I didn't feel particularly close to my father. Henry Louis Gates closefatherfeel Change image and share on social
My mom, God rest her soul - she liked nicknames. In the womb she named me Skip. There was another black guy in Piedmont, W.Va., and his name was Skip. They called him Big Skip, and I was Little Skip. Henry Louis Gates bigblackcall Change image and share on social
You have to have a canon so the next generation can come along and explode it. Henry Louis Gates canonexplodegeneration Change image and share on social
You can find virtually everybody black back as far as the 1870 census. Why 1870? That's when the ex-slaves first have surnames. But if you find your great-great-grandfather in 1870 and it says he's 50, that means he was born in 1820 and you're back to 1820 already. For an American that's pretty damned good, you know? Henry Louis Gates americanbackbear share on social
Very few, if any, first-generation black or white or Asian kids will pursue a Ph.D. They'll pursue the professions for economic security. Many will go to law school and/or business school. Henry Louis Gates asianblackbusiness Change image and share on social
What people forget is that the most radical thing about Obama is that he was the first black man in history to imagine that he could become president, who was able to make other Americans believe it as well. Other than that, he is a centrist, just like I try to be. He's been bridging divisions his whole life. Henry Louis Gates americanblackbridge share on social
My brother and I had a really privileged relationship with my parents... They treated us like adults. Henry Louis Gates adultbrotherparent Change image and share on social
I'm a tech geek. Whenever I read about something new, I think to myself, How can I take this and make it black? Henry Louis Gates blackgeekmake Change image and share on social
I don't think the riots derailed the civil rights movement. Henry Louis Gates civilderailmovement Change image and share on social
If you share a common ancestor with somebody, you're related to them. It doesn't mean that you're going to invite them to the family reunion, but it means that you share DNA. I think it's fascinating. Henry Louis Gates ancestorcommondna Change image and share on social