Gordon Parks
— Gordon Parks—
Gordon Parks (1912–2006) was a visionary American photographer, filmmaker, composer, and author whose work reshaped the landscape of American visual culture. Born in Fort Scott, Kansas, Parks rose from poverty to become the first Black staff photographer at LIFE magazine, where he produced some of the most influential photo essays of the era. His deeply empathetic lens brought national attention to issues of civil rights, segregation, and urban poverty.
Parks is also celebrated for his iconic 1942 photograph “American Gothic”, his lyrical photographic series on Harlem gangs and the Fontanelle family, and his sensitive portraits of artists, activists, and celebrities. Beyond photography, Parks made history as the first major African American Hollywood director, helming films such as “The Learning Tree” (1969) and “Shaft” (1971). His legacy endures as one of the most important and multifaceted creative voices of the 20th century.
