Gordon Parks or Gordon Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks BY NATHANIEL BUSTRAAN

Intro  Gordon Parks was born in Kansas in  He was the youngest son Sarah and Jackson Parks.  His father was mainly an agricultural farmer but they did have a few animals on their faced.  Faced discrimination as a child, especially in school. The teachers frequently discouraged black students from seeking higher education.  Parks with other black students were not allowed to compete in sporting events.

Early life to the camera  At age 14 Park’s mother died.  From this point Parks lived with other family members before fending for himself and living on the streets  It was 11 years later, aged 25, when Parks purchased his first camera, after being inspired by photographs of migrant workers in a magazine.  His photographs caught the eye of Marva Louis wife of professional boxer Joe Louis. Who advised Park that he relocate to a larger city. I had bought what was to become my weapon against poverty and racism - Gordon Parks

Chicago  Parks relocated to Chicago  In Chicago Parks took photos in a wide variety ranging from fashion to portraits to low-income black neighborhoods.  Being self taught did not affect the quality of his photographs but instead he found a job as a photographer at the Farm Security Administration (FSA).  One of his most famous photographs was taken during his time with FSA (American Gothic).

After the FSA  The FSA disbanded in 1943 and Parks continued to take photos for the newly named Office of War Information and the Standard Oil Photography Project.  He also became a free lance photographer for Vogue.  Parks became the first African American to be hired as a photographer for LIFE magazine in Where he continued to work for 20 years.

 He continued to take photographs of poverty, injustice, racism. His photos show poverty in Harlem, Chicago, Paris, Rio de Janiero, San Juan and it can be said that he was globally recognized.  He also photographed rallies of Malcom X, speeches from Stokely Carmichael, and fights of Muhammad Ali.  His previous statement ‘I had bought what was to become my weapon against poverty and racism’ can be said to be true and successful.

More than Just the Camera  Parks’ career extends past the camera.  He had prominent careers as an author and director.

As a Director  He became the Hollywood’s first major black director. Directing the film the Learning Tree in  Other films: The World of Piri Thomas, The Learning Tree, Shaft, Shaft’s Big Score! The Super Cops, Leadbelly, 1976

As an author  His most famous writing was The Learning Tree which was written in  Other writings: A Choice of Weapons, NY: Harper and Row Gordon Parks: A Poet and His Camera, NY: Viking Press Born Black, Philadelphia: Lippincott Gordon Parks: In Love, Philadelphia: Lippincott Gordon Parks: Whispers of Intimate Things, NY: Viking Press. 1971

Death  Gordon Parks continued his passion until his death in  He died of Cancer in Manhattan but was buried in Fort Scott, Kansas

Citations  Fields of Vision: Gordon Parks Photography Book - LightBox of-gordon-parks/#ixzz2ulUW871h Fields of Vision: Gordon Parks Photography Book - LightBox of-gordon-parks/#ixzz2ulUW871h    washington-dc washington-dc 