Date of Birth: September 16, 1950
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Biography
Henry Louis Gates Jr. is a prominent American literary critic, historian, and filmmaker who has made significant contributions to African American literature and history. Born in Keyser, West Virginia, Gates has built an esteemed career as an author, editor, and educator. He is best known for his work in African American literature and culture, having written numerous books and articles on the subject. Gates is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University. He has also hosted several PBS series, including “Finding Your Roots,” which explores the family histories of famous Americans.
5 Interesting Facts about Henry Louis Gates
1. Henry Louis Gates Jr. was the first African American to receive the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship.
2. He discovered the earliest known literary work by an African American, a poem by Jupiter Hammon, published in 1760.
3. Gates has been awarded more than 50 honorary degrees from various universities.
4. He was named to Time magazine’s list of the 25 Most Influential Americans in 1997.
5. In 2009, Gates was involved in a widely publicized incident with the Cambridge, Massachusetts police, which sparked a national debate about race and law enforcement.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Henry Louis Gates
1. “Censorship is to art as lynching is to justice.”
2. “The first step toward tolerance is respect, and the first step toward respect is knowledge.”
3. “Life is lived in common, but not in community.”
4. “In our society, the most fundamental thing is the family.”
5. “You can’t hate someone whose story you know.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
The highest net worth achieved by Henry Louis Gates Jr. is estimated to be around $10 million.
Children
Henry Louis Gates Jr. has two daughters, Maggie Gates and Liza Gates.
Relevant Links
2. [Finding Your Roots – PBS](https://www.pbs.org/wnet/finding-your-roots/
3. [Henry Louis Gates Jr. – Biography on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0309669/
5. [Henry Louis Gates Jr. – Harvard Faculty Profile](https://scholar.harvard.edu/henrylouisgates
