John Kennedy McCray

Early years

John Kennedy McCray was born in Baltimore, Maryland on April 14, 1961. His mother, Betty Louise “Hon” McCray, from Laurinburg, North Carolina was a recently migrated southerner who worked for the Baltimore City Water Department . His father, Jackie McCray, was a native of Georgetown, South Carolina who worked for Davidson Chemical, Inc. in Baltimore. Amirajadid 21:34, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

McCray attended elementary school at the original Harriet Tubman Elementary School in Baltimore one year before it was demolished in 1967. During that year, he began 1st grade at the newly constructed experimental school, City Springs Elementary School which was located directly in the community where his family lived, Perkins Homes Projects and continued through 1972. During this time, John was recognized for his artistic abilities and encouraged to draw and paint at every opportunity. “Once in the 2nd grade I had to stay after school for repeatedly drawing on my desk. I mean every desk in every class. I couldn't help it. I was a straight A-Student and loved learning but always found myself looking at elaborately drawn compositions on my desk when the school bell rang after every class. I remember one night I had to stay after school to clean every desk in all my classes and my English teacher, Miss Johnson, showed up at our project apartment. I thought, 'Oh, my God. This lady walked all the way down here through the hood? I'm in trouble. My mother's going to kill me'. Once there, she simply presented me a sketch pad and charcoal pencils, said to my mother that he is a gifted artist and should never have to wash away his artistry. My mother just gave me a knowing nod of approval and I've been drawing ever since”. In addition, his mother encouraged him to join the Salvation Army Boy's Club of America which was located five miles away from the projects to experience a more diverse area of the city, Highlandtown. There, he became very active in art, Native American Studies, football and lacrosse. At the age of 11, he painted his 1st mural which featured all of his newfound interests. In addition, through the Boy's Club, he was asked to do a portrait of Mayor William Donald Schaefer which was later presented to the city's office. When he was 12, his parent's marriage fell apart and his mother moved the family to a community closer to Highlandtown, Butcher's Hill. “That decision to move changed my life's path,” McCray later said, “because all of my close friends in the projects ended up in prison, on drugs or dead. Whenever I could, I'd just stay in my room and draw to seek sanctuary from the streets below. Everybody had to know how to defend themselves down there...some were better at it. I never lost a fight. Because I was really good at street fighting and said to be smarter than other kids, I was already being recruited by older people to be a part of the criminal element that played a role in the demise of all the friends that I had. I don't know if I could have escaped it. My friends were all descent kids who had dreams and aspirations just like me. I never believed there was anything that overwhelmingly more special about me that would have ensured my survival.” Amirajadid 03:56, 24 January 2011 (UTC)

After middle school at Herring Run and Hampstead Hill Junior High School (during the Desegregation Busing Period), McCray went on to become class vice-president and a state lacrosse champion at Patterson Senior High School. John took a year off from his education after high school to accept an apprenticeship at Artworks Studio in Dickeysville, MD under the tutelage of Artist - Elaine Arnold and worked as a counselor at The League of People's Camp Greentop in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland. The Artworks Studio was one of several independently owned craftsmen and artists studios occupied by nationally marketed professionals. Camp Greentop was a multi-cultural/multi-class overnight camp that employed college student's from all over the country to work side-by-side with past campers and TLP disabled employees that served disabled children and adults. “Through experiencing such a free thought, creative environment in that old artisan mill in Dickeysville and working with spiritually undefeated terminally ill children and all-inspiring disabled adults at the camp, I confirmed my beliefs in the human spirit, accepting all life challenges and the importance of acknowledging and celebrating everyone's life without limitation”.

During his college years at Morgan State University, McCray played lacrosse for the Bears, majored in art and had his 1st experience in theater. “I went to see the movie “Fame” with my girlfriend at the time. During one dance scene, I mentioned to her that I believed that I could do that and she quickly responded '...I dare you'. A few days later, I auditioned for the Morgan State Dance Ensemble. Within a year, I was a soloist and the recipient of The Dorothy P. Stanley Dance Scholarship Award to attend Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. I had never danced before or done anything athletic before except sports. I just knew inside that I could do it.” Once McCray returned from New York to continue his studies at Morgan State, the dance and lacrosse programs had been disbanded. John transferred to The Professional Institute of Commercial Art where he graduated with a concentration in graphic design. Amirajadid 03:28, 24 January 2011 (UTC)