The Root 100 is our annual list of some of the most influential Black Americans. Each year, we look to sports, entertainment, politics and business to find leaders who are making moves in a big way and leaving their mark on the culture. We’ll share the list live on The Root, and we’ll honor all of the extraordinary changemakers at a special event at the legendary Apollo Theater on December 5.
This year, comedian and former correspondent for Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, Roy Wood Jr. will host this night of celebration and special performances, and we couldn’t be more excited.
So as we put the finishing touches on this year’s list, we thought we’d share the top 5 reasons why Roy Wood Jr. is the perfect host:
He Roots for Everyone Black
The Root 100 is a celebration of some of this year’s most influential Black Americans, which is why there’s no better emcee than someone who’s always rooting for everybody Black.
Check out this clip from The Daily Show of him explaining the concept of Peak Blackness to Trevor Noah after Moonlight won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2017.
“Peak blackness is a rare metaphysical anomaly that can only occur when an amalgam of Black excellence comes together at the same societal intersection,” he said. In other words, “it’s when a lot of dope Black [expletive] happens at the same time.”
He Tells it Like it Is
You can always count on Roy Wood Jr. to keep it real in the most hilarious way. Just take this clip from a standup routine explaining why Black folks don’t write patriotic songs.
“Black people—we don’t sing about America,” he said. “We sing about specific cities where you can have a good-ass time.”
Wood adds that if you don’t understand the Black experience in America, the Blues will explain it all.
“Black folks been trying to tell y’all forever that they’ve had some issues…We invented the blues!” he said. “We literally invented an entire genre of music based on sadness, that’s how sad we were.”
He Brings People Together
These days, the news is laser focused on the issues that divide our country. But on an episode of The Daily Show, Roy Wood Jr. tried to get two people with completely conflicting views talking with this hilarious Extreme Team Building exercise he did with a far right Republican and a left-leaning liberal. With the help of a company called Survival Systems USA, Wood forced the two to endure simulated disaster scenarios together. And after lots of back and forth on the issues, they finally put their beef aside during a simulated plane crash.“You want to quiet the political noise? Just make sure people are under water at all times,” he said.
He Makes the News Funny AF
Gentrification is reality in cities around the country. With the cost of living getting higher, Black people are being priced out of neighborhoods they’ve lived in for years. The stats are bleak. But somehow, Roy Wood Jr. broke down the depressing facts and made us laugh at the same time in this clip where he explains the realities of a gentrified Brooklyn.
“The trojan horse of gentrification seemed to increase the volume of nut milks while decreasing actual necessary food supply,” he said. “And the only thing rising faster than the number of man buns is the real estate.”
He Slayed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
If you needed any more proof that Roy Wood Jr. is the host with the most, we should remind you that he’s already managed one of the most difficult hosting jobs around as host of the 2023 White House Correspondents’ Dinner. No topic was off limits. He poked fun at everyone from Tucker Carlson to Don Lemon to President Biden himself. And if he can get a room full of journalists and politicians to laugh, you know he’s going to bring down the house at the Apollo Theater.
Don’t miss your chance to check out Roy Wood Jr. and the amazing Root 100 honorees at the legendary Apollo Theater on December 5 at 7:00 pm. Get your tickets now. And stay tuned for more information about our special guests. This is one show you won’t want to miss.