Louis was born in Valdosta,Georgia.He attended Paine College in Augusta Georgia,where he became editor of the student newspaper before he graduated in 1942.Louis pursued graduate studies at American University,where he was awarded an M.A. in 1944,and Yale University,where he earned a Ph.D.in 1947.He was married three times.His first was Betty Frank (1958-1961),his second wife was Wanda Kay (1961-1967),and his third wife was Robinette Kirk (1968-1970).Louis began his journalism career at the Afro-American and the Chicago Defender.These two newspapers focused on news that interested African-American readers.In 1958,he became the first African American tv journalist when he joined WNTA-TV in New York.In 1959,Louis told his colleague Mike Wallace about the Nation of Islam.He and mike produced a five-part documentary about the organization,The Hate That Hate Produced,which aired during the week of July 13,1959.The program was the first time most white people heard about the Nation and its leader,Elijah Muhammad,as well as its charistimic spokesman,Malcolmn X.Louis later became a freelance writer,and his articles were published in publications such as Harper's,Life Pageant,The Nation,and The New Leader.His subjects included the Civil Rights Movement,the Nation of Islam,and the Black Panther Party.In 1961,he was awarded the Anisfield-Wolf Award for his book,The Reluctant African.
From 1964-1968,Louis hosted a semi-weekly tv program on KTTV in Los Angeles.
Louis also spoke frequently on college campuses.
He was a supporter of several civil rights organizations,including the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE),the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC),and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).In 1968,he signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge,vowing to refuse tax payment in protest against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
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