Customer Reviews

A Choice of Weapons

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Many years ago, when I was in the sixth grade and my father was on our local school board, The Learning Tree was controversial but required reading for high school English students in our district. The school board members were sent home with a copy of the book to evaluate whether it should be pulled from the curriculum. My father read it and I asked him if I could read it as well. His response was "certainly!" Needless to say, after reading The Learning Tree, I could hardly wait to find more of Gordon Parks'work and headed off the the library. Thankfully I found "A Choice of Weapons" on the shelf. Keep in mind I was a 12 year old white boy from suburban Minneapolis. Little did I know that my mother read every book I brought home (I suppose out of curiosity and to monitor what I was reading). At one point she asked me if I thought my current reading selection 'over my head'? I told her I thought it was the best book I had read...and I still think that today. Mr. Parks had many choices in his life and thankfully made the choices that got him to where he is today. Surely we ALL can learn from him, whatever our background. He should be an inspiration to everyone!

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.

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 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.

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.

I have admired Gordon for his photography, so much so I paid... for an autographed 1rst edition of "A Choice of Weapons". I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and when I did I didn't put it down except for food and work.

Gordon's life should be an inspiration to all Americans. His life was very hard and he overcame racism and bigottry throughtout his youth and early manhood and probably even to this day even though I hope not! Gordon was able to overcome major adversities ones that I doubt I could have survived. The book was so moving and real that I read portions to my sons and were they wide eyed during the recounting of Gordon's homeless time sleeping in streetcars as a school student. The description of room he finally did get which was so filthy and vile that none of us would allow our dogs in. I could go on forever but I don't want to give anymore away of an excellent book :-).

By the way if you are reading this review it's obvious that you should read the book!

I write this after hearing the news of his passing. This book gave hope to another youth who had lost his parents and was looking for a reason to become a man. The effect this book had on me cannot be overestimated. It was to set me on the path to becoming a photographer, and to pursue writing among other things. It was required reading for me when I was in High School, and the only book I read all the way through.

.... In my opinion,its imagery and descriptive scenarios will have you imagining as if it were you in the midst of the Great Migration. Concluding that "youth as it should be at seventeen was not for me, and that full manhood must come quickly if I was going to make it", Parks describes the journey in which he endures in order to make it through various seasons in the year. In trying to conquer the obstacles that each season brings, Parks learns to rely on his "choice of weapons" which allow him to see different walks of life. If you do choose to read Parks' autobiography, please don't forget to reflect upon what choice of weapons you have chosen in coping with life.

"A Choice of Weapons" is one of my favorite books. The compelling autobiographical story captures for us the experience of one of America's greatest treasures, Gordon Parks. His path from poverty and isolation to riches and notoriety is much more than just a story, it's an accounting of his life as an African American with rural roots in an America that was not welcoming nor supportive-- despite his amazing talent. He overcame that to become one of the world's best-known photographers, filmmakers, poets, and musicians. A fine person, strong with his mother's teaching, he brought his spirit to the world.

Mr. Parks was recently buried in his hometown (Fort Scott, KS), not long after coming home to a wonderful celebration of his life and work-- a celebration that is an annual affair as part of the Gordon Parks Center for Culture and Diversity that has been founded there. I met him during the first celebration in 2004, going into the old Liberty Theatre to view a retrospective of his films. He was charming and personable, and his eyes sparkled with happiness; the peace of forgiveness and homecoming emanated from him. He had struggled and triumphed, and the prairie wind was still fresh within him.

I encourage everyone to read this book and to explore the huge body of Gordon's work. You will be moved. You will be spurred to find the best of yourself...

A choice of weapons chronicles the development of Gordon Parks' decision to use photography to battle poverty, prejudice, and ignorance. His autobiographical account of the many turning points in his life, the choices he made - both good and shameful, could easily be the life many others. Maybe not all grow up in the same circumstances, but certainly all are faced with decisions along the way which lay the foundation for the future. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history, the arts, music, photography, the civil rights movement, or psychology. Well worth the investment of your time.