The Root Unveils Annual List of Most Influential African-Americans Under 45

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Root, the leading online source of news and commentary from an African-American perspective, announces The Root 100 4th annual list.  The Root 100 celebrates the best young and emerging leaders (ages 25-45) who demonstrate the power to influence through meaningful engagement and innovative leadership within their fields.

"Since its inception, The Root 100 has served as a platform for us to recognize the top emerging leaders in the African-American community," says Donna Byrd, Publisher of The Root.  "It's our way to celebrate their achievements and educate our readers about the contributions these individuals have made in their local and professional communities and to our nation."

The Root editorial team selected each honoree by utilizing a formula that examined both the reach and substance of each person's influence.  They reviewed news and blog mentions and the number of Twitter followers, and also considered how the winners impact society.  "The Root 100 honorees are not only high achievers, they are people who use their influence to shape the world and make it a better place," says Sheryl Salomon, Managing Editor of The Root.  "Those who appear on our 2012 list have been especially active in this regard during the past year." 

Those selected personify the perfect marriage between reach and substance.  A few of the winners include:

• Melissa Harris-Perry—Host of MSNBC's "Melissa Harris-Perry" and Professor at Tulane University
• Cory Booker—Mayor of Newark, New Jersey
• Benjamin Jealous—President and CEO, NAACP

In November, there will be an awards dinner in New York City to honor their work, and Marriott is the event sponsor. "Marriott is delighted to sponsor The Root 100 celebration event," says Joanna Todd, Vice President, Segment Marketing.  "We join The Root in applauding such remarkable influencers and their contributions."

To learn more about individuals on The Root 100 list, go to http://www.theroot.com/root-100/2012/facewall.  As part of recognizing the winners, The Root developed a mobile app to track each honoree. All 100 apps are available for Android devices and each one aggregates content from across the web and social media so that fans can get real-time news and a variety of information about each individual. To receive up-to-date news and social media regarding the winners, download their respective apps from Google Play here: http://www.theroot.com/root-100/2012/android-apps.

About The Root
The Root is the leading online source of news and commentary from an African-American perspective. Founded in 2008 under the leadership of Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr. of Harvard University, The Root offers a unique take on breaking news, provides solid analysis and presents dynamic multimedia content. The Root raises the profile of black voices in mainstream media and engages anyone interested in black culture around the world. The Root is owned by the Washington Post Company.

Visit us at http://www.theroot.com
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Contact: Ebony Staton Weidman
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SOURCE The Root