On Jan. 19, 2013, The Root held its second inaugural ball in its five-year existence — a follow-up to a 2009 fete for Barack Obama's first inauguration. More than a thousand guests — including Angela Bassett, Chris Tucker, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Attorney General Eric Holder — joined The Root's staff, writers, friends and sponsors at the National Museum of American History to celebrate the historic occasion.
The scene as guests entered the museum.
Donald Graham, CEO and chairman of the Washington Post Co. — The Root's parent company — with Henry Louis Gates Jr., who is The Root's editor-in-chief, as well as the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African-American Research at Harvard University.
Extra's A.J. Calloway stopped by.
The Root's managing editor, Sheryl Huggins Salomon; The Root's political correspondent, Keli Goff; and Majora Carter of Sustainable South Bronx.
Gates is flanked by Julian Castro, the San Antonio mayor who made a splash as the keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention last year, and his twin brother, newly elected U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas).
Calloway interviews Gates and actor Chris Tucker on the green carpet.
Online and tech guru — and member of The Root's executive board — Omar Wasow snaps a pic with Gates.
Gates, Tucker and The Root's publisher, Donna Byrd.
Powerful sisters! CNN's Suzanne Malveaux and Suzette Malveaux, associate dean for academic affairs at Catholic University's Columbus School of Law.
Mike Phillips and his band provided the music for the star-studded event.
R&B singer Kenny Lattimore surprised guests with an impromptu performance.
Calloway and Tucker share a laugh.
Jamie Hector, the actor best known for his role as Marlo Stanfield on The Wire, arrives.
Salomon welcomes U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and his wife, Dr. Sharon Malone.
Rev. Al Sharpton was in attendance.
Rachel Stuart, former BET host, and husband Paxton Baxter, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Centric.
Phill Wilson of the Black AIDS Institute and guest.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed
The Root's digital sales planner and ad innovations strategist, Michelle Okeke, with editorial interns Stacy-Ann Ellis and Celeste Little.
Acclaimed journalist (and contributor to The Root) Charlayne Hunter-Gault with Salomon.
Gates welcomes guests.
Next up, Salomon.
Byrd also said a few words of thanks to both attendees and sponsors, which included Marriott, Sprite, Heineken, Microsoft and SmartWater.
Graham chats with the band.
The end of the affair.
Click through for more shots from The Root's ball, all by Derrick Davis. If you were a guest, see if you can spot yourself!