At the business meeting where I first met Alex Haley, there was a disagreement brewing about whether Roots would appeal only to a black audience or would draw in readers from all races and ethnicities. I remember Haley looking around at the room filled with marketing and business managers, all of whom were white. He leaned forward with that compelling expression of his. "There are two things that I keep in mind and that help me stay true to who I am. The first is that I am not a slave to money. I do what I do because that's exactly what my soul is telling me I need to be exploring and learning."
You have to understand that in the modern world of publishing, you don't often hear someone saying he doesn't care about money. It was completely silent now in the meeting room. Then the silence was broken by Haley's slow but deliberate speech. He said: "The second thing that helps me keep my sanity is that I believe if you tell the truth and you do it with grace and respect for the person who is hearing your truth, some amazing things can happen. Just like the Bible says, 'the truth shall set you free,' so have I found that there is a mysterious power in seeking the truth, speaking the truth, and risking everything for the truth. Living that way brings me more joy than focusing on dollars or the approval of others."
When he stopped talking, there was silence again. But his passionate words have stuck in my head ever since. I'll admit I worry about financial security as much as the next person. But I also began to consider the freedom and the personal integrity I saw in Alex Haley. It made me wonder if it's possible that "seeking the truth and speaking the truth" can eventually help us as human beings, on a personal level and in society as well. What would it mean to have a stronger sense of truth in our daily interactions, our business dealings, our government policies, and our connection to other people and the living things of this world?