Gordon Parks

Gordon Parks: No Excuses is the award-winning biography of the acclaimed photographer by Ann Parr.

A Carter G. Woodson Honor Book
A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
Recipient of the Storytelling World Award Honor Title

Gordon Parks overcame the obstacles of poverty and racism and never gave up on his dreams. He attributes his drive for excellence to his mother who told him, “What a white boy can do, you can too—and no excuses.” The first black photographer for Life magazine, Gordon Parks spent over two decades as a professional photographer, and his resume grew to include novelist, musician, artist, and poet.

After reading a story about Gordon Parks in a Kansas newspaper, Ann Parr immediately set out to learn more about his life. She first interviewed the mayor of Fort Scott, Kansas, whose efforts healed wounds between Gordon Parks and his hometown, and then many of Parks’ friends. But it was after interviewing Parks in person that she knew she had a success story that would inspire generations.

Featuring forty-one vibrant black and white photographs and illustrations, this book features details of Gordon Parks’ life and his work, and includes his photographs of the poor, stylish Parisian models, and the Civil Rights movement.

“Gordon Parks is remarkable: a Renaissance man who has mastered photography, filmmaking, and writing. The story of his life is certainly an incredible one. Transcending voyeurism, Parks’ photographs reveal vulnerabilities of the human experience with grace and compassion. . . . Gordon Parks is an inspiration to us all.” —Booklist