Henry Louis Gates Jr. is a much-celebrated American literary critic, professor, historian, filmmaker, and institution builder. He is the host and executive producer of the PBS series “Finding Your Roots,” in which he reveals the family trees of prominent guests to help promote public understanding of history, genetic genealogy, and human interconnectedness. 

Gates has received numerous awards for his writings on African American history and culture—and the Vilcek Foundation is adding another. For his remarkable work and leadership in contemporary discourse on race, literature, and immigration, he receives the 2025 Vilcek Prize for Excellence.

A Scholar’s Journey from West Virginia to Yale and Harvard

Born in Keyser, West Virginia, in 1950, Gates grew up in the small neighboring factory town of Piedmont. The area was mostly a mix of Italians, Irish, and African Americans, and nearly everyone had a connection to the local paper mill. Gates’s coming of age was defined both by strong family ties and a close-knit Black community, and by the dramatic changes wrought by the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, declaring segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Growing up during this era deeply influenced his future work as a scholar.

Gates chronicled the complexities of his childhood in the award-winning book Colored People: A Memoir. The book offers a vivid portrait of Gates’s upbringing in Piedmont, while helping readers gain an understanding of African American society and culture. 

Gates graduated as valedictorian of Piedmont High School and in the fall of 1969 he entered Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, where he was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society in his junior year. Upon graduating from Yale in 1973, he earned a Mellon Fellowship to continue his studies at Clare College at the University of Cambridge, where he received his PhD in English literature in 1979. 

In 1991, Gates joined the Harvard University faculty with a mission of transforming its African American Studies Department. Achieving the rank of university professor, Gates has been an institution builder at Harvard, launching and establishing both the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research and the Cooper Gallery of African & African American Art.

Leadership in Literature, Race, and Immigration

Gates played a critical role in advancing the study of the Black experience through his own writing. His groundbreaking books—from The Signifying Monkey to Stony the Road and, most recently, The Black Box—have helped to shape the field of African American studies. So has his commitment to chronicling Black literature and history through the Oxford African American Studies Center’s biographical dictionaries, various Norton Anthologies, and the award-winning digital web series Black History in Two Minutes. These works have significantly influenced public discourse on race and culture. So, too, have the array of films Gates has created for public television audiences, including the Emmy Award–winning six-part series “The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross.”

In addition to his achievements in history, Gates is a prominent voice in contemporary discussions on race, literature, and immigration. His long-running, Emmy-nominated television series “Finding Your Roots” has brought these important conversations to a wider audience. While his notable guests learn about their ancestors, their stories highlight the diverse fabric of American society. 

Commitment to Excellence in Public Education

With a quest for knowledge, Gates is deeply committed to making quality public education accessible to all, and advocating for greater funding for public schools. His efforts have been instrumental in diversifying academia and ensuring that African American history is an integral part of all curriculum. 

The 2025 Vilcek Prize for Excellence honors Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s remarkable contributions to African American history. We celebrate his leadership in addressing critical social issues and his dedication to public education. Through his work and legacy, he will continue to inspire future generations; his writing, lectures, and films ensure that the stories of historically underrepresented communities are centered.