gordon parks or gordon roger alexander buchanan parks by nathaniel bustraan
DESCRIPTION
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 ParksTRANSCRIPT
Gordon Parks or Gordon Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks
BY NATHANIEL BUSTRAAN
Intro
Gordon Parks was born in Kansas in 1912. 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 1948. 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 1969.
Other films:The World of Piri Thomas, 1968. The Learning Tree, 1969. Shaft , 1971. Shaft’s Big Score! 1972. The Super Cops , 1974. Leadbelly , 1976
As an author
His most famous writing was The Learning Tree which was written in 1963.
Other writings:A Choice of Weapons, NY: Harper and Row. 1966 Gordon Parks: A Poet and His Camera, NY: Viking Press. 1968 Born Black, Philadelphia: Lippincott. 1971 Gordon Parks: In Love, Philadelphia: Lippincott. 1971 Gordon Parks: Whispers of Intimate Things, NY: Viking Press. 1971
Death
Gordon Parks continued his passion until his death in 2006. He died of Cancer in Manhattan but was buried in Fort Scott,
Kansas
Citations
Fields of Vision: Gordon Parks Photography Book - LightBox http://lightbox.time.com/2011/09/28/fields-of-vision-the-early-work-of-gordon-parks/#ixzz2ulUW871h
http://www.biography.com/people/gordon-parks-37379 http://www.gordonparksfoundation.org/biography/ http://collection.corcoran.org/collection/work/american-gothic-wa
shington-dc http://www.gordonparksfoundation.org/biography/