Gordon Parks

Date of Birth: November 30, 1912

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: March 7, 2006

Biography

Gordon Parks was a pioneering American photographer, musician, writer, and film director, noted for his work in documenting the African American experience and civil rights issues through a powerful and evocative lens. Born into a poor family in Fort Scott, Kansas, Parks faced significant racial and economic challenges from an early age. Despite these hardships, he taught himself photography and became the first African American staff photographer for Life magazine, where he worked for two decades. His work at Life magazine covered a wide range of subjects, from fashion to social issues, and his poignant photo essays, such as “The Restraints: Open and Hidden” and “Harlem Gang Leader,” are considered groundbreaking. Parks also directed films, including the seminal “Shaft” (1971), which became a major hit and an iconic film in the Blaxploitation genre. Parks’ artistry extended beyond still photography to music and writing. He composed music, including a ballet titled “Martin,” dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr., and authored several books, both fiction and non-fiction, reflecting his multifaceted talents and deep commitment to social justice.

5 Interesting Facts about Gordon Parks

1. Gordon Parks was the first African American to produce and direct major motion pictures, including the popular 1971 film “Shaft.”

2. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan.

3. Parks’ first camera was a Voigtländer Brilliant, which he purchased for $12.50 at a pawnshop.

4. His autobiography, “A Choice of Weapons,” details his rise from poverty and his use of the camera as a tool for social change.

5. Parks was a co-founder of Essence magazine, a publication aimed at African American women.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gordon Parks

1. “I saw that the camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all sorts of social wrongs. I knew at that point I had to have a camera.”

2. “The subject matter is so much more important than the photographer.”

3. “I suffered evils, but without allowing them to rob me of the freedom to expand.”

4. “Enthusiasm is the electricity of life. How do you get it? You act enthusiastic until you make it a habit.”

5. “I chose my camera as a weapon against all the things I dislike about America—poverty, racism, discrimination.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Gordon Parks achieved an estimated net worth of around $5 million.

Children

Gordon Parks had four children: Gordon Parks Jr., Toni Parks-Parsons, David Parks, and Leslie Parks. Gordon Parks Jr., following in his father’s footsteps, became a filmmaker and directed the successful film “Super Fly” (1972).