Allison and Watering Hole Media. This year’s roster includes former United States Vice President Kamala Harris, Denzel Washington, Doechii, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, A’ja Wilson, Ryan Coogler, Robin Roberts, Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts, and Michael B. Jordan, to name a few, shaping the national landscape. Founded in 2008 by Henry Louis Gates Jr. and former Washington Post Co. chairman Donald Graham, The Root was established as a digital platform for Black news and commentary. Its 2025 acquisition by Watering Hole Media marks the brand’s first return to Black ownership, a milestone widely viewed as pivotal for the future of Black media. Allison delivered an address centered on community, legacy and responsibility.Photo by Noah Washongton/The Atlanta Voice A New Era Under Ashley Allison Taking the stage for her first Root 100 Gala as owner, Allison delivered an address centered on community, legacy, and responsibility. “Your support in my inaugural group 100 truly means more than you will ever know,” she told the audience, thanking teams at The Root and Watering Hole Media for their “passion, creativity, and grit.” Allison reflected on her background as a high school special education teacher in Brooklyn, noting how her students, often underestimated, rose to every assignment given to them. She drew a direct line between those students and the 2025 honorees. “There are 100 bold, brilliant, bodacious, bright, brave, boundless, blazing, Black beacons of justice, truth, courage, and strength that not only took their assignments seriously, they aced the test,” she said. “They curated cultural moments that will not be forgotten. They stood in the gap between right and wrong to get us a step closer to freedom.” Allison told the room that despite setbacks, each honoree “kept on going,” answering a calling larger than themselves. “You have gone above and beyond. You have done the extra credit,” she said. A Historic Shift for Black Media For Danielle Belton, current editor-in-chief of HuffPost and former editor-in-chief of The Root, Allison’s ownership is transformative. “It’s so important that The Root is Black-owned. This is the first Black owner of The Root. It’s never been owned by a Black person before,” Belton said. “To have Ashley become the owner and be part of that pantheon is amazing.” Belton said the shift continues The Root’s legacy of Black female leadership and strengthens its mission of truthful, culturally grounded storytelling. “Black storytelling is everything. We need to hear our stories, we need to see ourselves,” she said, recalling the influence of former Essence editor Susan Taylor on her own career. Black Media Is Essential The 2025 honorees include public figures whose voices shape national narratives. Among them: veteran journalist Don Lemon, now a power player in independent journalism,  spoke to the consequences when Black communities lack ownership of their own media institutions. “If we want our stories told correctly, then we are the ones who should be writing that first draft of history,” Lemon said. “Either our stories don’t get told, or when they do get told, they’re often told wrong.” Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that Black-owned media remains essential to challenging stereotypes and misinformation. “When it comes down to telling our stories and telling them accurately, we can rely on Black media to do that,” Crockett said. “If there’s anybody that is going to try to beat back the stereotypes and inject a little Black boy joy, it’s going to be Black media.” She added that Black journalism reflects the true lived experience  “There’s a unique lens in which we tell our stories because it comes through our experiences. You limit the barriers when it is Black people telling Black people’s stories.” Celebrating Influence Without Rankings As The Root enters a new era under Allison’s leadership, the publication’s commitment to elevating Black voices and preserving the integrity of Black storytelling remains at the heart of its mission. As The Root enters a new era under Allison’s leadership, the publication’s commitment to elevating Black voices and preserving the integrity of Black storytelling remains at the heart of its mission. Or, as Danielle Belton put it, “Black storytelling is everything. We need to hear our stories, we need to see ourselves.” The post The Root unveiled its 2025 Root 100 list in New York Wednesday night appeared first on The Atlanta Voice. ...read more read less