Half Past Autumn - Gordon Parks

Part I 
On the day Gordon Parks was born, how did the doctor save Gordon's life?

young white doctor plunged him into a tub of icy water 
Where was Gordon born? (what state?)

Fort Scott, KansasWhat did Gordon's college adviser, Ms. McClintock tell him about college?

She told him that black students don't go to college because they were going to "all wind up as porters and maids regardless of their education."

How old was Gordon when his mother died?

15
Where did Gordon move after his mother died?

St. Paul, Minnesota
Did Gordon graduate from college?

Yes
How did Gordon begin his fashion photography career?

Marva Louis, the wife of Joe Louis, saw his photographs on display in a clothing store, and encouraged him to move to Chicago to start a fashion photography career.

What is a "double exposure?"

Repeated exposure of a photographic film to light

Who was boxer Joe Louis?

He was the heavyweight boxing champion from June 22, 1937 to March 1, 1949.

What instrument did Gordon play?

Piano
What was the purpose of the Farm Security Administration?

An effort by the United States during the Great Depression to combat American rural poverty.

When Roy Stryker hired Gordon for the FSA, what was Stryker's first assignment for Gordon in Washington, D.C.?

Go to a department store to buy a top coat, then eat at the restaurant across the street, and then watch a movie at a nearby theater.
Who was Ella Watson?

A pioneer of Wyoming
What was the inspiration for Grant Wood's American Gothic?

A member of the FSA cleaning crew in front of an American flag.
What did Gordon learn from Stryker about photography?

He lerned that he had to approach people and hold them more important than himself. 

Part II
When did the FSA shut down?
1943
After Gordon moved to New York, what magazine did he shoot for?
Vogue Magazine
Who was the picture editor of Life Magazine when Gordon walked into the Life Magazine office?
Wilson HicksWhat was the first major story Parks covered for Life Magazine?
Gang leader Red Jackson and the crime in America.Who were some of the artists that Gordon Parks mentioned influenced his work after he 
moved to the Paris Life Magazine bureau? 
Van Gogh and Picasso  How did Parks shoot fashion when he lived in France?
He worked with the movements of the models. Where was Parks' concerto performed?
In Venice Who was Parks' second wife? (Who was her father? What did she do?)
Elizabeth Campbell
How old was Flavio de Silva when Parks met him?
12
When did Parks meet Flavio?
1960
Where did Flavio live when Parks first met Flavio and his family?
In the slums of Rio de Janeiro
How is Gloria Vanderbilt? Who is her famous son? Who are her ancestors?
Gloria Vanderbilt is an author and an artist. Her famous son is Anderson Cooper. Her ancestors were railroad company owners. 
How did Vanderbilt describe their relationship?
Vanderbilt described their relationship as platonic; however they held a lot of love for each other.

Part III
What is your definition of successful?

Being successful is accomplishing a goal or a purpose in life, whether that be big or small.
What have you given up to become successful?

Times to relax and have fun.
What did Parks give up to become successful?

Parks gave up the chance to spend time with his family because he had to travel overseas so much.
Who was Genevieve Young's father?

Genevieve Young's father was
 How much was Parks advanced to write his first book (and eventual best-selling autobiography)?

$10,000
How much money did Elijah Muhammad offer Parks to do a story on The Nation of Islam?
$500,000
Why did Parks refuse the money?
He disagreed with the Nation of Islam's violent protests.
What was significant about the movie The Learning Tree?

It was the first Hollywood studio film to be directed by an African American.
What was significant about the character Shaft?

Shaft represented the African American's in the U.S. He inspired many African Americans to not be inhibited by racism.What was Gordon Parks' choice of weapons?

The pen and 35mm camera
What reason did Genevieve Young give for the divorce?

She said that the problems in his life set her own career back and wore her out.In 1984, Parks directed Solomon Northrup's Odyssey. What recent feature film told the same story?

Twelve Years a Slave
Who was Gordon Parks, jr?

Gordon Parks' Son. He was a screenwriter in Hollywood and died in a plane crash at the age of 44.
What is your favorite Gordon Parks photo?
My favorite Gordon Parks photo is the Frisco Railway Station.
What will you remember about Gordon Parks in ten years?

That Gordon Parks was not only an amazing photographer, but also a filmmaker, artist, author, and even a composer. He encompasses all forms of art.