A Choice of Weapons

I absolutely love this book. I am an avid reader but reserve my recommendations for very few books and authors. I hold dear a carefully chosen list of books that receive unjustly low profiles and recommend them to always-thankful friends. This book, by Gordon Parks, (as well as Manchild in the Promised Land, by Claude Brown) rank high on my list. Gordon Parks is an amazingly gifted human being.

Originally published in 1966, Parks'first autobiography is a classic testament of a young man "coming of age" in an environment in which the odds were against him. Parks was poor, Black and considered uneducated by the standards of his day. No doubt he was destined for jail or death. He escaped both fates and went on to become the premiere photographer of the 20th century as well as a composer, writer, director and artist. How was he able to do this given the hostile world in which he was bequeathed? Parks had a number of choices which were presented to him throughout his lifetime. The way he responded to those choices made all the difference from him becoming another statistic. His story is one of a teenager struggling to define himself as a man and to carve out a vocation in life which will make a difference to the world. This is not a story about pulling oneself up by your own bootstraps. Gordon was given the choice of using a knife to rob a porter. The result could have been jail. As an adult, Gordon was given a choice of using a gun on some bigots while being threatened by them while out on an assignment. He came to a close call in making the wrong choice. So what is it about Parks' life in those tender years that enabled him to overcome those varied temptations? Clues present themselves in various ways. He found his passion (photography). Opportunities came his way and he capitalized on them. He continued being curious about the world. Most of all, through the teachings of his parents, he developed the gift of not allowing the bitterness of the world to poison the great potential that was innate in his soul. Any young person trying to come to terms within themselves need to journey with young Parks. Those of us who are old and have allowed the bitterness of this world to impact upon us need to take a look at this remarkable human being who conquered it through his choice of weapons and made a lasting difference. I highly recommend the reading of this book along with his other two autobiographical works, "To Smile in Autumn", and "Voices in the Mirror". Oh and don't forget his classic autobiographical novel, "The Learning Tree". Remember that the choice is yours as we deal with life

I first picked up this book as a college freshman 21 years ago, I thought the title was cool. The book however helped shape my life, I decided to be a photographer and I now am, but more importantly the book taught me about having a dream, desire, perserverance and direction. In addition, Gordon Parks taught me something about dealing with, surviving and thriving in a racists America, replete with an abundance of bigots. Parks is a true Renaissance man and I am glad to now call him mentor and friend. You see I am white but learning should be color blind. I am so pleased to see this book in reprint.

This book has changed my life. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Parks here in Minnesota during a homecoming to celebrate his life's work. A choice of weapons vividly illustrates how Mr. Parks overcame all of the odds one man could face, partiuclarly a black man in the twentieth century. His journey from Kansas to St.Paul to Harlem and beyond is a must read for anyone who wants to truly understand the hypocrisy and paradox of the American ideal.