Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black & White America

by Carole Boston Weatherford

“But his white teacher tells her all-black class, You’ll all wind up porters and waiters. What did she know?”

This book tells the story of Gordon Parks and his determination to overcome the obstacles racismThe belief that a person's personality, behavior, & values is based solely upon their race. It is also the belief that one group of people are better than another. More puts in his path. He grows up to be the first Black photographer to be featured in major publications as well as the first Black director in Hollywood. He uses his platform to shine a light on segregationSeparating one group of people from another; often based upon race. Segregation happens when a society views one group of people as better than another. The goal is to keep the "lesser" people away from the "superior" group. This is often done by treating the other group poorly and denying them basic civil rights. More and how people are being treated differently based solely on the color of their skin.

Story Read Aloud

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Talk About It

• Can you imagine a teacher telling you the limits of what you can grow up to achieve based only on looking at the color of your skin? How do you think Gordon felt?
• Talk with your child about the teacher’s thought being a form of prejudiceCreating ideas about someone we do not know based upon something like skin color or gender. Prejudices are generally negative. More and her words showing an example of racismThe belief that a person's personality, behavior, & values is based solely upon their race. It is also the belief that one group of people are better than another. More in action. Explain why this behavior is not okay, including emphasizing the impact it can have on a child’s confidence and self-esteem.
• Ask your child what they think went through Gordon’s mind in teaching himself the skills needed to become a professional photographer. Reflect on how inspiring it is that he ignored his teacher (and others who likely discounted his capabilities). Talk about what you can learn from his determination.
• Can you imagine how hard it would be if you were repeatedly told the limits of what you can do and rarely given encouragement by your teachers? Should anyone be treated that way? (This is an opportunity to talk about how there are still too many schools and classrooms in America where Black children (and other people of color) are treated differently, including being judged more negatively for their behavior. We also haven’t reached the point where all of our schools provide the same quality of education.)
• When Gordon arrives in DC, he notices many differences in how Black people live and are treated like financial challenges, segregationSeparating one group of people from another; often based upon race. Segregation happens when a society views one group of people as better than another. The goal is to keep the "lesser" people away from the "superior" group. This is often done by treating the other group poorly and denying them basic civil rights. More, etc. Why do you think these observations make him mad? How does it make you feel to learn about these things?
• Gordon turned his anger in to determination and action (like he did as a child). What do you think kept him motivated?
• As the story tells us about Ella Watson, what do you first notice about the way she spends her day? Help your child if necessary by pointing out that she works and loves being with her family similar to a day in the life of your family. Make the connection that she lives a beautiful life and should be treated equally to any White person.
• Gordon broke racial boundaries as a photographer, writer, director, etc. With all he accomplished, why do you think we’ve never heard of him? Talk about how most school books and the things we hear and read about are created by White people. Talk about how it makes you feel to have missed out on learning about so many diverse, talented people that shaped our history. Ask your child what they think about it.
• What do you notice about the illustration of American Gothic? What do you think the author meant by saying that Ella Watson was holding the “hopes of her grandchildren?”
• What do you think about the fact that, even today, people are denied certain learning, economic, and career opportunities because of their skin color? Do you think it’s fair that White people have an easier time even if they may not be more qualified or capable?

Explore More

• Pretend you are creating a new school. Think about what you would do to make sure it has a diverse set of students and teachers. What would you name your school? What would your school motto be? What kinds of things would you make sure to include in your lessons that haven’t always been part of learning?
• Do a google search for other famous Black photographers and look at the images they captured. What do you notice? What stories do they tell us about life in different time periods in America?
• Grab a camera and go for a walk with the goal of capturing all of the shades of beauty that can be found in nature. Make your goal to capture not only as many colors as you can but as many shades of each color. Think about how you felt each time you found another shade of blue or green. That same excitement and beauty comes from living in a world where the people are also diverse.
• Read an article about the photograph American Gothic and see what else you can learn.
• Write a letter or draw a picture telling Ella Watson about your hopes for her grandchildren and the generations that have come since.