Seven of Our Authors on TIME 100 List
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Seven authors published by Penguin Random House imprints are on the 17th annual TIME 100 Most Influential People List: Ibram X. Kendi among the Pioneers; Dapper Dan, Anaïs Mitchell , Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Ali Wong among the Artists; Kamala Harris among the Leaders: and Megan Rapinoe among the Icons.
Our authors on the TIME 100 Most Influential People 2020 list:
Ibram X. Kendi is profiled by Al Sharpton, who wrote: “As we march to dramatize the assaults on Black men and women by law enforcement, we also turn to Ibram X. Kendi for his historical insight and deep understanding of the ongoing fight for social justice and civil rights in this country … It is no surprise that Kendi has emerged as one of the most important scholars of his generation, accurately interpreting the civil rights gains and losses across the many years.”
Dapper Dan is profiled by Missy Elliot, who wrote: “Dapper Dan is the blueprint for our culture in hip-hop. He defined fashion in ‘the hood’ and in celebrity culture. According to him, dapper no longer belonged just to Wall Street and business professionals; Dan claimed the term for the Black community.”
Anaïs Mitchell is profiled by Andre De Shields, who wrote: “Once upon a time in 2009, I was departing Central Park’s Delacorte Theater, having completed a performance as Tiresias in a production of Euripides’ The Bacchae, when I was introduced to Anaïs Mitchell by a mutual colleague. In the shadows cast by the pale light attacking us from the men’s restroom, Anaïs seemed to be made entirely of magic. It was a brief but indelible encounter. This was the alchemical quality that Anaïs brought to her great folk opera, the 2019 Broadway hit Hadestown, a cautionary tale adapted from the Greek myth of Orpheus rescuing his love Eurydice from the underworld, which teaches that love cannot be found if faith has been lost. Anaïs has the aura of an oracle, the prescience of a blind poet and the skill to tease rhymes from consonants.”
Phoebe Waller-Bridge is profiled by Taylor Swift, who wrote: “Sometimes all the puzzle pieces fall into place at the perfect time. A combination of razor-sharp instincts, killer wit and genuine care for the people she works with proved to be a winning hand. She is the executive producer and was a showrunner of the thrilling hit show Killing Eve. Her one-woman play Fleabag was adapted into a show that turned her into everyone’s favorite self-sabotaging maker of mischief …Phoebe Waller-Bridge and all that she has achieved is, indeed, a big mood.”
Ali Wong is profiled by Chrissy Teigen, who wrote: “I remember being pregnant when Ali Wong’s first Netflix special came out. Not only was I doubled over laughing, but I felt like I had found my kindred spirit. It seemed like I knew her and she knew me before we ever met. As an Asian-American woman, it’s so cool to see someone who represents our shared cultural heritage but also defies every stereotype. She is open about her sexuality, she boldly discusses her body and its many functions, she makes fun of her husband, she makes fun of her kids—I feel at one with her.”
Kamala Harris is profiled by Ayanna Pressley, who wrote: “Kamala Harris has always been a trailblazer. She broke barriers in California, made history in the U.S. Senate, and now she’s the first Black woman and first Indian American to be nominated for Vice President by a major political party. Kamala’s nomination is the realization of a dream that so many have struggled for so long to make possible. She was raised by a strong woman rooted in community to be a strong woman rooted in community. Her life and career have been defined by a fierce commitment to public service and an abiding belief in government as a force for good.”
Megan Rapinoe is profiled by Kirsten Gillibrand, who wrote: “Arms spread wide, confidence radiating from her face, Megan Rapinoe celebrating at the World Cup was one of the defining images of 2019. Rapinoe and her teammates joyfully dominated on their way to a record fourth title, showing the world the best of American ideals: hard work, strength and heart. Rapinoe’s impact goes far beyond the pitch. In an era where many demand that athletes ‘stick to sports,’ Rapinoe—a proud feminist and an out gay advocate—refuses to be silenced.”