Alex Haley: “Roots”, the blueprint of family history

Alex Haley and his epic novel "Roots"

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He was a writer who became a household name when his epic novel was made into a sprawling, compelling television miniseries.

It would be years before I actually read Alex Haley and his book “Roots”, but that miniseries was amazing. Beyond entertaining, and shining a light on the disgrace that was slavery in the United States, “Roots” sparked an interest in geneology and the quest for people to find out where they come from.

Later, we all learned more about Alex Haley himself, when a sequel to “Roots” was made that went virtually right up to the present day.

All this came to mind when I saw it was Alex Haley’s birthday yesterday.

Screaming lady
There had been a lot of promotion in 1977 about “Roots” but, as I recall, there were no trailers just a sort “Roots is coming” message.

The first part was on a Saturday night, at 9 p.m. on Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial. We gathered around the television, and I had no idea what “Roots” was about.

The show opened with – a Black lady screaming.

My Mom immediately sent me to bed, and I have to say, I didn’t put up a fight.

Yet the rest of the family watched it that night, and as the show continued to air all week, I picked up bits and pieces of the story from my Mom and sister.

Then, I got the Measels that week, and stayed home from school on Friday and Saturday, where I could watch the rest of “Roots” for myself.

It was about a Black youth kidnapped by slave traders and taken to America. His name was Kunta Kinte, played by LeVar Burton and John Amos, but he was re-named Toby Reynolds by his owners. He had a daughter named Kizzie, played by Leslie Uggams, who ended up having a child with her white owner. That son would grow up to be “Chicken” George, played by Ben Vereen who, while still a slave, had more freedom because he was a renowned trainer of fighting cocks. “Chicken” George had a son, Tom Harvey, played by Georg Stanford Brown, who was a blacksmith, and eventually was freed by Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation.

These were all Alex Haley’s ancestors.

The writer
“Roots” was billed as the show based on the best-selling book by Alex Haley. Back in the day, authors got nowhere the credit they deserved, so I had no idea what Alex Haley looked like.

At the same time there was another author named Arthur Hailey, who wrote books such as “The Moneychangers” and “Wheels”, which were made into miniseries. I always wondered if Alex Haley was related to Arthur Hailey until I saw Alex Haley.

I would learn so much more about Alex Haley when the saga of “Roots” continued.

The rest of the story
“Roots: The Next Generations” was also on Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial in 1979. It picked up where “Roots” left off, with Tom Harvey, his family, and his now elderly father “Chicken” George. Tom Harvey would have a daughter Cynthia, who went on to have a daughter, Bertha, played by Irene Cara. She went on to marry Simon Haley, played by Dorian Harewood. They would have a son – Alex Haley.

The show details Alex Haley’s life and career. What I recall best is his time as an adult when he is played by James Earl Jones.

He becomes a writer, first for “Playboy” magazine. In a memorable moment, he is doing a piece on the American Nazi Party and interviews its leader George Lincoln Rockwell, in a chilling portrayal by Marlon Brando. At one point Rockwell looks at Haley and says he does not look all Black, asking if there is some white in his family. Haley admits there is. Up to that point I was not sure it was common knowledge “Chicken” George’s father was his slave owner. Rockwell goes on to talk about these songs his party has created, such as “The Jews are through in ’72, parlez vous.”

Haley goes on to co-write the autobiography of Black activist Malcolm X. That is actually where I first learned about Malcolm X.

As time goes on, Haley gets into his family history and begins to do research. His journey eventually takes him to Africa where he meets the family historian, who begins to recite generation after generation of family. Then he mentions a son, Kunta, who went out to find a log for a drum and was never seen again.

Haley turns. His ancestor, Kunta Kinte, came to America after being captured by slave traders. He had gone out to find a log for a drum.

Where his history ends in Africa, it begins in America.

One of the coolest parts of the story is when Haley pays a visit to a man named Reynolds, who he is pretty sure is the ancestor of the man who bought Kunta Kinte. Haley’s reception is cold and dismissive. This man’s family would never own slaves, and the mere mention of it is insulting. He asks Haley to leave.

On his way out, Haley notices a painting of horses from a bygone era. He asks Reynolds if his family has owned horses for a long time? Reynolds responded they have owned horses for hundreds of years. In fact, he has the records going back generations. Haley said often slave owners kept the records of slaves they owned with the records of livestock they owned. Reynolds is still standoffish. Haley asks Reynolds to indulge him. Finally Reynolds says he will look – to prove Haley wrong.

He grabs this old ledger, leafs through it and is shocked at what he learns. It is all there in black and white. His ancestor owned Kunta Kinte, or Toby Reynolds.

James Earl Jones was brilliant as Alex Haley.

The book
“Roots” was published in 1976, but I didn’t read the book for another 25 years or so. That was when I discovered how brilliant Alex Haley was. It is probably 600 or 700 pages and I could not put it down. The first thing it did was fill in the gaps for that first part of the saga I missed on TV. After that, it gave some impressive detail about all the generations of Haley’s family.

It was well worth the read.

Haley was awarded a Pulitizer Prize Special Award for “Roots” in 1977.

Sadly, Alex Haley died of a heart attack on February 10, 1992.

He was 70 years old.

Parting thoughts
As I embark on my quest to write my own family history, I am inspired by Alex Haley. I read he was accused that some of his historical assertions are fabricated, and “Roots” is more a novel than a work of historical scholarship. The critics site historical records that don’t line up with Haley’s story until after the Civil War.

Even if that is the case, when I read “Roots”, I kind of viewed it as an approximation of history. After all, the records could still be spotty. To write a story, he would have to fill in the gaps.

At the end of “Roots: The Next Generations”, Alex Haley encourages people to explore their own family history by interviewing older relatives, researching old records, and holding reunions.

I have often thought how would I craft my own family history? I have done interviews with my parents and family members.

Every time I think about it, I think I will craft it just like “Roots”

To me, it is the blueprint of a family history.