My Haley

Dr. Myran Lewis Haley, known as My Haley, spent her early childhood in South Charleston, West Virginia before her parents moved the family to Columbus, Ohio.

While working on her doctorate in Communications and African American Studies at The Ohio State University, My was inspired by a speech delivered on campus by author Alex Haley. After achieving her goal of earning a PhD. she set out on her next goal: to work with the renowned author.

Impressed by My’s drive and talent, Alex Haley gave her a major assignment—to assist him in writing the remaining two-thirds of a book that was long overdue to his publisher. Within a matter of months together they completed the work and that book, Roots: The Saga of An American Family. Roots catapulted Alex Haley to international fame. My and Alex married in 1977, and over the years collaborated on many projects, including the miniseries Roots: The Next Generation.

After Alex’s death, My Haley immersed herself in writing pieces based upon her growing up with her grandmother, other novels, and many screenplays for feature film and TV.