TechIntersect

There was a man called Gordon Parks, who was born and raised in Kansas. Although he came from humble beginnings, he went on to achieve greatness. While he was famous around the world, I am ashamed to admit that somehow I managed to live most of my life in Kansas and never become aware of Gordon Parks and his achievements until very recently.

The more I learn about Gordon Parks, the more I hope to be like him. Mr. Parks could do it all. Professionally, he started out as a fashion photographer and later moved into photojournalism documenting the civil rights movement. His work frequently graced the cover of Vogue and Life magazines.

He wrote an autobiography of his boyhood in Kansas and also directed a major motion picture telling that same story. It is called “The Learning Tree“. The book was widely promoted by the Kansas Library System last year.

He directed the original 1970’s version of the movie “Shaft” starring Richard Roundtree. The film received an Oscar for Isaac Hayes’ theme music, and is occasionally aired on Turner Classic Movies. It was groundbreaking because it featured a black hero detective and it sparked a new genre of films dubbed “blaxploitation.” Even on into the 1980’s and 1990’s, most directors wanting to cast a black hero character often would cast a white actor as a partner just to play it safe, but Parks was a pioneer.

Gordon Parks wrote music, he wrote poetry, he wrote books, he made photographs, he could do it all and do it well. I first learned of Parks when I happened across his final book of poetry and photographs “Eyes with Winged Thoughts” in the K-State at Salina library in early 2006. I was immediately drawn to his work, and I especially recall a poem he wrote about the bag of seed wheat his father planted in the field. The little seeds were his “friends” that he watched grow from tiny green sprouts into proud golden stalks of grain until his uncaring farmer father came along and cruelly slashed their little heads off!

Parks grew up in Fort Scott, Kansas in the 1920’s when people of color were not treated equally. He attributed his success in life to his mother who challenged him not to let those who discriminated against him to stop him from reaching his goals. She believed that anything white boys could do, Gordon could do too and he lived his life proving her right. In spite of ongoing adversity, Gordon Parks beat the odds stacked against him time and again. He was also a fantastic example of how people can remain useful and productive throughout their entire lives, working right up to his death at age 93.

Take some time and learn more about one of Kansas’ greatest treasures: Gordon Parks. You will be inspired.

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