--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I picked up a camera because it was my…" description: "\"I picked up a camera because it was my choice of weapons against what I hated most about the universe: racism, intolerance, poverty. I could have just ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f26/gordon-parks-14120_beautiful_i-picked-up-a-camera-because-it-was-my-c_2214271.jpg" --- # I picked up a camera because it was my choice of weapons… ![“I picked up a camera because it was my choice of weapons against what I hated most about the universe: racism, intolerance, poverty. I could have just as easily picked up a knife or a gun, like many of my childhood friends did... most of whom were murdered or put in prison... but I chose not to go…” quote by Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f26/gordon-parks-14120_beautiful_i-picked-up-a-camera-because-it-was-my-c_2214271.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f26/gordon-parks-14120_beautiful_i-picked-up-a-camera-because-it-was-my-c_2214271.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f26/gordon-parks-14120_beautiful_i-picked-up-a-camera-because-it-was-my-c_2214271.jpg) > “I picked up a camera because it was my choice of weapons against what I hated most about the universe: racism, intolerance, poverty. I could have just as easily picked up a knife or a gun, like many of my childhood friends did... most of whom were murdered or put in prison... but I chose not to go that way. I felt that I could somehow subdue these evils by doing something beautiful that people recognize me by, and thus make a whole different life for myself, which has proved to be so.” [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He chose photography over violence to combat racism, intolerance, and poverty, believing beauty can challenge evil. **In simple terms:** He used a camera instead of weapons to fight injustice. Key Takeaway Use art to confront social . Themes justice art nonviolence identity resilience Mood determined hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - documentary photography - community projects - educational workshops - advocacy campaigns Key Concepts visual storytelling social activism personal agency Questions to Reflect On - How can creative work inspire societal change? - What responsibilities come with artistic influence? A Different Perspective Art may not change systemic structures alone; requires collective action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Childhood friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood-friend/) [Childhood Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood-friends/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Intolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Something beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something-beautiful/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [I picked up a camera because it was my choice of weapons against what I hated most about the universe: racism, intolerance, poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/i-picked-up-a-camera-because-it-was-my-choice-of-weapons-against-what-2/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [I don't think if you asked any of my childhood friends they would say that I had a weird childhood; they might say there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynch/i-don-t-think-if-you-asked-any-of-my-childhood-friends-they-would-say/) [Jennifer Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynch/) > [I like to keep people around me like the guys I have on the road with me, three of them were childhood friends of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-reid/i-like-to-keep-people-around-me-like-the-guys-i-have-on-the-road-with/) [Johnny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-reid/) > [I'm 40 years old now and I have my friends from five years old up to 40, over 20 lifelong friends I have. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-vlachos/i-m-40-years-old-now-and-i-have-my-friends-from-five-years-old-up-to/) Tony Vlachos > [All of my friends, I consider childhood friends because we met when I was probably 13, and I'm still friends with them today. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-bilson/all-of-my-friends-i-consider-childhood-friends-because-we-met-when-i/) [Rachel Bilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-bilson/) > [There's something about childhood friends that you just can't replace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-whelchel/there-s-something-about-childhood-friends-that-you-just-can-t-replace/) [Lisa Whelchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-whelchel/) > [When I was 11, I moved to the United States with my two brothers and my mom. We moved to northern New York, up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/when-i-was-11-i-moved-to-the-united-states-with-my-two-brothers-and/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [“Dear S, I guess it's too late now. You're off doing what you always told me you've dreamed of doing, and I'm here doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-trunko/dear-s-i-guess-it-s-too-late-now-you-re-off-doing-what-you-always/) [Emily Trunko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-trunko/) > [I speak to my childhood friends almost every day over the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandra-ambrosio/i-speak-to-my-childhood-friends-almost-every-day-over-the-internet/) [Alessandra Ambrosio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandra-ambrosio/) > [Photography was my choice of weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/photography-was-my-choice-of-weapons/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [“I picked up the knife to cut the melon, and then smashed it with my fist instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-picked-up-the-knife-to-cut-the-melon-and-then-smashed-it-with-my/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Jonas, stop doing that!" "What? Helping you?" He picked up the knife she'd dropped and handed it to her. "No, popping out of thin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-meyers/jonas-stop-doing-that-what-helping-you-he-picked-up-the-knife-she-d/) [J Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-meyers/) > [“I knew... I knew I was in love with you that moment I picked up the knife to kill Amarantha”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-knew-i-knew-i-was-in-love-with-you-that-moment-i-picked-up-the/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [Given a choice of weapons with you sir, I should choose grammar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halliwell-hobbes/given-a-choice-of-weapons-with-you-sir-i-should-choose-grammar/) Halliwell Hobbes > [“When the platoon got going, he’d act as the armorer. He offered us a choice of weapons. A Winchester Model 70, 30-06 was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-kugler/when-the-platoon-got-going-he-d-act-as-the-armorer-he-offered-us-a/) [Ed Kugler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-kugler/) ## More by Gordon Parks > [You know, the camera is not meant just to show misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/you-know-the-camera-is-not-meant-just-to-show-misery/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [The camera could be a very powerful instrument against discrimination, against poverty, against racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/the-camera-could-be-a-very-powerful-instrument-against-discrimination/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [I bought my first camera in Seattle, Washington. Only paid about seven dollars and fifty cents for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/i-bought-my-first-camera-in-seattle-washington-only-paid-about-seven/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [But I do feel a little teeny right now that I'm just about ready to start, and winter is entering. Half past autumn has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/but-i-do-feel-a-little-teeny-right-now-that-i-m-just-about-ready-to/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [I was born to a black childhood of confusion and poverty. The memory of that beginning influences my work today, It is impossible now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/i-was-born-to-a-black-childhood-of-confusion-and-poverty-the-memory/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [I had known poverty firsthand, but there I learned how to fight its evil - along with the evil of racism - with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/i-had-known-poverty-firsthand-but-there-i-learned-how-to-fight-its/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [Many times I wondered whether my achievement was worth the loneliness I experienced, but now I realize the price was small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/many-times-i-wondered-whether-my-achievement-was-worth-the-loneliness/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [I do find a certain fascination with the unpredictable. The transitory years we wade through are what they are- what we make of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/i-do-find-a-certain-fascination-with-the-unpredictable-the-transitory/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [At first I wasn't sure that I had the talent, but I did know I had a fear of failure, and that fear compelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/at-first-i-wasn-t-sure-that-i-had-the-talent-but-i-did-know-i-had-a/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [The man at Kodak told me the shots were very good and if I kept it up, they would give me an exhibition. Later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/the-man-at-kodak-told-me-the-shots-were-very-good-and-if-i-kept-it-up/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [Nothing came easy. I was just born with a need to explore every part of my mind. And with long searching and hard work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/nothing-came-easy-i-was-just-born-with-a-need-to-explore-every-part/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [Washington, D.C. in 1942 was not the easiest place in the world for a Negro to get along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/washington-d-c-in-1942-was-not-the-easiest-place-in-the-world-for-a/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [I suffered evils, but without allowing them to rob me of the freedom to expand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/i-suffered-evils-but-without-allowing-them-to-rob-me-of-the-freedom/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [I have never known anyone important enough to consume me in anger beyond a few hours. Better to depart their existence before they poison…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/i-have-never-known-anyone-important-enough-to-consume-me-in-anger/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) > [Enthusiasm is the electricity of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-parks/enthusiasm-is-the-electricity-of-life/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) [Explore all 48 Gordon Parks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-parks/) ## More Beautiful quotes > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. 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Call her ugly once, and she will never forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tumblr/call-her-beautiful-a-million-times-and-she-won-t-believe-you-call-her/) Tumblr > [You will never know just how beautiful you are to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-never-know-just-how-beautiful-you-are-to-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You felt a deep sorrow, the kind of melancholy you feel when you're in a beautiful place and the sun is going down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thrity-umrigar/you-felt-a-deep-sorrow-the-kind-of-melancholy-you-feel-when-you-re-in/) [Thrity Umrigar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thrity-umrigar/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. 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