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100th Birth Anniversary of Alex Haley: Getting to the Roots

Broward County Library is recognizing the accomplishments of Alex Haley in "Getting to the Roots". Haley is the author of "Roots: The Saga of an American Family" & "The Autobiography of Malcolm X".

Broward County Library is recognizing the legacy and accomplishments of Alex Haley in "Getting to the Roots". Mr. Alex Haley is the author of "Roots: The Saga of an American Family" and "The Autobiography of Malcolm X".

Panelists will discuss elements of the award-winning and best-selling novel Roots, the impact of slavery, and family genealogical research.

Panelists Scheduled to Attend:

Dr. Tseleq Yusef: Dr. Tseleq Yusef is an associate professor of history at Bethune-Cookman University. Dr. Yusef's research involves the intersections of race, religion, and politics. He is originally from Toledo, Ohio. Dr. Yusef did his undergraduate work at the University of Alabama and his Ed.M., Masters', and Ph.D. at the University of Illinois. 

Andre Kearns: Andre Kearns is a genealogist, public speaker, commentator and writer with deep roots in the American south and a passion for discovering new ancestors and learning their stories. As an African American, he knew he descended from enslaved persons and likely slave owners, which DNA analysis has helped to confirm. Through his research, he also discovered ancestors who were free people of color long before the civil war, Native American, and multi-racial persons. He holds a BA in Business Administration from Morehouse College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. The Board of Directors of the National Genealogical Society

Bobby R. Henry, Sr. (Westside Gazette): Bobby Henry Sr. is the publisher of the award-winning Westside Gazette newspaper. Mr. Henry is the recipient of the 2017 Angelo B. Henderson Community Service Award, which recognizes a journalist who had a positive impact on the community outside the realm of journalism. Mr. Henry continues to serve and lead his community by example. He was appointed to sit on The Florida Black Business Investment Board, the Negro Chamber of Commerce, and the National Newspaper Publishers Association. A genealogist will conduct a live genealogical reveal of Bobby Henry for all to see.

Bertha Henry: Bertha Henry was named County Administrator in October 2008 after previously serving as Interim Administrator. As County Administrator, she serves as Chief Executive Officer of Broward County and directs the functions of County Government under the auspices of the Board of County Commissioners. Henry oversees a county with 1.9 million residents, and operations for nearly 60 agencies with more than 6,200 employees, including the airport, seaport and Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. Broward County's budget for fiscal year 2020 is more than $5.8 billion. A native of Miami, Florida, Henry has a distinguished career in public service with more than 30 years of experience in public administration, including service in Montgomery County (Dayton), Ohio, and the City of Miami. She first came to Broward County in 1996 and served as Assistant to the County Administrator until 1998, when she accepted a position as Assistant City Manager of Finance and Administration for the City of Miami, assisting with the city’s financial recovery. Henry returned to Broward County in July 2000, serving as Broward County's Deputy County Administrator. Henry has a Master of Science degree in public administration (Finance Concentration) and a Bachelor of Science degree in government from Florida State University.

Dr. Gina Paige: In 2003, Dr. Gina Paige co-founded African Ancestry, Inc. (AfricanAncestry.com) and in doing so, pioneered a new way of tracing African lineages using genetics, and a new marketplace for people of African descent looking to more accurately and reliably trace their roots. Paige travels the world helping people demystify their roots and inform on identities so that they may better understand who they are by knowing where they’re from. Paige has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Breakfast Club, Hot 97-FM, Time Magazine, USA Today, 60 Minutes, NewsOne Now with Roland Martin, HuffPost Live with Marc Lamont Hill, The Joe Madison Show, Sister Circle Live, Essence Magazine, The New York Times, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, and much, much, more. Paige resides in Washington, D.C. and holds a degree in Economics from Stanford University and an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Paige was honored with an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy from Global Oved Dei Seminary University.

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