Origins & Early Life

Henry Louis Gates Jr. (born September 16, 1950), popularly known by his childhood nickname "Skip", is an American literary critic, professor, historian, and filmmaker who serves as the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and the director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University. He is a trustee of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. He rediscovered the earliest known African-American novels and has published extensively on the recognition of African-American literature as part of the Western canon.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In addition to producing and hosting previous series on the history and genealogy of prominent American figures, since 2012, Gates has been host of the television series Finding Your Roots on PBS. The series combines the work of expert researchers in genealogy, history, and historical research in genetics to tell guests about the lives and histories of their ancestors. Gates was born on September 16, 1950, in Keyser, West Virginia, to Pauline Augusta (née Coleman) Gates (1916–1987) and Henry Louis Gates Sr. (c. 1913–2010).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He grew up in neighboring Piedmont. His father worked in a paper mill and...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alan Silvestri — Contemporary (Born in 1950) (1950): Award-winning composer renowned for epic film scores, especially for blockbuster franchises.
• Arthur D. Levinson — Contemporary (Born in 1950) (1950): Prominent American businessman, former CEO of Genentech, and board member for Apple Inc.
• Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay — Contemporary (Died in 1950) (1950): Pioneering Bengali novelist celebrated for nature and rural life depictions.
• Aleksandr Medved — Shared historical date (09-16 · Born) (1937): Legendary Soviet/Belarussian freestyle wrestler, celebrated for Olympic dominance.
• Anthony Padilla — Shared historical date (09-16 · Born) (1987): Pioneering American YouTuber, co-founder of Smosh, known for sketch comedy.
• Bill Murray — Historical peer (Born in 1950) (1950): Iconic American actor and comedian known for deadpan delivery and enduring film roles.
• Billy Ocean — Historical peer (Born in 1950) (1950): Trinidadian-British R&B singer known for international hits from the 1970s to 1980s.
• Adam Yauch — Historical peer (Died in 2012) (2012): Founding member of Beastie Boys; influential rapper, filmmaker, and Tibetan activist.
• Albert O. Hirschman — Historical peer (Died in 2012) (2012): Pioneering American economist known for development and political economy theories.
• Alexander Prokhorov — Historical peer (Born in 1916) (1916): Soviet physicist known for fundamental work on optics, leading to the laser and maser.
• 1950 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1950
• September 16 (09-16) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on September 16