Alex Haley By: Elora Karim

Personal Life Alexander Murray Palmer Haley August 11, 1921 New York Dad  Agriculture Professor Mom  Music Teacher Oldest of 2 bros and 1 sis Graduated high school age 15 Coast Guard

Twenty years Mess Attendant  Steward (Petty Officer) ◦ Learned to write Transferred to journalist ◦ Chief Journalist created Received large number of medals

Writer Reader’s Digest Playboy Magazine interview Malcolm X Reputation as great interviewer Roots: Saga of an American Family

Roots Stories about Kunta Kinte Talked with griot of Juffure, Gambia Over decade research About Kunta Kinte’s life as slave and descendents Won Pulitzer Heavily plagiarized Sources questioned Mostly fictional

Kunta Kinte ( TV miniseries style)

Later Years Died February 10, 1992 ◦ Heart attack Second historical novel: Alex Haley’s Queen Galley named after him Buried in Tennessee