Gordon Parks, Sr. was a multifaceted artist renowned for his work as a photographer, writer, and musician. His journey began on a Kansas farm, where he was the youngest of fifteen siblings in the Parks family. The warmth of this tightly-knit environment defined his early years, but life took a dramatic turn after his mother passed away, pushing him into a world far different from his rural upbringing.

Early Years and Independence

After his mother's death, Parks relocated to St. Paul, Minnesota. Initially, he lived with his sister and her husband, but this arrangement didn't last long. He soon dropped out of high school, choosing instead to carve his own path through diverse labor experiences. From performing as a pianist in a brothel to playing semi-professional basketball, Parks embraced various roles that enriched his understanding of the world.

From Railroads to Photography

In 1933, at twenty-one, Parks joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life. It was also the year he married Sally Alvis. After his CCC stint, he took up work as a railroad pullman porter. During this period, a pivotal moment occurred: he purchased his first camera. His burgeoning passion for photography soon led him to document life in Chicago's ghettos, a project that earned him the Julius Rosenwald Fellowship in 1941. This accolade propelled him to Washington, D.C., where he contributed to the Farm Security Administration and later worked as a correspondent for the Office of War Information.

Breaking into Writing

Parks ventured into writing with his first book, Flash Photography. Despite a challenging process that nearly dissuaded him from the craft, he persevered, moving on to write shorter pieces. His talents caught the attention of Life magazine, where he became a staff photographer from 1948 to 1972. His tenure there was marked by powerful photojournalistic pieces that covered crime, social issues, and the civil rights movement.

The Learning Tree and Beyond

1963 saw the release of his first novel, The Learning Tree, a fictional depiction of a black family's struggles during the 1920s. The protagonist, Newt Winger, navigates the challenges of adolescence and the harsh realities of racial segregation in Kansas. Despite its portrayal of brutality and bigotry, the novel is ultimately uplifting, celebrating family strength and individual resilience. Parks not only adapted the book into a screenplay but also directed the film and composed its musical score, marking a significant milestone in his career.

A Choice of Weapons

In 1966, Parks published A Choice of Weapons, an autobiographical work that reflected on his life from the age of sixteen until his arrival in New York in 1944. Though it revisits some events described in The Learning Tree, it does so with a more straightforward narrative style. This work was recognized with a Notable Book Award from the American Library Association.

A Multitalented Artist

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Parks continued to excel in photography while also exploring other artistic avenues. He published collections that combined his photography and poetry, such as Gordon Parks: A Poet and His Camera and Whispers of Intimate Things. His musical compositions included concertos, a symphony, and film scores, while his directorial ventures included successful films like Shaft and Shaft’s Big Score.

Later Works and Legacy

By 1979, Gordon Parks had been married three times and was a father to four children. His second volume of autobiography, To Smile in Autumn, chronicles his life from 1944 to 1978, a testament to his achievements and growth. In 1981, he released Shannon , a novel set in...