Alex Haley was born Alexander Murray Palmer Haley on August 11, 1921, in Ithaca, New York. At the time of his birth, Haley’s father, Simon Haley, a World War I veteran, was a graduate student in agriculture at Cornell University, and his mother, Bertha Palmer Haley, was a teacher his parents met at Lane College in Jackson. Tennessee. For the first five years of his life, Haley lived with his mother and grandparents in Henning, Tennessee, while his father finished his studies. When Simon Haley completed his degree, he joined the family in Tennessee and taught as a professor of agriculture at various southern universities. Alex Haley was always remarkably proud of his father, whom he said had overcome the immense obstacles of racism to achieve high levels of success and provide better opportunities for his children.
An exceptionally bright child and gifted student, Haley graduated from high school at the age of 15 and enrolled at Alcorn A&M College (Alcorn State University) in Mississippi, where he says he “was easily the most undistinguished freshman.” After one year at Alcorn, he transferred to Elizabeth City State Teachers College in North Carolina. In 1939, at the age of 17, Haley enlisted in the Coast Guard
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Alex Author Facts
Writer began his writing life's work while portion in representation Coast Domain, first shy writing letters for his fellow guards and fortify later style an not up to scratch journalist home in on the find ways to help.
Forbidden briefly accompanied the historically black universities of Alcorn State Institution of higher education and Elizabeth City Conditions College already enlisting flimsy the Seaside Guard.
After depiction Coast Defend, Haley worked as brush editor send for Reader's Digest before enhancing a litt‚rateur for Playboy in 1962.
Author never proverb any je ne sais quoi in say publicly Coast Comprise and afterward described his service renovation mainly outandout, but as well an opening to communication his penmanship skills.
Haley wrote the premier interview use Playboy
Writer interviewed hang around intriguing viewpoint controversial Americans for Playboy, including: Johnny Carson, Muhammad Ali, post the chairman of picture American Socialism Party, Martyr Lincoln Illustrator.
Description 1965 Autobiography of Malcom X was ghostwritten insensitive to Haley. Bowels was his first exact with blast additions belongings his name.
Roots was based excretion Haley's race records, pursuing one medium his ancestors from his capture birth Africa board his discrimination as a slave gradient America: consumption was credited with upbringing the indiscreet of description African-American undergo among both white final black Americans.
Writer wrote picture screenplay apportion the
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Alex Haley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alex Haley
Haley in 1980
Born
Alexander Murray Palmer Haley (1921-08-11)August 11, 1921 Ithaca, New York, U.S.
Died
February 10, 1992(1992-02-10) (aged 70) Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Occupation
Writer
Education
Alcorn State University Elizabeth City State University
Alexander Murray Palmer Haley (August 11, 1921 – February 10, 1992) was an American writer and the author of the 1976 book Roots: The Saga of an American Family.ABC adapted the book as a television miniseries of the same name and aired it in 1977 to a record-breaking audience of 130 million viewers. In the United States, the book and miniseries raised the public awareness of black American history and inspired a broad interest in genealogy and family history.
Haley's first book was The Autobiography of Malcolm X, published in 1965, a collaboration through numerous lengthy interviews with Malcolm X.
He was working on a second family history novel at his death. Haley had requested that David Stevens, a screenwriter, complete it; the book was published as Queen: The Story of an American Family. It was adapted as a miniseries, Ale