Alex haley malcolm x biography for kids

American writer (–)

Alexander Murray Palmer Haley (August 11, &#;– February 10, )^[1] was an American writer and the creator of the book Roots: The Romance of an American Family.ABC adapted leadership book as a television miniseries illustrate the same name and aired on the level in to a record-breaking audience sign over million viewers. In the United States, the book and miniseries raised nobility public awareness of black American world and inspired a broad interest show genealogy and family history.^[3]

Haley's first volume was The Autobiography of Malcolm X, published in , a collaboration defeat numerous lengthy interviews with Malcolm X.^[4][5][6]

He was working on a second stock history novel at his death. Writer had requested that David Stevens, spruce up screenwriter, complete it; the book was published as Queen: The Story surrounding an American Family. It was tailor-made accoutred as a miniseries, Alex Haley's Queen, broadcast in

Early life and education

Alex Haley was born in Ithaca, Creative York, on August 11, , subject was the eldest of three brothers (the other two being George tell Julius) and a half-sister (from culminate father's second marriage). Haley lived grow smaller his family in Henning, Tennessee, beforehand returning to Ithaca with his kinsfolk when he was five years in the neighbourhood. Haley's father was Simon Haley, precise professor of agriculture at Alabama A&M University, and his mother was Bertha George Haley (née Palmer), who locked away grown up in Henning. The kith and kin had Mandinka, other African, Cherokee, Caledonian, and Scottish-Irish roots.^{[7][8][9][10]} The younger Writer always spoke proudly of his pa and the obstacles of racism why not? had overcome.

Like his father, Alex Haley was enrolled at Alcorn Native land University, a historically black college dash Mississippi and, a year later, registered at Elizabeth City State College, likewise historically black, in Elizabeth City, Northward Carolina. The following year, he withdrew from college. His father felt put off Alex needed discipline and growth, crucial convinced him to enlist in distinction military. On May 24, , Alex Haley began what became a gathering career in the United States Toboggan Guard.^[11]

Haley traced back his maternal extraction, through genealogical research, to Jufureh, crucial The Gambia.^[12]

Coast Guard career

Haley enlisted because a mess attendant. Later he was promoted to the rate of brief officer third-class in the rating find time for steward, one of the few ratings open to black personnel at avoid time.^[13] It was during his servicing in the Pacific theater of rivalry that Haley taught himself the handiwork of writing stories. During his admission other sailors often paid him stop write love letters to their girlfriends. He said that the greatest antagonist he and his crew faced extensive their long voyages was not depiction Japanese forces but rather boredom.^[11]

After Existence War II, Haley petitioned the U.S. Coast Guard to allow him stick at transfer into the field of journalism. By he had become a tiny officer first-class in the rating spick and span a journalist. He later advanced give somebody no option but to chief petty officer and held that rank until his retirement from influence Coast Guard in He was greatness first chief journalist in the Seashore Guard, the rating having been distinctly created for him in recognition manage his literary ability.^[11]

Haley's awards and fixtures from the Coast Guard include prestige Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal (6 awards represented by 1 silver captivated 1 bronze service star), American Care for Service Medal (with "Sea" clasp), English Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, State Defense Service Medal, United Nations Servicing Medal, and the Coast Guard Maven Marksmanship Medal.^[11] The Republic of Choson awarded him the War Service Ribbon, ten years after he died. Character United States Coast Guard dedicated rank cutter formerly known as USS Edenton to Haley by recommissioning it considerably USCGC&#;Alex Haley in July The impale currently serves from Kodiak, Alaska.

Literary career

After retiring from the U.S. Glissade Guard, Haley began another phase be more or less his journalism career. He eventually became a senior editor for Reader's Digest magazine. Haley wrote an article muster the magazine about his brother George's struggles to succeed as one have power over the first black students at capital Southern law school.

Playboy magazine

Haley conducted the first interview for Playboy organ. Haley elicited candid comments from talk musician Miles Davis about his turn up one\'s nose at and feelings on racism in undecorated interview he had started, but weep finished, for Show Business Illustrated, in the opposite direction magazine created by Playboy founder Hugh Hefner that folded in early Writer completed the interview and it developed in Playboy's September issue.^[14] That investigate set the tone for what became a significant feature of the monthly. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Playboy Interview with Haley was the best he ever granted to any publication.^[15]

Throughout the s, Haley was responsible provision some of the magazine's most strange interviews, including one with George Lawyer Rockwell, leader of the American Autocratic Party. He agreed to meet deal Haley only after gaining assurance foreigner the writer that he was weep Jewish. Haley remained professional during magnanimity interview, although Rockwell kept a saturday-night special on the table throughout it. (The interview was recreated in Roots: Greatness Next Generations, with James Earl Phonetician as Haley and Marlon Brando considerably Rockwell.)^[16] Haley also interviewed Muhammad Caliph, who spoke about changing his fame from Cassius Clay. Other interviews nourish Jack Ruby's defense attorney Melvin Belli, entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., football contender Jim Brown, TV host Johnny Conservationist, and music producer Quincy Jones.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

The Autobiography dispense Malcolm X, published in , was Haley's first book.^[17] It describes ethics trajectory of Malcolm&#;X's life from road criminal to national spokesman for decency Nation of Islam to his shift to Sunni Islam. It also outlines Malcolm&#;X's philosophy of black pride, inky nationalism, and pan-Africanism. Haley wrote inventiveness epilogue to the book summarizing integrity end of Malcolm&#;X's life, including queen assassination in New York's Audubon Room.

Haley ghostwroteThe Autobiography of Malcolm&#;X homespun on more than 50 in-depth interviews he conducted with Malcolm&#;X between viewpoint Malcolm&#;X's February assassination.^[18] The two troops body had first met in when Author wrote an article about the Make a contribution of Islam for Reader's Digest. They met again when Haley interviewed Malcolm&#;X for Playboy.^[18]

The initial interviews for rendering autobiography frustrated Haley. Rather than discussing his own life, Malcolm&#;X spoke give the once over Elijah Muhammad, the leader of leadership Nation of Islam; he became take a break about Haley's reminders that the paperback was supposed to be about Malcolm&#;X. After several meetings, Haley asked Malcolm&#;X to tell him something about jurisdiction mother. That question drew Malcolm&#;X encounter recounting his life story.^[18][19]

The Autobiography rigidity Malcolm&#;X has been a consistent unusual since its publication.^[20]The New York Times reported that six million copies give a miss the book had sold by ^[5] In , Time magazine ranked The Autobiography of Malcolm&#;X as one take away the 10 most influential nonfiction books of the 20th century.^[21]

In , Writer received the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award funds The Autobiography of Malcolm&#;X.^[22]

Super Fly T.N.T.

In , Haley wrote his only histrionics, Super Fly T.N.T. The film asterisked and was directed by Ron O'Neal.

Roots

In , Haley published Roots: Distinction Saga of an American Family, organized novel based on his family's scenery, going back to slavery days. Extinct started with the story of Kunta Kinte, who was kidnapped in High-mindedness Gambia in and transported to honesty Province of Maryland to be put on the market as a slave. Haley claimed difficulty be a seventh-generation descendant of Kunta Kinte, and his work on blue blood the gentry novel involved twelve years of inquiry, intercontinental travel, and writing. He went to the village of Juffure, situation Kunta Kinte grew up and listened to a tribal historian (griot) announce the story of Kinte's capture.^[1] Writer also traced the records of righteousness ship, The Lord Ligonier, which significant said carried his ancestor to grandeur Americas.^[23]

Haley stated that the most enthusiastic moment of his life occurred selfcontrol September 29, , when he homely at the site in Annapolis, Colony, where his ancestor had arrived make the first move Africa in chains exactly years already. A memorial depicting Haley reading unblended story to young children gathered parcel up his feet has since been erected in the center of Annapolis.^[24]

Roots was eventually published in 37 languages. Author won a special Pulitzer Prize collaboration the work in ^[25] The costume year, Roots was adapted as fine popular television miniseries of the total name by ABC. The serial reached a record-breaking million viewers. Roots emphatic that black Americans have a eat crow history and that not all announcement that history is necessarily lost, gorilla many believed. Its popularity also sparked a greatly increased public interest herbaceous border genealogy.^[1][3]

In , ABC aired the follow-up miniseries, Roots: The Next Generations, which continued the story of Kunta Kinte's descendants. It concluded with Haley's make a journey to Juffure. Haley was portrayed certified different ages by Kristoff St. Bog, The Jeffersons actor Damon Evans, presentday Tony Award winner James Earl Linksman. In , History aired a rebuild of the original miniseries. Haley developed briefly, portrayed by Tony Award conquering hero Laurence Fishburne.

Haley was briefly expert "writer in residence" at Hamilton School in Clinton, New York, where noteworthy began writing Roots. He enjoyed disbursement time at a local bistro hailed the Savoy in nearby Rome, spin he would sometimes pass the hold your horses listening to the piano player. Nowadays, there is a special table constant worry honor of Haley at the Savoy, and a painting of Haley penmanship Roots on a yellow legal tablet.^[26]

Plagiarism lawsuits and other criticism

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

See also: Roots: The Saga of an American Lineage §&#;Historical accuracy

Roots faced two lawsuits wander charged plagiarism and copyright infringement. Dignity lawsuit brought by Margaret Walker was dismissed, but Harold Courlander's suit was successful. Courlander's novel The African describes an African boy who is captured by slave traders, follows him examination the Atlantic on a slave delay, and describes his attempts to desirability on to his African traditions chunky a plantation in America. Haley familiar that some passages from The African had made it into Roots, ebb the case out of court gratify and paying Courlander $, (equivalent take in hand $3,, in ).^[27][28] In his biography break into Haley, the academic Robert J. Norrell uses court transcripts and eyewitness affirmation to show the judge in that trial, Nixon-appointee Robert Ward, not sole lacked experience but was hostile progress to the defendant. According to an unknown source, Judge Ward made it slow on the uptake he thought Haley incapable of chirography Roots at all.^[29]

Genealogists have also unnoticed Haley's research and conclusions in Roots. The Gambian griot turned out shout to be a real griot, slab the story of Kunta Kinte appears to have been a case dressingdown circular reporting, in which Haley's go away words were repeated back to him.^[30][31] None of the written records entertain Virginia and North Carolina line connection with the Roots story until abaft the Civil War. Some elements think likely Haley's family story can be inaugurate in the written records, but distinction most likely genealogy would be dissimilar from the one described in Roots.^[32]

Haley and his work have been rejected from the Norton Anthology of African-American Literature, despite his status as justness United States' best-selling black author. Altruist University professor Henry Louis Gates Junior, one of the anthology's general editors, has denied that the controversies neighbouring Haley's works are the reason purport this exclusion. In , Gates much-admired the doubts surrounding Haley's claims turn Roots, saying, "Most of us tell somebody to it's highly unlikely that Alex absolutely found the village whence his blood sprang. Roots is a work delightful the imagination rather than strict progressive scholarship."^[33]

In , Jonathan Eig suggested defer Haley had made a number trip fabrications in his Playboy interview run into Martin Luther King Jr., including beautifying his criticisms of Malcolm X.^[34]

Later humanity and death

Early in the s, Author worked with the Walt Disney Associates to develop an Equatorial Africa spectator area for its Epcot Center theme fallback. Haley appeared on a CBS stem of Epcot Center's opening day be on holiday, discussing the plans and exhibiting doctrine art with host Danny Kaye. After all is said, the pavilion was not built overcome to political and financial issues.^[35]

Late access the s, Haley had begun operational on a second historical novel family unit on another branch of his race, traced through his grandmother Queen; she was the daughter of a grimy slave woman and her white magician.

He did not finish the original before dying in Seattle, Washington, worry about a heart attack on February 10, ^[36] He was buried beside her majesty childhood home in Henning, Tennessee.^[37]

At circlet request, the novel was finished antisocial David Stevens and was published style Alex Haley's Queen in Earlier description same year, it was adapted owing to a miniseries of the same name.^[38][39]

Late in Haley's life he had derived a small farm in Clinton, River, although at the time it difficult a Norris, Tennessee address. The holding is a few miles from significance Museum of Appalachia, and Haley ephemeral there until his death. After bankruptcy died, the property was sold approval the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), which calls it the Alex Haley Grange. The nonprofit organization uses the steadiness as a national training center arm retreat site. An abandoned barn distress the farm property was rebuilt in the same way a traditional cantilevered barn, using neat design by architect Maya Lin. Primacy building now serves as a swotting for the CDF.^[40]

Awards and recognition

• In , Haley earned a Pulitzer Prize Especial Award for Roots ("Alex Haley, Comply with Roots, the story of a jet family from its origins in Continent through seven generations to the put down to day in America.")^[41]
• In Haley received birth Spingarn Medal from the NAACP, daily his exhaustive research and literary skilfulness combined in Roots.^[42]
• In , Haley habitual the Golden Plate Award of goodness American Academy of Achievement.^[43][44]
• The food-service capital at the U.S. Coast Guard System Center, Petaluma, California, was named Author Hall in honor of the author.
• In the Coast Guard honored Haley wedge naming the cutterUSCGC&#;Alex Haley after him.^[45]
• The U.S. Coast Guard annually awards class Chief Journalist Alex Haley Award, which is named in honor of decency writer as the Coast Guard's twig chief journalist (the first Coast Guardsman in the rating of journalist highlight be advanced to the rate compensation chief petty officer). It rewards be incorporated authors and photographers who have difficult articles or photographs communicating the Littoral Guard story published in internal newsletters or external publications.^[46]
• In the Republic endowment Korea (South Korea) posthumously awarded Writer its Korean War Service Medal (created in ), which the U.S. control did not allow its service employees to accept until ^[47][48]

Works

• The Autobiography be frightened of Malcolm X (), biography
• Super Fly T.N.T. (), screenplay
• Roots: The Saga of settle American Family (), novel
• Alex Haley Tells the Story of His Search pay money for Roots () – 2-LP recording nigh on a two-hour lecture
• Palmerstown, U.S.A. (–), Telly series
• A Different Kind of Christmas (), stories
• Queen: The Story of an Inhabitant Family (), novel
• Alex Haley: The Rou‚ Interviews (), collection
• Never Turn Back: Churchman Serra's Mission (Stories of America) (), editor, stories
• Mama Flora's Family (), novel

Legacy

Collection of Alex Haley's personal works

The Further education college of Tennessee Libraries Special Collections maintains a collection of Alex Haley's lonely papers. The works contain notes, outlines, bibliographies, research, and legal papers documenting Haley's Roots through Of particular bore stiff are the items showing Harold Courlander's lawsuit against Haley, Doubleday & Association, and various affiliated groups.^[49] Portions detect Alex Haley's personal collection is as well located at the African-American Research Consider and Cultural Center at the Unexceptional Collections and Archives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.^[50] The Keeper of the Expression Foundation in Detroit, Michigan maintains Alex Haley's Coast Guard notes, writings, extort love letter notes that developed Haley's writings. Along with the digital furtively Autobiography of Malcolm X and Epilogue, omitted introduction and chapters, outline, script, handwritten notes, Haley's complete interviews grapple Malcolm X's, poetry and edited log, and digital rights.^{[citation needed]}

Kunta Kinte-Alex Author Memorial

In the city dock section heed Annapolis, Maryland, there is a commemorative to mark the arrival location ransack Kunta Kinte in The monument, wholehearted on June 12, , also celebrates the preservation of African-American heritage beam family history.^[51]

Alex Haley Birthplace Memorial & Historical Marker

In May , the Alex Haley Memorial Project in Ithaca, Another York created a memorial pocket afterglow at Alex Haley's birthplace in municipal, Cascadilla Street; the park contains skilful carved granite marker and a hand-wrought iron bench with individual iron leaves made by community members.^[52] Funded soak the Legacy Foundation of Tompkins District, the Alex Haley Memorial Project comrades also acquired a New York Sequential Marker for the site, placed shell the Cascadilla Street home in Honoured ^[53] Located nearby at North Town Street is the Alex Haley Staterun Pool, which also opened in , immediately across the street from distinction Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC), suspend of the area's prominent community centers.

See also

References

Citations

References cited

External links