Find the Good and Praise It: The Story of Alex Haley

Alex Haley was a patriot, a writer and a hero to many. His book, "Roots: The Saga of an American Family," revolutionized the way we all look at our family trees, but even more than that, Roots was able to show the world the trials and tribulations of slavery in America. "Find the Good and Praise It: The Story of Alex Haley” chronicles the incredible life of America’s storyteller from his humble beginnings in a small town in West Tennessee to his life in the Coast Guard and so much more.

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00:00 Intro
00:52 Early life and family
02:09 Where Haley became a storyteller
04:25 Joining the Coast Guard
05:52 First writing jobs at sea
07:50 The Seafarer
09:39 Coronet magazine
11:17 The Harlem Nobody Knows
11:39 Retiring from the Coast Guard
12:10 Hustling in New York City
13:18 Reader's Digest
13:45 Mr. Muhammad Speaks
14:33 Playboy magazine
15:06 Interview with Miles Davis
16:17 Interview with Malcolm X
17:42 Interview with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
20:10 Haley's most memorable Playboy interview
24:41 The Autobiography of Malcolm X
28:41 Haley traces his roots
30:38 Haley goes to Gambia
32:33 Writing Roots
33:42 Roots The Saga of an American Family
34:08 Roots the miniseries
40:27 Roots' controversy
44:07 Haley at the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville
44:55 Haley moves to East Tennessee
47:29 Haley's Appalachian epic
51:33 Haley's dies at 73
55:20 Queen The Story of an American Family
55:47 Advocating for Alex Haley Heritage Square in Knoxville
57:32 Children's Defense Fund
59:01 Building Alex Haley Heritage Square in Knoxville
01:00:27 Unveiling the Alex Haley statue
01:01:24 Alex Haley's materials up for auction
01:01:55 Haley Collections at UT Libraries
01:03:34 Haley's desk lands in Virginia
01:05:17 Alex Haley's legacy in the Coast Guard
01:06:07 Alex Haley leaves a footprint
01:06:51 The legacy of Roots
01:07:46 Find the good and praise it

[jeremycunningham]

God bless u Alex. Roots the tv series + then especially the book literally changed my life. Can’t ever thank u enough - the older I get the bigger the debt to u I realise I owe. Rest easy man. You’re forever a legend

[marcychan]

This is a Man I greatly respect and admire.
And his story telling of History was marvelous and absolutely riveting.
Listen to your elders children
They have stories to tell you
That without these stories being told - it is indeed like a library burning down - history lost.
Dear Sir
Thank you
Rest in Peace🙏

[nyreedix]

Ive read both Roots n Queen both wonderful reads😊

[AngelaKHarrell]

I cannot tell you how much this has touched me. As a writer, I enjoy hearing the process that other writers engage but Mr. Haley had such a uniqueness to his works and his thought process. I can only hope one day, I can do the same. May he continue to be a griot and RIH always.

[natashawall]

Roots: The Saga, Roots: The Next Generation, and Queen were amazing novels. So proud to own Roots. So proud to own The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

[patticakes]

What an awesome human being, he accomplished so much in his life time. Thanks for everything that you contributed to this world Alex Haley. Rest in paradise legend

[LillianSteele-uv]

My youngest brother who now works for WSSU actually got to talk with Alex Haley years ago. He really enjoyed his discussion with him. My baby brother is one of the best folks ever and so was Alex Haley.

[erichawkins]

I was blessed to meet Alex Haley and talk with him extensively. It is the one autograph that I cherish until this day.

[abdulazizclare]

He lived in Jamaica for some years before Roots came out. My mothers good friend we would see him in Negril at his house.

[MrTaurus]

Yes roots open my mind when 10 years ago, something i never knew at that time.

[eunicemurray]

I remember I was a very young teen in Jamaica and it was the talk of the black Radio and T V personal about this man .His book and after the T V drama

[damali-karlawhittaker]

💐💐💐💐💐💐WELL DESERVED flowers! God Bless Alex Haley!

[meme]

GOD BLESS U !!!U ARE ONE OF THE GREATEST AMERICAN OF ALL TIME !! I FIRST SEEN ROOTS IN THE 4th grade it blew me away it was amazing the funny thing my Dad gave my sister the name KIZZY I WENT HOME AND SAID MY SISTER WAS A SLAVE NO ONE KNEW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT THEY LAUGH AND WHEN I TOLD THEM MY DAD SAID HE GAVE MY SISTER THAT NAME HE THOUGHT SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN THE MOVIE AND MY SISTER WAS BORN THE SAME YEAR THE MOVIE CAME OUT 💯🙏🏽❤️❤️❤️ MR. HALEY U HAVE SHOW US ANOTHER WORLD IF U DID NOT PUT ROOTS AND QUEEN AND OTHERS BLACKS WOULD NOT KNOW THE TRUE MEANING OF BEING BLACK U SHOWED US WE ARE SOMEBODY AND GOD IS NUMBER ONE …. THANK U THANK U 🙏🏽 ❤️❤️❤️💯💯💯

[tinadaugherty]

The book " Roots" opened our minds, thoughts & opinions of the Black Afro-Americans that in all of our school history books either couldn't or wouldn't dare print & publish, Alex Haley did accomplish successfully. Beautiful documentarian.

[pamelalabriado]

It's a very necessary contribution to America's history 🎉a benchmark tò many and an eye opener for most!

[juliemccauslin]

I knew slavery existed, but I had no clue the horrors it really was until I was 12. Roots hit the TV. I cried through most of it, angry through the rest with moments of happiness and asked lots of questions to any adult at my school who would listen. I still don't understand why it has ever existed 😢

[nyreedix]

Thank you much for showing this documenty

[REGGIE_BXNY]

My favorite author. I read ROOTS, QUEEN and THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X. ROOTS was my favorite book and I have read hundreds. THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X is the only book that I read twice. Creative writer!

[carolynkingsley]

One of the best articles that I ever read by Mr. Haley, was published in Writer's Digest. He said: I consider writing one of the great professions of the world. I list it right along with medicine and law. if I could pick any profession on the face of this earth, I would still be a writer. He went on to say: If you're a writer, no matter what your level of education, you are a professional person.

[MissKMR]

I enjoyed this doc very much ❤ I'm watching from work in San Francisco