Alex Haley

Alex Haley is one of the most important and celebrated authors of the 20th century. Born in 1921 in Ithaca, New York, Haley developed a passion for writing and history at a very young age. He began his career as a journalist, writing for the weekly Marine Corps newspaper, Leatherneck. In 1951, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and became the first African-American chief journalist of the Coast Guard’s magazine.



Haley's most famous work is the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Roots: The Saga of an American Family. After finishing the novel, Haley began a book tour that took him around the world. The lasting impact of the book was immeasurable. It was widely received with enthusiasm and enjoyed both commercial and critical success. The accompanying television mini-series dramatized his account of the struggles faced by African-Americans and the incredible story of one family's journey from Africa to modern-day America.

The success of Roots put Alex Haley in an international spotlight. In 1977, he wrote The Autobiography of Malcolm X, a work of non-fiction that chronicles the life of civil rights leader Malcolm X. After seven years of research and over 200 hours of interviews, the book was released and became a number one bestseller. The book was written in collaboration with Malcolm X's family and was a huge success, once again affirming Haley’s strong writing talent.

Throughout his career, Alex Haley never stopped writing. He wrote extensively and often wrote short stories as well as his acclaimed novels. He was an advocate for civil rights and wrote many articles and essays on the topic. He was also the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including a Pulitzer Prize, an Emmy award, and a special achievement award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In addition, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000.

Alex Haley showed the world that true stories can be compelling. With his courage and perseverance, he was able to captivate audiences and capture their imaginations. The impact that Alex Haley has had on literature and popular culture is impossible to measure. He will always remain an extraordinary example of an individual's power to not only create great art, but to leave a lasting impression on the world.