Alex Palmer Haley Alex Haley was born in 1925 in Ithaca, New York where his father taught agriculture. When he was quite young the family moved to Henning, Tennessee, where Alex grew up hearing stories of his ancestors from his grandmother. Surprisingly, Alex did not do well in school or in college and in WWII Alex joined the Coast Guard and became a messboy. He submitted stories, for publication to magazines only to receive countless rejection …showed first 75 words of 521 total…

…showed last 75 words of 521 total…February 10, 1992 before publication and the book had to be finished by David Stevens. Even after death Alex Haley is still recognized as one of the best African-American writers. His vivid descriptions of slavery shocked us and the pride in black history and challenged our view of slavery in this country. A pride in black history and amounting interest in genealogy, especially among African-Americans, are two wonderful gifts Alex Haley gave us through his gifted writings.