"Haley to Speak at MC Commencement" Article
Dublin Core
Title
"Haley to Speak at MC Commencement" Article
Subject
Tennessee; African American women; African Americans--Appalachian Region; African American men; African Americans--Southern States; African American heritage; African American youth; African American students; African Americans--Education; African Americans--Education--Southern States; African Americans -- Education (Higher) --Southern States. African American universities and colleges -- Southern States
Description
A 1984 news article announcing Alex Haley as the keynote speaker for the Morristown College commencement ceremony.
Creator
Creator Unknown
Source
Sandra Peters
Publisher
Black in Appalachia
Date
September 5, 2019
Rights
This item can be used for private reflection and research, and not for commercial purposes.
Coverage
1984; United States--Tennessee--Morristown
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Haley to Speak at MC Commencement
Alex Haley author of Roots and currently researching his third book in Norris, will be the keynote speaker at Morristown College’s 103rd annual Commencement at 3 p.m. Sunday in the college gym.
He will address the college’s graduating class. More than 800 persons are expected at the Commencement exercise.
Haley’s first book, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, was published in 1965 and was selected among the “Ten Best American Books of the 1960s Decade,” is now required reading in many U.S. high schools and colleges.
Haley’s Roots became the biggest best-seller in U.S. publishing history. Published nationwide in 37 languages, it has sold over six million copies.
A further phenomenon occurred when Roots was filmed into a 12-hour television mini-series. Its seven-night run during January, 1977 drew over 130 million viewers, the greatest program audience in television history.
Haley’s writing has won him America’s two topmost writing awards: the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Colleges and universities have awarded him 17 honorary academic doctorate degrees, while from other sources he has received 300 special recognitions. Time magazine has labeled Haley “a folk hero,” and his book, Roots, “a cultural landmark.”
Haley is also expected to offer pointers to a group of state-funded researchers who are in the process of writing a book about the historically black, two-year church-supported college.
Morristown College, founded in 1881 to educate the children of newly freed slaves in East Tennessee, is the only historically black , junior college in the Appalachian region. The college awards the Associate of Arts, Science and terminal degrees.
Student enrollment has increased dramatically this year with students coming from 17 difference states, the District of Columbia and seven foreign nations.
Alex Haley author of Roots and currently researching his third book in Norris, will be the keynote speaker at Morristown College’s 103rd annual Commencement at 3 p.m. Sunday in the college gym.
He will address the college’s graduating class. More than 800 persons are expected at the Commencement exercise.
Haley’s first book, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, was published in 1965 and was selected among the “Ten Best American Books of the 1960s Decade,” is now required reading in many U.S. high schools and colleges.
Haley’s Roots became the biggest best-seller in U.S. publishing history. Published nationwide in 37 languages, it has sold over six million copies.
A further phenomenon occurred when Roots was filmed into a 12-hour television mini-series. Its seven-night run during January, 1977 drew over 130 million viewers, the greatest program audience in television history.
Haley’s writing has won him America’s two topmost writing awards: the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Colleges and universities have awarded him 17 honorary academic doctorate degrees, while from other sources he has received 300 special recognitions. Time magazine has labeled Haley “a folk hero,” and his book, Roots, “a cultural landmark.”
Haley is also expected to offer pointers to a group of state-funded researchers who are in the process of writing a book about the historically black, two-year church-supported college.
Morristown College, founded in 1881 to educate the children of newly freed slaves in East Tennessee, is the only historically black , junior college in the Appalachian region. The college awards the Associate of Arts, Science and terminal degrees.
Student enrollment has increased dramatically this year with students coming from 17 difference states, the District of Columbia and seven foreign nations.
Original Format
Newspaper
Files
Collection
Citation
Creator Unknown, “"Haley to Speak at MC Commencement" Article,” Black in Appalachia: Community History Digital Archive, accessed April 26, 2024, https://blackinappalachia.omeka.net/items/show/691.