Photo Magazines
Gordon Parks was one of the seminal figures of twentieth century
photography. A humanitarian with a deep commitment to social justice, he
left behind a body of work that documents many of the most important
aspects of American culture from the early 1940s up until his death in
2006, with a focus on race relations, poverty, Civil Rights, and urban
life. In addition, Parks was also a celebrated composer, author, and
filmmaker who interacted with many of the most prominent people of his
era—from politicians and artists to celebrities and athletes.
Born into poverty and segregation in Kansas in 1912, Parks was drawn to
photography as a young man when he saw images of migrant workers
published in a magazine. After buying a camera at a pawnshop, he taught
himself how to use it and despite his lack of professional training, he
found employment with the Farm Security Administration (F.S.A.), which
was then chronicling the nation’s social conditions. Parks quickly
developed a style that would make him one of the most celebrated
photographers of his age, allowing him to break the color line in
professional photography while creating remarkably expressive images
that consistently explored the social and economic impact of racism.
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