The Learning Tree (1969) | Gordon Parks’ Groundbreaking Film | Saturday Showcase
This Saturday on BlackTreeTV, we honor a landmark in American cinema with our featured film: The Learning Tree (1969), written, produced, and directed by the legendary Gordon Parks — the first African American filmmaker to direct a major Hollywood studio film. Based on his own semi-autobiographical novel, The Learning Tree tells the story of Newt Winger, a Black teenager growing up in 1920s Kansas. As Newt navigates racism, justice, young love, and family responsibility, he must choose between revenge and morality — ultimately learning hard lessons that shape the man he’s becoming. This coming-of-age journey is both deeply personal and [See More…]
