Profile Text
Gates in 2010, photo by Prphotos
Place of Birth: Keyser, West Virginia, U.S.
Date of Birth: September 16, 1950
Ethnicity: European [Irish, English], African-American
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is an American literary critic, professor, historian, filmmaker, and public intellectual. He is a scholar at Harvard University. He hosts/has hosted, successively, the television series African American Lives , African American Lives 2 , Faces of America , and Finding Your Roots , where he discusses the ancestry of notable people.
Henry is the son of Paulina/Pauline Augusta (Coleman) and Henry Louis Gates, Sr. He is married to historian Dr. Marial Iglesias Utset. He has two children with his former wife Sharon Lynn Adams.
Henry’s paternal grandfather was Edward St. Lawrence Gates (the son of Edward L. Gates and Maudaline/Maudalene/Maude E. Scott). Henry’s grandfather Edward was born in Maryland. Henry’s great-grandfather Edward was the son of Jane Gates, and of her white partner. Maudaline was the daughter of Thomas Campbell and Mary Byrd.
Henry’s paternal grandmother was Gertrude Helen Redman (the daughter of Charles W. Redman and Sarah Susan Bruce/Hamilton). Gertrude was born in West Virginia. Charles was the son of David Redman and Elizabeth Bruce. Sarah was the daughter of Joseph Bruce and Sarah Bruce, who were born into slavery.
Henry’s maternal grandfather was Paul Abraham Coleman (the son of Charles A./C. Coleman and Martha Pogue). Paul was born in West Virginia. Martha was the daughter of George Pogue and Martha.
Henry’s maternal grandmother was Marguerite/Margaret Elizabeth Howard (the daughter of Samuel James Howard and Lucy Ellen Clifford). Marguerite was born in West Virginia. Lucy was the daughter of Lou Isaac Clifford and Elizabeth Jane Redman.
In his 2016 book, Finding Your Roots, Season 2: The Official Companion to the PBS Series , and in an article at The Huffington Post, Henry wrote that his 23andMe DNA test results state his genetic ancestry to be:
*50.1% European *48.6% Sub-Saharan African ——–*17% Cameroon/Congo ——–*13% Benin/Togo ——–*8% Ivory Coast/Ghana ——–*7% Nigeria *0.9% Native American
*50.1% European *48.6% Sub-Saharan African ——–*17% Cameroon/Congo ——–*13% Benin/Togo ——–*8% Ivory Coast/Ghana ——–*7% Nigeria *0.9% Native American
Both Henry’s patrilineal line and matrilineal line lead to Europe, specifically Ireland on his patrilineal line. 49% of his African DNA was shown to be from Nigeria, including the Yoruba people; 30% from Senegal/Gambia, and 21% from Angola.
A DNA test whose results were displayed on the show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2025) stated that Henry’s genetic ancestry is:
*50% European ——–*18% Ireland ——–*13% England & Northwestern Europe ——–*7% Germanic Europe ——–*5% Denmark ——–*4% Wales ——–*2% Scotland ——–*1% Greece & Albania *49% African ——–*28% Nigeria ——–*5% Mali ——–*4% Ivory Coast & Ghana ——–*4% Benin & Togo ——–*2% Senegal ——–*2% Cameroon ——–*2% Western Bantu Peoples ——–*1% Central West Africa ——–*1% Nigerian Woodlands *1% Native American ——–*1% Indigenous North America
*50% European ——–*18% Ireland ——–*13% England & Northwestern Europe ——–*7% Germanic Europe ——–*5% Denmark ——–*4% Wales ——–*2% Scotland ——–*1% Greece & Albania *49% African ——–*28% Nigeria ——–*5% Mali ——–*4% Ivory Coast & Ghana ——–*4% Benin & Togo ——–*2% Senegal ——–*2% Cameroon ——–*2% Western Bantu Peoples ——–*1% Central West Africa ——–*1% Nigerian Woodlands *1% Native American ——–*1% Indigenous North America
Genetically, he was found to have a common ancestor with television journalist Norah O’Donnell , through shared Irish ancestry, on his father’s side.
Sources: Genealogies of Henry Louis Gates, Jr. – http://www.geni.com http://www.pbs.org https://www.wikitree.com
Genealogies of Henry’s parents – https://www.findagrave.com
Obituary of Henry’s father – http://www.legacy.com