Vilcek Prize for Excellence Awarded to Henry Louis Gates Jr.

The Vilcek Prize for Excellence recognizes intellectual and cultural leaders who have had a profound impact on society and contribute a lasting legacy to the fields of arts, sciences, and humanities. The $100,000 prize is awarded at the discretion of Vilcek Foundation Cofounders Jan and Marica Vilcek and Vilcek Foundation President Rick Kinsel.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. receives the Vilcek Prize for Excellence in recognition of his contributions as a scholar of African American history; for his leadership in contemporary discourse on race, literature, and immigration; and for his commitment to excellence in public education.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Ruben Blades sit across from each other at a table with a burgundy tablecloth. — Ruben Blades (left) and Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (right) on the set of Finding Your Roots. Courtesy of McGee Media

Gates is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University, where he is also the director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research. An alumnus of Yale University and the University of Cambridge, Gates has written and edited more than 50 books and appeared in numerous film and television programs as a speaker and historian. He is the host and executive producer of the Emmy-nominated PBS series “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.”

The Vilcek Prize for Excellence

Henry Louis Gates Jr. speaking during the PBS segment of the Summer 2019 Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel. Courtesy of Amy Sussman/Getty Images

The Vilcek Prize for Excellence was developed in 2019 as a way for the Vilcek Foundation to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding individuals whose work fell outside of the realm of other prizes awarded by the Vilcek Foundation, or whose work merits exceptional recognition. Recipients of the Excellence Prize have received the honor for achievements in art history (Carmen Bambach), the administration of justice (Robert Katzmann), public service (Andrew Yang), and in biotechnology (Katalin Karikó). Prizewinners receive a cash award of $100,000 and a commemorative object.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Sheryl Lee Ralph seated at a table on the set of Henry's PBS show: there is sound equipment and a bright light in the background. — Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Sheryl Lee Ralph on the set of Finding Your Roots. Courtesy of McGee Media

A Bold Perspective

“Dr. Henry Louis Gates’ scholarship and criticism connects the past to the present, illuminating how the darkest parts of U.S. history have shaped the cultural and political divides in our country today.” says Jan Vilcek. “In celebrating Dr. Gates with this award, the Vilcek Foundation acknowledges and shows support for his career and legacy as a literary historian and cultural authority.”

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. teaching a in front of a chalkboard in 1996. — Henry Louis Gates, Jr. teaching a class at Harvard University’s Center of African American Studies in 1996. Courtesy of John Blanding/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

“What makes Henry Louis Gates so special is his commitment to making complex histories accessible,” says Vilcek Foundation President Rick Kinsel. “Through his multidisciplinary approach—ranging from documentaries to television programs, public speaking engagements, and literature—he has brought historical context and perspective on some of society’s most pressing issues to the American public at home.”

The 2025 Vilcek Foundation Prizes

In 2025, the Vilcek Foundation awards the largest quantity of prizes and sum of awards it has bestowed in a single year, totaling $950,000. The Vilcek Prize for Excellence is awarded alongside the Vilcek Foundation Prizes in Visual Art, Curatorial Work, and Biomedical Science, and the Marica Vilcek Prize in Art History.