He published his first book, “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” in 1965, following over 50 in-depth interviews that he conducted with Malcolm X between 19. That interview catapulted Alex into the spotlight where he conducted more memorable interviews for Playboy with such people as Muhammad Ali, Jack Ruby, Sammy Davis Jr, Johnny Carson, Malcolm X, footballer Jim Brown, Quincy Jones, George Lincoln Rockwell ( the leader of the American Nazi party), and Martin Luther King Jr, who granted Alex Haley the longest interview he ever did with any publication. He also wrote for Playboy magazine, and his interview with jazz musician Miles Davis, centering on his feelings about racism, appeared in the September 1962 edition. He advanced his career by becoming a Chief Petty Officer, the rank he held until his retirement from the Coast Guard in 1959.Īfter his service in the U.S Coast Guard, he advanced his writing career by becoming a senior editor at the Reader’s Digest magazine. During his time in the Coast Guard, he taught himself the art of writing stories, which proved to be lucrative when he was regularly paid by other sailors to pen love letters to their girlfriends back home.įollowing his service in World War 2, because of his new found passion, Alex applied to the Coast Guard to allow him to transfer into journalism, and by 1949 he had attained the rank of Petty Officer First Class in the rating of Journalist. Photo: Courtesy Michael Ochs Archives / Getty ImagesĪlex Haley was born in Ithaca, New York, the eldest of 3 brothers and a half-sister, and at the age of 18, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, where he went on to have a 20 year career. Today, August 11th, we remember author Alex Haley, who was born on this day in 1921….and the time he spent in the Alamo City
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