People: Aug. 2, 1982

He had logged twelve years and 500,000 miles tracing his roots back to Kunta Kinte, the Mandinka tribesman taken into slavery two centuries ago in West Africa. But Alex Haley, 60, had never met most of his living relatives. So plans began early this year for a mammoth July reunion. Some 300 people from 32 states and all branches of the family tree descended on Haley's sleepy home town of Henning, Tenn. There were teachers, farmers, service workers, ministers, musicians, many excitedly meeting for the first time. Some stopped off to visit family...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!