Kansas Reads: The Learning Tree --- Resolution

Kansas State Seal -- http://skyways.lib.ks.us/orgs/kcfb/ -- www.kcfb.info -- Kansas Center for the Book

SENATE RESOLUTION No. 1822

A RESOLUTION in memory of Gordon Parks.

WHEREAS, Gordon Parks, one of Kansas’ most famous sons, died March 7 in New York City at age 93. Born in Fort Scott as the youngest of 10 children, few would envision that he would become internationally recognized as one of America’s true Renaissance personalities; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Parks attended a segregated grade school and an integrated high school in Fort Scott, but a high school in which black students could not participate in school sports or attend school social events. His mother died when he was age 15, and he was sent to live with an aunt in Minnesota. Subsequently he married, had three children and worked as a railway dining car waiter and porter. His life might have continued uneventfully but for a fateful purchase of a Voitlander Brilliant camera for $7.50 in Seattle, Washington, in 1937; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Parks called his camera his weapon against poverty and racism. He became a photographer for the Farm Security Administration creating documentaries. His most famous photograph was shot in 1942 showing charwoman Ella Watson in front of an American flag which he entitled ‘‘American Gothic’’. In 1948 he was hired as a staff photographer for Life Magazine, and for the next 20 years he established himself as a premier photojournalist covering Harlem gangs, the Black Panthers and poverty in America and abroad; and

WHEREAS, His career expanded when he wrote a childhood memoir called ‘‘The Learning Tree’’. He later directed a movie version of this book to become the first African American to direct a major Hollywood production. He won an Emmy for his documentary, ‘‘Diary of a Harlem Family’’, and returned to Hollywood to direct the movie ‘‘Shaft’’ which would be the first of many black oriented movies. He wrote the musical score for a PBS special ballet ‘‘Martin’’ which was shown on Martin Luther King’s birthday in 1990; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Parks was named the Kansan of the Year in 1986, received the Kansas Arts Commission’s Distinguished Arts Award in 1988, was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1989 for his autobiographical film ‘‘Moments without Proper Names’’, was inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame in 2002 and received the University of Kansas’ William Allen White Foundation National Citation for journalistic merit in 2004; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Parks’ attitude toward Kansas changed over the years, and he declared in 1998 that he had made peace with Kansas. After spending most of his adult life away from his home state, he will be buried at Fort Scott on March 16:

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas: That we honor a great Kansan who used his unique skills to combat prejudice and for the enjoyment his work gave many people. We are proud to have his final resting place in Kansas soil.

Senate Resolution No. 1822 was sponsored by Senators Haley, Allen, Apple, Barnett, Barone, Betts, Brownlee, Bruce, Brungardt, Donovan, Emler, Francisco, Gilstrap, Goodwin, Hensley, Huelskamp, Jordan, Journey, Kelly, Lee, McGinn, Morris, O’Connor, Ostmeyer, Palmer, Petersen, Pine, Pyle, Reitz, D. Schmidt, V. Schmidt, Schodorf, Steineger, Taddiken, Teichman, Umbarger, Vratil, Wagle, Wilson and Wysong.

I hereby certify that the above RESOLUTION originated in the SENATE, and was
adopted by that body

The Kansas Senate adopted the resolution March 10, 2006 without a Roll Call vote.