by Delano Squires
Pop quiz: what do the Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus and the founder of Black Girls Rock have in common? The answer is that both were included in The Root 100, a list of some of the country’s most influential African Americans between the ages of 25 and 45. I recently had the honor of covering an awards reception for this year’s nominees for BMWK.
In its third year, nominees for The Root 100 were drawn from a diverse pool: activists, entrepreneurs, academics, politicians, journalists, authors, actors, and musicians. It includes megastars like Tyler Perry, Beyoncé, and Will Smith as well as individuals who are not yet household names, such as Joshua DuBois, Director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and Anthony McGill, a clarinetist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.
For the first time, individuals who made the list were ranked, based on their reach and influence. Rankings were determined both qualitatively and quantitatively, by assessing each individual’s impact on our lives and incorporating data from Internet searches and social media to determine each person’s influence on culture.
One of the highlights of the night was my conversation with DeVon Franklin, pastor, author, and Vice President of Production for Columbia Pictures. Mr. Franklin has been heavily involved in the creation of films that take an atypical view of African American relationships, such as Not Easily Broken and Jumping the Broom. He knows firsthand the important role media images play in shaping cultural perceptions. We discussed his level of satisfaction with the portrayals of African American marriages and family today and he expressed a desire to see a greater diversity of depictions of black families and relationships.
The Root 100 awards reception was a great opportunity to spread the word about BMWK and talk to thought leaders and cultural icons about the growing community of people who are committed to improving the images of African American marriage and family. It was also a great opportunity to learn more about the important work that is being done to make this world a more entertaining, interesting, informed, and just place. I believe we can all draw inspiration from people who follow their dreams and work tirelessly to be instruments of positive change.
BMWK, which of the Root 100’s nominees inspires you the most? What goals would you pursue if you were guaranteed success?
Delano Squires recently completed a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree program at the George Washington University. His interests are contemporary African American culture and fatherhood, families, and child development. Follow him on Twitter @Mr_Squires.