Candy Dawson Boyd facts for kids

Candy Dawson Boyd was born on August 8, 1946. She is an American writer, activist, and educator. She has written many books for children, especially focusing on young African-American characters.

Early Life and Education

Growing Up in Chicago

Candy Dawson Boyd was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1946. Her birth name was Marguerite Cecille Dawson. She was the oldest of three children. Her parents were Mary Ruth Ridley and Julian Dawson. After her parents divorced, Candy was raised by her mother. They lived in a part of Chicago called South Chicago.

School and Segregation

When Candy was young, schools were still separated by race in many places. She went to elementary and middle schools that were only for Black students. Even the library she used was segregated. The books there were often old ones that white schools no longer wanted. Candy finished high school in 1962.

College and Activism

After high school, Candy went to Northeastern Illinois University. She decided to leave college for a while to join the Civil Rights Movement. This movement worked to end unfair treatment and segregation for Black people. She worked with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a very important group in the movement.

She later returned to college and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967. After graduating, she taught in Chicago. In 1971, she moved to Berkeley, California. There, she continued her studies at the University of California, Berkeley. She earned her master's degree in 1978 and her Ph.D. in 1982. Candy also worked with Rainbow/PUSH, another organization focused on civil rights and social justice.

Career and Writing

Becoming a Writer

While teaching in California, Candy noticed that there were not many good books for children, especially books that showed African-American kids in positive ways. This made her want to write her own stories. She took classes on writing for children at the Berkeley Public Library.

Later, she started working full-time to train teachers. By 2007, she was the director of Reading and Language Arts at Saint Mary's College of California. She was the first African-American person to earn a permanent teaching position, called tenure, at Saint Mary's. Candy Dawson Boyd lives in Chicago today.

Themes in Her Books

Candy Dawson Boyd writes books that are "inspiring, positive, and realistic." Her stories often explore important feelings and ideas. These include love, friendship, dealing with sadness, feeling left out, taking responsibility, and learning from mistakes.

Many of her books feature African-American young people. She aims to challenge African-American stereotypes and show diverse characters. Her experiences in the Civil Rights Movement also influence the themes in her books. Her first book, A Circle of Gold, even won a special award called the Coretta Scott King Award.

Awards and Recognition

• 1992, Professor of the Year, St. Mary's College of California

Published Works

• Breadsticks & Blessing Places. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (1985). ISBN: 0027092909
• Charlie Pippin. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (1987). ISBN: 1442452323
• Chevrolet Saturdays. London: Puffin (1995). ISBN: 0140368590
• Circle of Gold. New York: Scholastic (1984). ISBN: 0590401491
• Daddy, Daddy, Be There. New York: Philomel (1995). ISBN: 0399227458
• A Different Beat. London: Puffin (1996). ISBN: 0140365826
• Fall Secrets. London: Puffin (1994). ISBN: 0140365834
• Forever Friends. London: Puffin (1986). ISBN: 0140320776
• (with Peter Afflerbach, James Beers, Camille Blachowicz, and Deborah Diffily) Scott Foresman Reading: Fantastic Voyage. Glenview: Scott Foresman & Co. (2000). ISBN: 0673596478