Henry Louis Gates, Jr: Chicago Tribune Literary Award

Chicago Humanities Festival

Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the renowned literary critic and historian, is widely celebrated as one of the foremost authorities on the history of African American literature. Credited with discovering the earliest known literary works by African American writers, Gates is also celebrated for the work he has done to make history accessible and appealing through his PBS show Finding Your Roots, and through his numerous, award-winning documentaries. Amongst other honors, Gates has been awarded the National Humanities Medal and a MacArthur fellowship. In his newest book Stony The Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow, Gates argues that the roots of contemporary structural racism can be found in this transformative period, demonstrating yet again why he is one of America’s most powerful voices on race and history. Gates was joined by Bruce Dold, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Chicago Tribune in this program filmed on the Harris Theater stage in 2019.

This program was presented in partnership with the Chicago Tribune.

Video Production Sponsor: Digife

Henry Louis Gates, Jr., is the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University. He is also an award-winning filmmaker and author. His most recent book is Stony the Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow.

Bruce Dold was the publisher and editor-in-chief of the Chicago Tribune from 2016. A 42-year veteran of the Tribune, Dold was awarded the 1994 Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing.

Chicago Humanities Festival
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