Profile
ALEX HALEY,
Who Found His Roots
As a boy in Henning, Tennessee, Alex Haley's grandmother
would tell him stories about the family. Some of her stories went
back to herjgrandparents and great-grandparents. She even told
him fascinating stories about a man called "The African " Alex was
intrigued with these vivid stories. He envisioned the river "Kanby
Bolongo" and how the African was caught, beaten and chained.
The African was dragged onto a slave ship and brought to
America.
Alex grew up hearing wonderful stories which remained with
him all through his adult life. Born in Ithaca, New York, in 1921, he
grew up in Henning. After high school graduation, ne joined the
? UrS^Goa^Guafd He left behtnd hts two younger brothers? ft was
while in the Coast Guard that he taught himself to write. He began
by writing fancy letters for his friends. These letters would go to
ttieir special girlfriends. The letters got so much response, he re
fined his skills even more. He was asked to write other official
materials and beoame CJiief Journalist.
In 1959. when he retired after twenty years, he started to write for
-magazines. Haley _did serious, extensive interviews for Playboy
and other nrfagazines. Then, he began his 12-year journey into
researching his family history. This literary' journey took him back
to Africa, where he talked with his relatives from si* generations
There in the village of Juffure, this descendant of "The African" of
long ago saw Kunta Kinte s (the African's) descendants.
Haley traced his family genealogy for adozen years. "Roots," his
book, is the saga of his ancient family, their forced trip to America,
slavery and the resentment and struggles it caused. "Roots." pub
lished m 1976. also tells how his family survived the horrors of
slavery and Reconstruction and became educated people.
In 1977, the book was made into a television mini-series. The
ABC-TV series reached millions of viewers and Alex Haley be
came a folk hero Both the book and the television series40$pir?d
many to discover their own roots. ^
When Alex Haley died in 1992, America and the world lost a
diligent researcher, a compassionate human being and a gener
ous. humble personality.
Winston-Salem
* State University
Office of Admissions
601 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Winston-Salem, NC 271 10
(919) 750-2070
Founded in 1892, Winston-Salem State University is a
comprehensive undergraduate institution offering
baccalaureate degrees in more than 30 majors in four
academic areas: Business and Economics, Nursing and
Allied Health, Education, and Arts and Sciences.
? Master's degrees in business and education are available
through WSSU's Graduate Center in cooperation with
Appalachian State University.
? Ask about our Bachelor of Science in Applied Science
degree program for individuals with an associate degree.
I ? r
The Diggs Gallery
through March 29
* ASHE : IMPROVISATION & RECYCLING
IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN VISIONARY ART;
THE CRAWLSPACE,
an installation by
Glenda Wharton-Little.
Gallery Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesdays through Saturdays/ 750-2458
Admission free.
Heilig-Meyers salutes
BLACK HISTORY MAKERS
GENERAL RICHARD L. JONES
U. S. Ambassador, National
1884 - 1975
General Richard L. Jones, former U. S Ambassador to Libena and
retired Illinois Army National Guard commander, died in 1975 at the
age of 81. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, General Jones
studied law at the University of Illinois He served the armed forces
during World War J as a lieutenant in the military police. In World War
II, Jones was a special sorvioes officer and was awarded the Legion of
Ment medal. He was appointed ambassador to Liberia by President
Eisenhower in 955, and served in that post until 1959
F U R N I t it p e
Northside S
Winston-Sale
11 i 1 ?
Center
14-0214