How To Write An Essay On The Learning Tree By Gordon Parks

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The novel, The Learning Tree, by Gordon Parks is a semi-autobiography that draws upon experiences from his life. Although the characters are fictitious, the experiences they have in the book can be linked to those of African-Americans in rural Kansas during the 1920’s and the 1930’s. Gordon Parks focused his book on Newt Winger and his family and all of the racial prejudices they had to deal with while growing up in Kansas. There are many things that are important to Newt but nothing is more important to him and his family than education. On Newt’s journey to complete his education, he has to face and overcome several obstacles on his way. In the beginning of the book, education is not touched in detail but to say that Newt’s siblings attended high school and that white and black children attend separate churches and primary schools (Parks, pg. 26). The first obstacle that Newt has to face comes after he mentions his love for music but that he is told that he will not even have a chance because his white teacher believes she is wasting her time with teaching the black students. Newt’s sister Prissy came home one day and told him that “the white teachers at high …show more content…

As furious as she was upon hearing this, she was more determined than ever to make sure Newt received the best education. And in order for him to do so, Sarah brought together black parents and teachers to create the Negro Parent-Teacher Association of Cherokee Flats (pg. 102). Sarah then led the group to present their case to the mayor and as a result a heated argument erupted between the Negro Parent-Teacher Association and the white parents and teachers. After taking time to determine his answer, the mayor returned to the meeting and announced that he agreed with Sarah and would allow the black kids to take any class in the high school (pg.

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