Racialized Identities Awareness Book Group: A Choice of Weapons

The Racialized Identities Awareness Book Group invites you to a powerful evening of reflection and dialogue as we dive into Gordon Parks’ seminal memoir, A Choice of Weapons.

Whether you are a long-time fan of Parks’ photography and filmmaking or are picking up his prose for the first time, this session promises to be a profound exploration of resilience, systemic struggle, and the transformative power of art.

Why This Book Matters
In A Choice of Weapons, Parks chronicles his journey through the United States during the mid-20th century. Facing a world defined by poverty and crushing racism, he famously decided that his "weapons" would not be violence, but a camera and a pen. It is a raw, honest look at how one individual navigated a landscape of inequality to become one of the most influential artists of his generation.

Event Details
We are offering a hybrid format to ensure everyone can join the conversation, regardless of where they are.

• Date: Friday, April 3rd
• Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
• Location: Room 321 OR Online (Link provided upon RSVP)

What to Expect
Our book group focuses on fostering a safe, intellectual, and empathetic space to discuss how race and identity shape our world. During this session, we will:

• Analyze Parks' philosophy of "creative resistance."
• Discuss the historical context of the 1940s and how it mirrors (or differs from) today's social climate.
• Share personal reflections on the "weapons" we choose in our own lives to combat injustice.

"I saw that the camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all sorts of social wrongs. I knew at that point I had to have a camera." — Gordon Parks

How to Participate
You don’t need to have finished the entire book to join—though we certainly encourage it! Come ready to listen, share, and learn from one another.

Contact Louise Titlow ([email protected]) for more info.

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