Douglas Alexander: “this is Black History Month. I look forward to Black History Month each year because it reminds me of my late friend…”

“this is Black History Month. I look forward to Black History Month each year because it reminds me of my late friend, Alex Haley. Alex Haley died 13 years ago this month. I can still remember his funeral in Memphis and the big crowd there-- people from all over America, leaders like Jesse Jackson. I spoke too; lots of us did. There must have been 300 people in the room who thought they were his best friend. There were thousands of people around America and around the world who thought they were Alex Haley's best friend. He was a remarkable individual. I remember saying that Alex Haley was God's storyteller, because he could tell a story. I remember saying, too, that I think we just used him up because he was such a generous man with his time. After the funeral in Memphis, a procession drove to Henning, TN--not so far from Memphis--50 or 60 miles. We were there at the home where Alex Haley stayed in the summers with his grandparents. This was a Friday. The African flute played a beautiful melody. It was cold. It was cold in February. After the casket was laid in the grave, the stone was put there. On that stone were the words that Alex Haley lived his life by: ``Find the good and praise it.'' I remember that afternoon as if it were yesterday, even though it was 13 years ago. I remember Alex Haley as if he were perched here in this room looking us over.”