Origins; Alex Haley novel (5)
I believe the answer is:
roots
This clue is a double definition.
'origins' is the first definition.
(I know this)
'alex haley novel' is the second definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
(Other definitions for roots that I've seen before include "a Wesker play" , "Antecedents" , "Underground growths" , "Underground parts of a plant" , "background" .)