Gordon Parks
GORDON PARKS
Gordon Parks was one of the seminal figures of twentieth century photography. A humanitarian with a deep commitment to social justice, he left behind a body of work that documents many of the most important aspects of American culture from the early 1940s up until his death in 2006, with a focus on race relations, poverty, Civil Rights, and urban life. In addition, Parks was also a celebrated composer, author, musician and filmmaker who interacted with many of the most prominent people of his era—from politicians and artists to celebrities and athletes. [1]
Parks became the first black photographer to work at magazines like Life and Vogue, and the first black to work for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration. [4]
In 1960s, he helped break racial barriers in Hollywood as the first black director for a major studio. He co-produced, directed, wrote the screenplay, and composed the musical score for the film based on his 1963 novel, The Learning Tree. The film was later placed on the National Film Register by the Library of Congress.
Parks was born in Fort Scott, Kansas on November 30, 1912, the son of Sarah Ross Parks and Andrew Jackson Parks. His father was a farmer who grew corn, beets, turnips, potatoes, collard greens, and tomatoes. They also had a few ducks, chickens, and hogs. He attended a segregated elementary school. The town was too small to afford a separate high school that would facilitate segregation of the secondary school social activities, and they were discouraged from developing any aspirations for higher education. Parks related in a documentary on his life that his teacher told him that his desire to go to college would be a waste of money. When he was eleven years old, three white boys threw him into the Marmaton River, knowing he couldn’t swim. He had the presence of mind to duck underwater so they wouldn’t see him make it to land. When his mother died, as he recalled in Voices in the
Gordon Parks was one of the seminal figures of twentieth century photography. A humanitarian with a deep commitment to social justice, he left behind a body of work that documents many of the most important aspects of American culture from the early 1940s up until his death in 2006, with a focus on race relations, poverty, Civil Rights, and urban life. In addition, Parks was also a celebrated composer, author, musician and filmmaker who interacted with many of the most prominent people of his era—from politicians and artists to celebrities and athletes. [1]
Parks became the first black photographer to work at magazines like Life and Vogue, and the first black to work for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration. [4]
In 1960s, he helped break racial barriers in Hollywood as the first black director for a major studio. He co-produced, directed, wrote the screenplay, and composed the musical score for the film based on his 1963 novel, The Learning Tree. The film was later placed on the National Film Register by the Library of Congress.
Parks was born in Fort Scott, Kansas on November 30, 1912, the son of Sarah Ross Parks and Andrew Jackson Parks. His father was a farmer who grew corn, beets, turnips, potatoes, collard greens, and tomatoes. They also had a few ducks, chickens, and hogs. He attended a segregated elementary school. The town was too small to afford a separate high school that would facilitate segregation of the secondary school social activities, and they were discouraged from developing any aspirations for higher education. Parks related in a documentary on his life that his teacher told him that his desire to go to college would be a waste of money. When he was eleven years old, three white boys threw him into the Marmaton River, knowing he couldn’t swim. He had the presence of mind to duck underwater so they wouldn’t see him make it to land. When his mother died, as he recalled in Voices in the
References: 1. www.gordonparksfoundation.org 2. Parks, 1990 3. Gordon Park, bio – Gale Group 4. Gordon Parks Biography (1912) – Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2010-10-06. 5. Contemporary Black Biography, Volume I, Michael L. LaBlank, Editor. ISBN-0-8103-5546-9 6. Gordon Parks, Voices in the Mirror, An Autobiography. ISBN-0-385-266987>2295 7. Gordon Parks, A Poet and His Camera