2023 CORE 100

Most Influential Blacks Today

Available in Print and Digital Format.

 

Aaron Judge

Aaron Judge

Aaron Judge is one of the most recognizable names in baseball today. As a towering presence at 6’7”, Judge stands out on the field and has quickly become a dominant force to be reckoned with. But there is much more to Judge than just his physical stature. Born and...

Andrea McKenzie

Andrea McKenzie

Andrea McKenzie is a Trinidad and Tobago-born artist who has taken the art world by storm with her bold and expressive paintings. Her unique style can be categorized as Expressionist, evoking a strong emotional response from viewers through her vivid colors and...

Angela Rye

Angela Rye

As the Principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies, a political advocacy firm, Rye has made it her mission to fight for economic empowerment, civic engagement, and political involvement among young professionals. Formerly based in Washington, DC, the firm has partnered...

Ashley Christopher, Esq.

Ashley Christopher, Esq.

Ashley Christopher is where education, advocacy, and entertainment collide.  A force in her own right, Ashley Christopher is paving the way for Black youth to succeed.  Christopher draws from her life experiences as a young stroke survivor and celebrates how far she's...

Ayesha Coker

Ayesha Coker

Ayesha Coker is a name that every aspiring businesswoman should know. She is a true trailblazer and a champion for diversity and inclusion. As the Vice President of Marketing for Porsche Cars North America, Inc., Coker has made history as the first African American...

Benaishe Poole Watson

Benaishe Poole Watson

Benaishe Poole Watson is a woman on a mission. Born in Los Angeles, California, to an immigrant mother from Guatemala and an African-American father, Benaishe faced many challenges in her childhood. At seven, she became a latchkey kid and walked home from school past...

Bozoma Saint John

Bozoma Saint John

As the Chief Marketing Officer at Netflix, Bozoma Saint John has risen to the top of her industry and has become an icon for women and people of color everywhere. Her journey to success inspires, motivates, and challenges us all to be our best selves. Growing up in a...

Brenda Goss Andrews

Brenda Goss Andrews

Brenda Goss Andrews is the 45th president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). She brings more than 30 years of dedicated public service to her role. Joining the department as a beat and street patrol officer, she was promoted...

Byron Allen

Byron Allen

Byron Allen is a name that has become synonymous with success in the entertainment industry. As the founder of Entertainment Studios, he has built an empire that includes television networks, production companies, and distribution companies. But Allen's story of...

Cameron Maybin

Cameron Maybin

From his early days as a rising star in the sport to his current status as a veteran player, Cameron Keith Maybin has left an indelible mark on the game. The outfielder's career has been filled with personal achievements, philanthropic work, and impressive stats that...

Carla Vernón

Carla Vernón

Carla Vernón is a true pioneer. She has shattered glass ceilings and broken barriers as the first Afro-Latina CEO of a publicly traded company in the US. As the CEO of Honest, a company dedicated to inspiring everyone to live consciously, Vernón brings a new era of...

Cassandra Daniels

Cassandra Daniels

Cassandra Daniels, the founding managing attorney of Daniels Law Firm, PLLC, with a deep-rooted passion for family law, fights for her clients using knowledge, skill, and excellence as her guiding principles. But Cassandra's journey to becoming a successful attorney...

Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley

He was a man of many nicknames - The Round Mound of Rebound, The Chuckster, Sir Charles - but no matter what you called him, Charles Barkley was an unstoppable force both on and off the basketball court. Born and raised in Leeds, Alabama, Barkley first gained national...

Claudine Gay

Claudine Gay

As a leading scholar of political behavior and a dedicated educator, Claudine Gay has made significant contributions to the world of academia. Currently serving as the Edgerley Family Dean of Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Gay has spent her career exploring...

Chris Paul

Chris Paul

Chris Paul is a renowned professional basketball player who has cemented his name as one of the most significant point guards to play the game. Paul grew up in a family deeply rooted in sports in Winston Salem, North Carolina. His love and passion for the game would...

Charles H. DeBow, III

Charles H. DeBow, III

Mr. Charles H. DeBow III is the Executive Director of the National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC). Over the past 20 years, he has gained extensive experience as the liaison to the NBCC Global Federation of Chambers in North, Central and South America, the Caribbean,...

Charles T. Brooks

Charles T. Brooks

Charles T. Brooks is a seasoned business executive with a wealth of experience in the financial services industry. As the Executive Vice President of Operations and Systems for Kemper Corporation, Brooks oversees the company's day-to-day operations, ensuring that the...

Dairanetta Spain

Dairanetta Spain

Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs has recently welcomed a new associate to their esteemed team. Dairanetta Spain, a seasoned legal professional, has joined the firm's Litigation & Dispute Resolution team in Memphis. Her focus on general litigation matters, including...

Cynthia Marshall

Cynthia Marshall

Cynthia Marshall is a true game-changer who has left an indelible mark on sports and business. As the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks, Marshall is the first Black woman to hold the top executive position in an NBA organization. Her story is one of grit, determination, and...

Dana Canedy

Dana Canedy

Dana Canedy, a trailblazing African American journalist and author, became the first Black person to lead the publishing giant Simon & Schuster. She has made an indelible mark during her two years at the helm, attracting top talent to the editorial department and...

Dave Stewart

Dave Stewart

Dave Stewart is more than just a former professional baseball player; he is a legend, an icon, and a role model to millions of people around the world. From his incredible professional career stats to his philanthropic works, Stewart has left an indelible mark on the...

Davonne Reaves

Davonne Reaves

Davonne Reaves has taken the hospitality industry by storm. In 2021, she made history as one of the youngest Black women to co-own a property in a major hotel chain, and now, she has added two more hotels to her growing portfolio. Together with Nassau Investments,...

Dar’shun Kendrick

Dar’shun Kendrick

Dar’shun Nicole Kendrick established herself as a trailblazer unafraid to speak truth to power and fight for justice. As an attorney, author, and entrepreneur, she has made it her mission to be a woman for the people. Kendrick was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia,...

Dawn Monique Edmond

Dawn Monique Edmond

Dawn Monique Edmond is the CEO of Enid-Books Corp., a Publishing Company that provides premium ghostwriting, editing, and publishing services. Enid assists its Authors in every aspect of the writing process to ensure their books are well-written, meticulously edited,...

Monique Edwards

Monique Edwards

Monique Edwards is a multi-talented actor, singer, and producer who has significantly impacted the entertainment industry. With her exceptional range and skill, she has captivated audiences worldwide with her performances on stage, on screen, and in the recording...

Desiree Ralls-Morrison

Desiree Ralls-Morrison

As McDonald’s EVP, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary, Desiree Ralls-Morrison oversees the company’s global legal operations, responsible for supporting the company’s strategies, anticipating and managing risk, and advancing McDonald’s brand and values. She...

Dr. Amina Gilyard James

Dr. Amina Gilyard James

Dr. Amina Gilyard James is a prominent hotelier, organization development strategist, and managing partner of Duke Ventures LLC. Her journey in the hospitality industry has been nothing short of inspiring. Alongside her husband (Norland James), she purchased a Quality...

Dr. Felicia Phillips

Dr. Felicia Phillips

With over 32 years of experience, Dr. Felicia Phillips has established herself as a Master Business Strategist and CEO of PPICW Inc, a two-time award-winning, certified MBE consulting firm. Phillips is a fourth-generation serial entrepreneur, and it’s no surprise that...

Dr. Yolanda Bruce Brooks

Dr. Yolanda Bruce Brooks

Dr. Yolanda Bruce Brooks is a true visionary in the world of psychology and athletics. With a clinical background in psychology and occupational therapy, she has dedicated her life to helping athletes and their families manage the challenges of high-stress,...

Erika James

Erika James

Erika James, a respected mentor, an award-winning educator, and a leading expert in her field, has made history as the first woman and person of color to be appointed dean of the Wharton School in its 139-year history. With extensive research into crisis leadership,...

Ericka Hill

Ericka Hill

Ericka Hill is the Director of Player Engagement for the Atlanta Hawks. In her role, Hill is responsible for directing the team's visibility through player engagement. She also works with various internal stakeholders to set organizational goals in corporate social...

Edwin Thompson

Edwin Thompson

Edwin Thompson is a renowned American baseball coach and former outfielder with an impressive playing career and coaching experience. He currently serves as the head baseball coach for the Georgetown Hoyas. Thompson started his baseball career at Howard University and...

Edith Cooper

Edith Cooper

Edith Cooper, the first Black woman to become a partner at Goldman Sachs, is a trailblazer in the finance industry. However, she admits that without the support of key mentors, she may have walked away from her finance career. In an interview with host Porter...

Fawn Weaver

Fawn Weaver

Fawn Weaver is an American entrepreneur, historian, and author who has significantly impacted the spirits industry. As the CEO of Grant Sidney Inc. and Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, and the founder of the Nearest Green Foundation, Weaver has broken barriers as the...

Esi Eggleston Bracey

Esi Eggleston Bracey

Esi Eggleston Bracey is a transformational business executive with over 28 years of experience in general management, brand building, and marketing leadership. She has a track record of success in creating, accelerating, and turning around business results across...

Fran Charles

Fran Charles

Fran Charles is a respected and talented television personality who has made a name for himself in the sports broadcasting industry. But beyond his impressive career, Charles is also a dedicated philanthropist with a passion for giving back. Charles' educational...

Gayle King

Gayle King

Gayle King is a household name in the media industry, with a career that spans over four decades. From radio to television, King has cemented herself as a respected journalist and a dominant force in her field. King’s early life was marked by tragedy. She lost her...

Frank Edward Thomas Jr.

Frank Edward Thomas Jr.

From crushing home runs to making a difference in the community, Frank Edward Thomas Jr. is the definition of a true MVP. Hailing from Columbus, Georgia, Thomas had a passion for baseball and football from a young age. But it was on the diamond where he shone, earning...

Howard “H” White

Howard “H” White

Howard "H" White is a man who has lived a life filled with achievement and success, both on and off the basketball court. He started his career as a professional athlete, playing in the NBA for the Kansas City Kings and the San Antonio Spurs. However, his move into...

Fred McGriff

Fred McGriff

Frederick Stanley McGriff, affectionately known as the "Crime Dog," was one of the most impressive professional baseball players of his time. His career, which spanned over two decades, is nothing short of extraordinary, both on and off the field. Born in Tampa,...