A Choice of Weapons is the autobiography of Gordon Parks’ early life. It is not a rosy look back at a beautiful life, but a gut-wrenching account of discrimination and bigotry. Parks recalls homelessness, hunger and the fight just to survive, while slowly building a path towards education and a life with purpose.
It can be a hard read. The book exposes the open hatred of the period and serves as a reminder of how cruel people can be. This is not simply the autobiography of a photographer. It is the story of a fighter. Someone forced to grow up quickly and learn how to survive.
Parks is such a strong writer that it is easy to forget you are reading a lived experience. He shows readers what it meant to grow up black and poor in America. With examples of racism that are difficult to absorb, it feels strange to say I enjoyed this book, but I did. It is an eye-opening story and a powerful reminder that the weapons we choose to fight injustice matter.