Scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. has made it his mission to overcome these obstacles and connect African Americans with the journeys of their ancestors.

NPR: Scholar Helps Black Americans Trace Family Roots

And what better way to do that than by sharing a frosty beer with Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and the man who put Gates in handcuffs, Jim Crowley?

NPR: What Brands Will Be Served At Beer Summit?

Now that the proverbial dust has settled on the Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

NPR: The Gates Case: Shocking, Yet Not Surprising

In a surprise move, President Obama sought to quell the fear still swirling around the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

NPR: Police Groups Call For Obama Apology

The arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. at his home in Cambridge has renewed a national discussion on race relations and law enforcement.

NPR: Black And Blue: Police And Minorities

The recent arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

NPR: Gates Case Should Expand Discussion Of Race