On Wednesday, January 27, 2021, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences announced they named AAAS Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. the recipient of the Don M. Randel Award for Humanistic Studies. Professor Gates is only the seventh person to receive this award since it was established in 1975. Academy President David Oxtoby states that "Professor Gates embodies the power and spirit of humanistic pursuits. His passion, curiosity, and rigor have changed the way people think and act across disciplines and divides...from his groundbreaking writing to his popular filmmaking, Skip has altered our collective understanding of the African American experience and our recognition of the significance of Black intellectual life in our nation."
Once circumstances allow,the Academy plans to hold an in-person award ceremony. Read the full press release and Professor Gates' words of acceptance at the American Academy of Arts & Sciences' website.