Carrie Allen McCray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carrie Allen McCray
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| Born | October 4, 1913 |
| Died | July 25, 2008 (aged 94) |
| Alma mater | Talladega College, B.A. 1935 New York University M.A. 1955 |
| Occupation | Writer |
Carrie Allen McCray (October 4, 1913 – July 25, 2008) was an African-American writer. She was known for her poems and her memoir. Her writing often explored her family history and experiences.
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Carrie Allen McCray's Early Life
Carrie Allen was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, on October 4, 1913. She grew up in Lynchburg. A famous poet named Anne Spencer was a friend of her mother. Carrie was the ninth of ten children.
Her father, William Patterson Allen, was a lawyer. Her mother, Mary Rice Hayes Allen, was a college teacher. Her mother even served as president of Virginia University of Lynchburg. This was a special school for Black students.
When Carrie was eight, her family moved to Montclair, New Jersey. Many important Black thinkers visited their home there. One visitor was the famous poet Langston Hughes. Carrie went to school in Montclair. She later earned a bachelor's degree from Talladega College in 1935. In 1955, she got a master's degree in social work from New York University.
Her Family and Moving South
In 1940, Carrie married Winfield Scott Young. They had a son named Winfield Scott Young Jr. Their marriage ended in 1945. Later, she married John H. McCray. He was a journalist and an activist from Florida. He worked for civil and political rights in South Carolina.
John McCray helped create the Black Progressive Democratic Party. He worked to elect leaders who supported fairness for all people. Carrie moved to Columbia, South Carolina, by 1986.
Becoming a Writer
Carrie McCray started writing seriously when she was 73 years old. She wrote about the challenges she faced. These included racial and gender issues. She shared stories about her family's move to a white neighborhood. She also wrote about her travels in the South in the 1960s.
McCray encouraged young writers. She taught poetry workshops in elementary schools. She was also a founding member of the South Carolina Writers Workshop. A literary award is named after her. She was also on the Board of Governors for the South Carolina Academy of Authors.
Her Published Works
Carrie McCray wrote several books. These include Ajös Means Goodbye (1966) and The Black Woman and Family Roles (1980).
Her memoir, Freedom’s Child: The Life of a Confederate General’s Black Daughter (1998), is very special. In this book, she shares her journey to learn about her family history in Lynchburg. She also tells stories about her grandfather, John R. Jones. He was a general during the Civil War.
Her poems appeared in magazines like Ms. and The River Styx. Her last collection of poems was called Ota Benga Under My Mother's Roof. This book was about Ota Benga. He was a man from Africa who had been put on display. He later lived with Carrie's family at the Virginia Seminary.
In 2007, a play based on her poems about Ota Benga was performed. Carrie McCray herself was the narrator.
Death and Legacy
Carrie Allen McCray passed away on July 25, 2008. She was 94 years old. Her writings continue to inspire many.
