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| Parks, Gordon, Self-Portrait, 1948. |
"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, and filmmaker who interacted with
many of the most prominent people of his era - from politicians and
artists to celebrities and athletes" (Gordon Parks Foundation, n.d.).
Parks was born in 1912 in Kansas to a poor family when segregation was at it's height. As a young child, he was always interested in photography, particularly when he saw images of migrant workers published in magazines. The first camera that he had was one purchased from a pawnshop, which he used to teach himself how to take photographs. Although he was not entirely ready to become a full time photographer, Parks started working for the Farm Security Administration (FSA), which was
then focusing on the country's social conditions. "Parks quickly developed
a style that would make him one of the most celebrated photographers of
his age, allowing him to break the color line in professional
photography while creating remarkably expressive images that
consistently explored the social and economic impact of racism" (Gordon Parks Foundation, n.d.).
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Parks, Gordon, (left) American Gothic, Washington, D.C. & (right) Neighborhood Children, Washington, D.C., 1942.
The FSA folded in 1943, although Parks continued with his photography as a freelancer. He continued to shoot work that was still related to humanitarian issues but also started shooting fashion work for different magazines.
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| Parks, Gordon, (left) Evening Wraps, New York, New York & (right) Matched Pair, Cap, and Gloves, Hoboken, New Jersey, 1956. |
"His 1948 photo essay on the life of a Harlem gang leader won him
widespread acclaim and a position as the first African American staff
photographer and writer for Life Magazine, then by far the most
prominent photojournalist publication in the world" (Gordon Parks Foundation, n.d.).
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Parks, Gordon, Harlem Rooftops, Harlem, New York, 1948
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| Parks, Gordon, (left) Red Jackson with Child, Harlem, New York, & (right) Red Jackson, Harlem, New York, 1948. |
Parks would remain
at Life for two decades, chronicling subjects related to racism and
poverty, as well as taking memorable pictures of celebrities and
politicians (including Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Adam Clayton Powell,
Jr., and Stokely Carmichael). His most famous images, such as Emerging Man (1952) and American Gothic
(1942) capture the essence of activism and humanitarianism in
mid-twentieth century America and have become iconic images, defining
their era for later generations. They also rallied support for the
burgeoning Civil Rights Movement, for which Parks himself was a tireless
advocate as well as a documentarian.
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| Parks, Gordon, Untitled, Washington D.C., 1963. |
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| Parks, Gordon, (left) Black Panther Headquarters, San Francisco, California & (right) Untitled, New York, (left) 1970 and (right) 1963. |
"Parks spent much of
the last three decades of his life expanding his style; he continued
working up until his death in 2006, winning numerous awards, including
the National Medal of Arts in 1988, and over fifty honorary doctorates.
He was also a noted composer and author, and in 1969, became the first
African American to write and direct a Hollywood feature film based on
his bestselling novel The Learning Tree. This was followed in 1971 by
the hugely successful motion picture Shaft. The core of his
accomplishment, however, remains his photography the scope, quality, and
enduring national significance of which is reflected throughout the
collection at The Gordon Parks Foundation" (Gordon Parks Foundation, n.d.).
"Artist: Biography." - The Gordon Parks Foundation. The Gordon Parks Foundation, n.d. Web. 11 July 2016.
