Date of Birth: November 30, 1912
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Date of Death: March 7, 2006
Biography
Gordon Parks was an American photographer, musician, writer, and film director who became prominent in U.S. documentary photojournalism in the 1940s through the 1970s—particularly in issues of civil rights, poverty, and African Americans—and in glamour photography. Born into poverty and segregation in Fort Scott, Kansas, Parks was inspired to pursue photography when he saw images of migrant workers in a magazine. He bought his first camera, a Voigtländer Brillant, for $12.50 at a pawnshop. Parks worked for the Farm Security Administration (FSA), and his photographic work for the FSA, often focusing on the social and economic impact of the Great Depression, earned him widespread acclaim. After the FSA disbanded, Parks became the first African American staff photographer and writer for Life magazine, where he worked for two decades. He also directed several influential films such as “The Learning Tree” (1969), becoming Hollywood’s first major black director, and “Shaft” (1971), a groundbreaking film in the genre of Blaxploitation.
5 Interesting Facts about Gordon Parks
1. Gordon Parks was the first African American to produce and direct major motion pictures, including the acclaimed “Shaft” in 1971.
2. His photographic essay on a young Harlem gang leader won him a staff position as the first black photojournalist at Life magazine.
3. Parks was also a celebrated author, with his semi-autobiographical novel “The Learning Tree” being adapted into a film that he directed.
4. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1988.
5. Parks was a co-founder of Essence magazine, a publication for 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 picked up a camera because it was my choice of weapons against what I hated most about the universe: racism, intolerance, poverty.”
4. “Enthusiasm is the electricity of life. How do you get it? You act enthusiastic until you make it a habit.”
5. “The guy who takes a chance, who walks the line between the known and unknown, who is unafraid of failure, will succeed.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Gordon Parks’ net worth was estimated to be around $5 million.
Children
Gordon Parks had four children: Gordon Parks Jr., David Parks, Leslie Parks, and Toni Parks-Parsons.
Relevant Links
1. [Gordon Parks Foundation](https://www.gordonparksfoundation.org/
2. [Biography on Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gordon-Parks
3. [Gordon Parks on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0662981/
