Gordon Parks Research Paper

Gordon Parks
Photographer • Filmmaker • Composer • Author
Gordon Parks was a premier American photographer. From fashion photographer to photojournalist, his work chronicles the face of 20th Century African-America. Parks, who was largely self-taught, career spanned several decades. Starting in the 1940’s until his death in at 93 on March 7, 2006, Parks works of music, photography, filming and writing still influence this present generation.
Born Gordon Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks on November 30th, 1912 in Fort Scott Kansas, Parks was the last of Sarah and Jackson Parks’ 15 children.
Elementary schools during Parks early education were segregated. The only high school located in the town was not. This was because the town could not afford …show more content…
Unfortunately, he did not have any Fashion photography experience whatsoever. However, he borrowed the proper equipment from a fellow photographer named Harvey Goldstein and did the photo shoot anyway. As a consequence, only one shot came out correct. The rest were, unfortunately, double exposures. Even with these less than stellar results the owner of the store was impressed and requested an another photo shoot. His fashion photos caught the eye of Marva Lewis. Marva was the wife of the championship boxer, Joe Louis. Her influence helped him get work as a fashion and society photographer in Chicago. Unfortunately, his fashion career did not do well. While in Chicago, the series on the poverty on Chicago’s south side won him a Rosenwald fellowship, which took him to Washington, D.C. According to Philanthropy Roundtable, Philanthropic giant Julius Rosenwald (president of Sears, Roebuck) started the Julius Rosenwald Fund in 1917. It devoted much of its philanthropic power to improving the welfare of black Americans. He joined the Farm Security Administration's photography unit and was mentored by Roy …show more content…
His tenure at Life magazine carried him around the world. His first assignment as to chronicle gang life in Harlem, New York. While at a police precinct he met a young gang leader named Red Jackson. Photographing Red Jackson, with his gang's members, during quiet peaceful moments, as well as of street fights, showed the wide range of peace versus war. The photographs Parks shot were published in a photo essay, "Harlem Gang Leader", in Life's November 1, 1948, issue. Eventually, Life’s editors would assign to crime stories across America. This assignment took him from New York to Chicago and even on to San Fransisco. One assignment had him cover the execution of Joe Hudson in the gas chamber.
In 1952, Life assigned Parks to Paris. This was a choice assignment. There he met Gloria Vanderbilt. Gloria Vanderbilt at the time was a painter and designer. He considered each other as their muse. They had a spiritual connection according to parks. Romance did cross Parks’ mind and marriage was thought about by him but due to the differences in race and family, complications could

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