Alex Haley
Born in 1921
Alexander Murray Palmer Haley was an American author best known for Roots: The Saga of an American Family and The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Born in 1921, Haley served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 20 years before pursuing a writing career.
His groundbreaking work Roots, published in 1976, traced his family history from Africa through slavery to freedom.
The book became a bestseller and was adapted into a popular television miniseries.
Haley's collaboration with Malcolm X on his autobiography further cemented his literary legacy.
Despite controversies surrounding the historical accuracy of Roots, Haley's work significantly impacted discussions of race and identity in America.
