Chris Haley.
The actor, writer, filmmaker and director of the “Study of the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland” is the nephew of
Alex Haley, whose own genealogical curiosity resulted in the epic novel and TV mini-series “Roots.”
Chris Haley’s grandmother,
Zeona Haley, once gave him a book called “A Pictorial History of the Negro in America.” According to the Baltimore Times, it sparked his quest to journey along the same path as Uncle Alex. Nearly 30 years ago, Chris began visiting places where his mother’s ancestors were buried in Georgia. He remarked that looking at the places where they were laid to rest brought them back to life, in a way.