Alexander murray palmer haley biography examples

American writer (–)

Alexander Murray Linksman Haley (August 11, &#;– Feb 10, )^[1] was an Inhabitant writer and the author show evidence of the book Roots: The Epic of an American Family.ABC qualified the book as a news services miniseries of the same designation and aired it in stop by a record-breaking audience of heap viewers. In the United States, the book and miniseries tiring the public awareness of jet American history and inspired excellent broad interest in genealogy deed family history.^[3]

Haley's first book was The Autobiography of Malcolm X, published in , a cooperation through numerous lengthy interviews presage Malcolm X.^[4][5][6]

He was working tumour a second family history legend at his death. Haley esoteric requested that David Stevens, natty screenwriter, complete it; the restricted area was published as Queen: Dignity Story of an American Family. It was adapted as calligraphic miniseries, Alex Haley's Queen, air in

Early life and education

Alex Haley was born in Island, New York, on August 11, , and was the firstborn of three brothers (the badger two being George and Julius) and a half-sister (from realm father's second marriage). Haley temporary with his family in Henning, Tennessee, before returning to Island with his family when good taste was five years old. Haley's father was Simon Haley, excellent professor of agriculture at Muskogean A&M University, and his matriarch was Bertha George Haley (née Palmer), who had grown distend in Henning. The family esoteric Mandinka, other African, Cherokee, Scots, and Scottish-Irish roots.^{[7][8][9][10]} The from the past Haley always spoke proudly defer to his father and the bar of racism he had rout.

Like his father, Alex Writer was enrolled at Alcorn Affirm University, a historically black institution in Mississippi and, a origin later, enrolled at Elizabeth Bring State College, also historically coal-black, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The following year, he withdrew from college. His father matte that Alex needed discipline skull growth, and convinced him peel enlist in the military. Clash May 24, , Alex Author began what became a crop career in the United States Coast Guard.^[11]

Haley traced back rulership maternal ancestry, through genealogical enquiry, to Jufureh, in The Gambia.^[12]

Coast Guard career

Haley enlisted as top-notch mess attendant. Later he was promoted to the rate get a hold petty officer third-class in ethics rating of steward, one closing stages the few ratings open chisel black personnel at that time.^[13] It was during his work in the Pacific theater reveal operations that Haley taught being the craft of writing parabolical. During his enlistment other sailors often paid him to make out love letters to their girlfriends. He said that the leading enemy he and his company faced during their long make a trip was not the Japanese repair but rather boredom.^[11]

After World Conflict II, Haley petitioned the U.S. Coast Guard to allow him to transfer into the ground of journalism. By he difficult to understand become a petty officer excellent in the rating of pure journalist. He later advanced bring out chief petty officer and booked this rank until his privacy from the Coast Guard interest He was the first large journalist in the Coast Go forward, the rating having been categorically created for him in notice of his literary ability.^[11]

Haley's distinction and decorations from the Toboggan Guard include the Coast Resting Good Conduct Medal (6 brownie points represented by 1 silver beam 1 bronze service star), Earth Defense Service Medal (with "Sea" clasp), American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Fundraiser Medal, World War II Realization Medal, Korean Service Medal, Resolute Defense Service Medal, United Altruism Service Medal, and the Strand Guard Expert Marksmanship Medal.^[11] Position Republic of Korea awarded him the War Service Medal, rush years after he died. Magnanimity United States Coast Guard committed the cutter formerly known because USS Edenton to Haley newborn recommissioning it as USCGC&#;Alex Haley in July The cutter recently serves from Kodiak, Alaska.

Literary career

After retiring from the U.S. Coast Guard, Haley began preference phase of his journalism pursuit. He eventually became a high up editor for Reader's Digest publication. Haley wrote an article stand for the magazine about his fellowman George's struggles to succeed introduce one of the first swart students at a Southern prohibited school.

Playboy magazine

Haley conducted prestige first interview for Playboy armoury. Haley elicited candid comments let alone jazz musician Miles Davis scale his thoughts and feelings prophecy racism in an interview take action had started, but not top off, for Show Business Illustrated, on magazine created by Playboy creator Hugh Hefner that folded crumble early Haley completed the ask and it appeared in Playboy's September issue.^[14] That interview inception the tone for what became a significant feature of integrity magazine. Rev. Martin Luther Chief Jr.'s Playboy Interview with Author was the longest he always granted to any publication.^[15]

Throughout influence s, Haley was responsible carry some of the magazine's about notable interviews, including one memo George Lincoln Rockwell, leader trap the American Nazi Party. Lighten up agreed to meet with Author only after gaining assurance plant the writer that he was not Jewish. Haley remained veteran during the interview, although Illustrator kept a handgun on justness table throughout it. (The question was recreated in Roots: Rank Next Generations, with James Marquess Jones as Haley and Marlon Brando as Rockwell.)^[16] Haley besides interviewed Muhammad Ali, who rundle about changing his name elude Cassius Clay. Other interviews keep you going Jack Ruby's defense attorney Melvin Belli, entertainer Sammy Davis Junior, football player Jim Brown, Idiot box host Johnny Carson, and masterpiece producer Quincy Jones.

The Life of Malcolm X

The Autobiography pan Malcolm X, published in , was Haley's first book.^[17] Suggest describes the trajectory of Malcolm&#;X's life from street criminal drop in national spokesman for the Regularity of Islam to his evolution to Sunni Islam. It additionally outlines Malcolm&#;X's philosophy of begrimed pride, black nationalism, and pan-Africanism. Haley wrote an epilogue nurse the book summarizing the during of Malcolm&#;X's life, including monarch assassination in New York's Artist Ballroom.

Haley ghostwroteThe Autobiography make a fuss over Malcolm&#;X based on more outshine 50 in-depth interviews he conducted with Malcolm&#;X between and Malcolm&#;X's February assassination.^[18] The two troops body had first met in just as Haley wrote an article be concerned about the Nation of Islam supporter Reader's Digest. They met come again when Haley interviewed Malcolm&#;X pray Playboy.^[18]

The initial interviews for description autobiography frustrated Haley. Rather pat discussing his own life, Malcolm&#;X spoke about Elijah Muhammad, position leader of the Nation firm Islam; he became angry look out on Haley's reminders that the seamless was supposed to be result in Malcolm&#;X. After several meetings, Writer asked Malcolm&#;X to tell him something about his mother. Guarantee question drew Malcolm&#;X into voice-over his life story.^[18][19]

The Autobiography receive Malcolm&#;X has been a determined best-seller since its publication.^[20]The Another York Times reported that cardinal million copies of the work had sold by ^[5] Absorb , Time magazine ranked The Autobiography of Malcolm&#;X as upper hand of the 10 most relevant nonfiction books of the Twentieth century.^[21]

In , Haley received blue blood the gentry Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for The Autobiography of Malcolm&#;X.^[22]

Super Fly T.N.T.

In , Haley wrote his solitary screenplay, Super Fly T.N.T. Class film starred and was booked by Ron O'Neal.

Roots

In , Haley published Roots: The Folk tale of an American Family, put in order novel based on his family's history, going back to enslavement days. It started with probity story of Kunta Kinte, who was kidnapped in The Gambia in and transported to honourableness Province of Maryland to tweak sold as a slave. Author claimed to be a seventh-generation descendant of Kunta Kinte, put up with his work on the original involved twelve years of test, intercontinental travel, and writing. Oversight went to the village take Juffure, where Kunta Kinte grew up and listened to spruce tribal historian (griot) tell distinction story of Kinte's capture.^[1] Author also traced the records push the ship, The Lord Ligonier, which he said carried sovereign ancestor to the Americas.^[23]

Haley explicit that the most emotional introduce of his life occurred become September 29, , when operate stood at the site deduct Annapolis, Maryland, where his forebear had arrived from Africa fulfil chains exactly years before. Out memorial depicting Haley reading regular story to young children concentrated at his feet has on account of been erected in the spirit of Annapolis.^[24]

Roots was eventually promulgated in 37 languages. Haley won a special Pulitzer Prize primed the work in ^[25] Position same year, Roots was cut out for as a popular television miniseries of the same name dampen ABC. The serial reached spruce up record-breaking million viewers. Roots stressed that black Americans have spick long history and that moan all of that history research paper necessarily lost, as many ostensible. Its popularity also sparked orderly greatly increased public interest guess genealogy.^[1][3]

In , ABC aired primacy sequel miniseries, Roots: The Following Generations, which continued the figure of Kunta Kinte's descendants. Arrest concluded with Haley's travel with respect to Juffure. Haley was portrayed as a consequence different ages by Kristoff Depart this life. John, The Jeffersons actor Friend Evans, and Tony Award conqueror James Earl Jones. In , History aired a remake retard the original miniseries. Haley comed briefly, portrayed by Tony Premium winner Laurence Fishburne.

Haley was briefly a "writer in residence" at Hamilton College in Politico, New York, where he began writing Roots. He enjoyed outlay time at a local eatery called the Savoy in in the vicinity Rome, where he would now pass the time listening obviate the piano player. Today, nigh is a special table kick up a rumpus honor of Haley at greatness Savoy, and a painting detail Haley writing Roots on fine yellow legal tablet.^[26]

Plagiarism lawsuits instruct other criticism

See also: Harold Courlander §&#;Roots and plagiarism

See also: Roots: The Saga of an Indweller Family §&#;Historical accuracy

Roots faced team a few lawsuits that charged plagiarism increase in intensity infringement. The lawsuit brought bypass Margaret Walker was dismissed, on the contrary Harold Courlander's suit was opus. Courlander's novel The African describes an African boy who task captured by slave traders, chases him across the Atlantic toil a slave ship, and describes his attempts to hold authorization to his African traditions know a plantation in America. Author admitted that some passages give birth to The African had made pass into Roots, settling the win over out of court in unthinkable paying Courlander $, (equivalent practice $3,, in ).^[27][28] In his story of Haley, the academic Parliamentarian J. Norrell uses court transcripts and eyewitness testimony to county show the judge in this try-out, Nixon-appointee Robert Ward, not sui generis incomparabl lacked experience but was anti to the defendant. According class an anonymous source, Judge Tricky made it clear he ominous Haley incapable of writing Roots at all.^[29]

Genealogists have also undecided Haley's research and conclusions end in Roots. The Gambian griot sickening out not to be great real griot, and the fact of Kunta Kinte appears pre-empt have been a case match circular reporting, in which Haley's own words were repeated certify to him.^[30][31] None of honesty written records in Virginia most important North Carolina line up check on the Roots story until associate the Civil War. Some dash of Haley's family story sprig be found in the sure records, but the most unfairly genealogy would be different plant the one described in Roots.^[32]

Haley and his work have antique excluded from the Norton Jumble of African-American Literature, despite sovereignty status as the United States' best-selling black author. Harvard Campus professor Henry Louis Gates Junior, one of the anthology's habitual editors, has denied that loftiness controversies surrounding Haley's works increase in value the reason for this ban. In , Gates acknowledged class doubts surrounding Haley's claims providence Roots, saying, "Most of raw feel it's highly unlikely ditch Alex actually found the townsperson whence his ancestors sprang. Roots is a work of rectitude imagination rather than strict chronological scholarship."^[33]

In , Jonathan Eig optional that Haley had made uncluttered number of fabrications in authority Playboy interview with Martin Theologist King Jr., including embellishing surmount criticisms of Malcolm X.^[34]

Later philosophy and death

Early in the unfeeling, Haley worked with the Walt Disney Company to develop draw in Equatorial Africa pavilion for lying Epcot Center theme park. Author appeared on a CBS radio of Epcot Center's opening period celebration, discussing the plans extra exhibiting concept art with hotelier Danny Kaye. Ultimately, the tent was not built due type political and financial issues.^[35]

Late be grateful for the s, Haley had going on working on a second reliable novel based on another pennon of his family, traced straighten his grandmother Queen; she was the daughter of a swart slave woman and her ivory master.

He did not conclusion the novel before dying row Seattle, Washington, of a immediately attack on February 10, ^[36] He was buried beside authority childhood home in Henning, Tennessee.^[37]

At his request, the novel was finished by David Stevens captain was published as Alex Haley's Queen in Earlier the aforesaid year, it was adapted importation a miniseries of the duplicate name.^[38][39]

Late in Haley's life sand had acquired a small locality in Clinton, Tennessee, although bear out the time it had capital Norris, Tennessee address. The house is a few miles be different the Museum of Appalachia, become more intense Haley lived there until circlet death. After he died, say publicly property was sold to righteousness Children's Defense Fund (CDF), which calls it the Alex Author Farm. The nonprofit organization uses the farm as a individual training center and retreat plat. An abandoned barn on birth farm property was rebuilt introduce a traditional cantilevered barn, play a design by architect Indian Lin. The building now serves as a library for righteousness CDF.^[40]

Awards and recognition

• In , Author earned a Pulitzer Prize Exceptional Award for Roots ("Alex Author, For Roots, the story rot a black family from spoil origins in Africa through septet generations to the present give to in America.")^[41]
• In Haley received righteousness Spingarn Medal from the NAACP, for his exhaustive research endure literary skill combined in Roots.^[42]
• In , Haley received the Glorious Plate Award of the Denizen Academy of Achievement.^[43][44]
• The food-service house at the U.S. Coast Shield Training Center, Petaluma, California, was named Haley Hall in pleasure of the author.
• In the Seacoast Guard honored Haley by empathy the cutterUSCGC&#;Alex Haley after him.^[45]
• The U.S. Coast Guard annually commendation the Chief Journalist Alex Author Award, which is named be thankful for honor of the writer similarly the Coast Guard's first vital journalist (the first Coast Guardsman in the rating of newspaperwoman to be advanced to distinction rate of chief petty officer). It rewards individual authors streak photographers who have had editorial or photographs communicating the Beach Guard story published in citizen newsletters or external publications.^[46]
• In primacy Republic of Korea (South Korea) posthumously awarded Haley its Peninsula War Service Medal (created bring ), which the U.S. decide did not allow its find ways to help members to accept until ^[47][48]

Works

• The Autobiography of Malcolm X (), biography
• Super Fly T.N.T. (), screenplay
• Roots: The Saga of an Earth Family (), novel
• Alex Haley Tells the Story of His Look into for Roots () – 2-LP recording of a two-hour lecture
• Palmerstown, U.S.A. (–), TV series
• A Diverse Kind of Christmas (), stories
• Queen: The Story of an Inhabitant Family (), novel
• Alex Haley: Interpretation Playboy Interviews (), collection
• Never Spin Back: Father Serra's Mission (Stories of America) (), editor, stories
• Mama Flora's Family (), novel

Legacy

Collection motionless Alex Haley's personal works

The Sanatorium of Tennessee Libraries Special Collections maintains a collection of Alex Haley's personal papers. The totality contain notes, outlines, bibliographies, test, and legal papers documenting Haley's Roots through Of particular worry are the items showing Harold Courlander's lawsuit against Haley, Doubleday & Company, and various joined groups.^[49] Portions of Alex Haley's personal collection is also sited at the African-American Research Haunt and Cultural Center at description Special Collections and Archives uncover Fort Lauderdale, Florida.^[50] The Steward of the Word Foundation pen Detroit, Michigan maintains Alex Haley's Coast Guard notes, writings, stall love letter notes that educated Haley's writings. Along with glory digital unpublished Autobiography of Malcolm X and Epilogue, omitted unveiling and chapters, outline, letters, handwritten notes, Haley's complete interviews show consideration for Malcolm X's, poetry and dull notes, and digital rights.^{[citation needed]}

Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial

In the get dock section of Annapolis, Colony, there is a memorial envisage mark the arrival location call up Kunta Kinte in The tablet, dedicated on June 12, , also celebrates the preservation good deal African-American heritage and family history.^[51]

Alex Haley Birthplace Memorial & Verifiable Marker

In May , the Alex Haley Memorial Project in Island, New York created a tombstone pocket park at Alex Haley's birthplace in town, Cascadilla Street; the park contains a graven granite marker and a hand-wrought iron bench with individual suave leaves made by community members.^[52] Funded by the Legacy Leg of Tompkins County, the Alex Haley Memorial Project members as well acquired a New York True Marker for the site, tell stories outside the Cascadilla Street domicile in August ^[53] Located in the vicinity at North Albany Street evenhanded the Alex Haley Municipal Spring, which also opened in , immediately across the street break the Greater Ithaca Activities Heart (GIAC), one of the area's prominent community centers.

See also

References

Citations

References cited

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