Candace Allen (author) facts for kids

Candace Allen (born 1950) is an American writer, activist, and screenwriter who lives in London. She was the first African-American woman to join the Directors Guild of America. She is the niece of actress and drama coach Billie Allen. She was also married to the famous British conductor Sir Simon Rattle. As a writer, Candace Allen has published books like the novel Valaida and the non-fiction book Soul Music: The Pulse of Race and Music. She also writes for The Guardian newspaper and other publications.

Biography of Candace Allen

Candace Allen was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1950. When she was six years old, her family moved to Stamford, Connecticut. She later went to Harvard University. While at Harvard in the late 1960s and early 1970s, she helped create the African and African-American Studies Department. After Harvard, she studied at the New York University School of Film and Television. She made history by becoming the first African-American woman to be a member of the Directors Guild of America.

In the 1970s, Candace Allen moved to Los Angeles, California. For twenty years, she worked there as an assistant director on movies and TV shows. Later, she became a screenwriter, writing scripts for films. She also helped start Reel Black Women, which was a group for African-American women working in film. For four years, she also ran a counseling group for young Black women at Jordan High School in Watts.

In 1994, Allen moved to the UK. She married British conductor Simon Rattle on January 8, 1996. Their marriage lasted until 2004. Because her husband was a knight (Sir Simon Rattle), she was sometimes known as Lady Candace or Lady Rattle during their marriage.

Candace Allen's Writing Career

Candace Allen's first book was published in 2004. It was called Valaida and was a fictional story about the real-life African-American female jazz trumpeter Valaida Snow. In Valaida, Allen brought to life an amazing woman who worked in a world mostly run by men. Reviewers said that Allen helped readers understand what it might feel like to play a trumpet solo or travel to towns where racism was common. The book also showed the interesting world of jazz and vaudeville before the 1960s.

Her most recent book is Soul Music: The Pulse of Race and Music, published in 2012. This book has been described as a mix of travel stories, personal memories, and new ideas. It explores how music connects to race and culture.

Candace Allen writes regularly for The Guardian newspaper in London. She also writes for other newspapers. In 2018, she received a special award called a McDowell fellowship for her writing. She also contributed to the 2019 book New Daughters of Africa, which is a collection of writings by African women, edited by Margaret Busby.

Other Activities

Candace Allen was very active in the "Americans Abroad for Obama" group. She helped campaign for Barack Obama to be elected president in 2008. After that, she often appeared on radio and television to talk about American culture, race, and politics.

Allen is also a board member of the Chineke! Foundation. This organization supports Black and ethnically diverse classical musicians.