Gordon Parks
Gordon Parks
Photographer, musician, film director,writer (1912-2006)
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"At first I wasn't sure that I had the talent, but I did know I had a fear of failure and that fear compelled me to fight off anything that might abet it."
"At first I wasn't sure that I had the talent, but I did know I had a fear of failure and that fear compelled me to fight off anything that might abet it."
Gordon Parks emerged as a prominent photo journalist in the 1940s and continued through the 1970s to take photos that documented issues of African Americans, civil rights and poverty in the United States.
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| Photographed 1967 |
Parks' was also the first African American to direct major motion pictures and in addition he composed music and wrote poetry.
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| Photographed 1942 |
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| Photgraphed 1966 |
Connection to the Classroom
Parks lived in Minneapolis for some time where he self taught about photography! As well as being a local artist to teach students about he is also a perfect example for what photojournalism is. Parks' photos create conversation about the meaning and storytelling through photography and could serve as an intro to a photography unit or integration of the arts into a Civil Rights unit.
Parks lived in Minneapolis for some time where he self taught about photography! As well as being a local artist to teach students about he is also a perfect example for what photojournalism is. Parks' photos create conversation about the meaning and storytelling through photography and could serve as an intro to a photography unit or integration of the arts into a Civil Rights unit.