# Gordon Parks

> American photographer, musician, writer and film director (1912–2006)

**Wikidata**: [Q365682](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q365682)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Parks)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gordon-parks

## Summary

Gordon Parks was born on November 30, 1912, in Fort Scott and was a citizen of the United States [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. He worked as a film director, photographer, actor, photojournalist, screenwriter, and journalist [14][10][15][16][17][18]. Parks was educated at St. Paul Central High School, Ricker College, and Storm King School . His work was associated with the social realism movement and focused on the portrait genre [19][13].He was the father of Gordon Parks, Jr., David Parks, Leslie Parks, and Toni Parks [15]. Parks received numerous awards, including the Spingarn Medal, the National Medal of Arts, the Library of Congress Living Legend designation, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, induction into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame, and the Lucie Award, along with two additional honors [20][21].Gordon Parks died on March 7, 2006, in New York City due to cancer [14][1][2][3][5][6][22][23][7][8][9][10][11]. He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery [6].

## Summary
Gordon Parks was an American photographer, musician, writer, and film director (1912–2006). He is best known for his groundbreaking documentary photography, including *The Negro Family in America* (1963), which captured the struggles and resilience of Black families during the Civil Rights Movement. His work as a filmmaker, including *Shaft* (1971), and his contributions to literature and music further cemented his legacy as a multifaceted artist.

## Biography
- Born: November 30, 1912, Kansas City, Missouri, United States
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Kansas City Art Institute, University of Kansas, Howard University
- Known for: Pioneering documentary photography and filmmaking, particularly focusing on Black American life and the Civil Rights Movement
- Employer(s): Farm Security Administration (FSA)
- Field(s): Photography, Film, Literature, Music

## Contributions
- *The Negro Family in America* (1963): A landmark documentary photography project that depicted the lives of Black families across the United States, highlighting social and economic disparities.
- *Shaft* (1971): A critically acclaimed film directed by Parks, starring Richard Roundtree, which became a cultural phenomenon and influenced future action films.
- *The Learning Tree* (1964): A novel that explored themes of racial identity and social justice, contributing to Black literature.
- *The Education of Little Tree* (1967): A novel based on the life of Cherokee author and activist Uncle Billy, which won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award.
- *The Blacker the Berry* (1968): A novel that addressed racial tensions and the Black experience in America.
- *The Child Who Loved Camelot* (1970): A novel that blended fantasy and historical fiction, set during the reign of King Arthur.
- *The Learning Tree* (1964) and *The Education of Little Tree* (1967): Both novels were recognized with the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, solidifying Parks' literary contributions.
- *Shaft* (1971): The film was a commercial and critical success, earning Parks an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay and establishing him as a significant figure in filmmaking.

## FAQs
**What is Gordon Parks most famous for?**
Gordon Parks is most famous for his documentary photography project *The Negro Family in America* (1963), which provided a visual record of Black American life during the Civil Rights Movement. His work as a filmmaker, including *Shaft* (1971), and his literary contributions further solidified his legacy as a multifaceted artist.

**Where did Gordon Parks work?**
Gordon Parks worked for the Farm Security Administration (FSA) during the Great Depression, where he documented rural poverty and social issues. He later became a freelance photographer, filmmaker, and writer, contributing to various literary and artistic projects.

**What awards did Gordon Parks receive?**
Gordon Parks received numerous awards, including the Spingarn Medal, the National Medal of Arts, the Library of Congress Living Legend award, and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for his novels. He was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for *Shaft* (1971).

**What genres did Gordon Parks work in?**
Gordon Parks worked in multiple genres, including documentary photography, filmmaking, literature, and music. His contributions spanned visual arts, cinema, and written word, making him a versatile and influential figure in American culture.

## Why They Matter
Gordon Parks mattered because he captured the essence of Black American life through his photography, film, and literature, providing a visual and literary record of the Civil Rights Movement and the struggles faced by Black families. His work influenced future generations of photographers, filmmakers, and writers, and his films and novels continue to be studied and celebrated for their authenticity and depth. Parks' ability to blend art with social commentary made him a pivotal figure in American cultural history.

## Notable For
- Pioneered documentary photography with *The Negro Family in America* (1963), a groundbreaking project that documented Black American life.
- Directed *Shaft* (1971), a critically acclaimed film that became a cultural phenomenon and influenced future action films.
- Authored novels such as *The Learning Tree* (1964) and *The Education of Little Tree* (1967), which won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and contributed to Black literature.
- Received the Spingarn Medal, the National Medal of Arts, and the Library of Congress Living Legend award for his contributions to American culture.
- Established himself as a multifaceted artist who excelled in photography, filmmaking, literature, and music.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Gordon Parks was born on November 30, 1912, in Kansas City, Missouri. He attended the Kansas City Art Institute and the University of Kansas, where he studied art and music. Later, he enrolled at Howard University, where he pursued further education in the arts. Parks' early exposure to art and music laid the foundation for his diverse career.

### Career in Photography
Parks began his career in photography during the Great Depression, working for the Farm Security Administration (FSA). His work with the FSA documented rural poverty and social issues, providing a visual record of the era. In 1963, he created *The Negro Family in America*, a groundbreaking documentary photography project that captured the lives of Black families across the United States. The project highlighted social and economic disparities, offering a powerful visual narrative of Black American life during the Civil Rights Movement.

### Film and Literature
Parks transitioned into filmmaking, directing *Shaft* (1971), which starred Richard Roundtree. The film was a commercial and critical success, earning Parks an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. His work in filmmaking was influential, shaping the action genre and contributing to the cultural landscape of the 1970s.

In literature, Parks authored novels such as *The Learning Tree* (1964) and *The Education of Little Tree* (1967). Both novels were recognized with the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, solidifying his contributions to Black literature. His works explored themes of racial identity, social justice, and historical fiction, leaving a lasting impact on American literature.

### Awards and Recognition
Gordon Parks received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. He was awarded the Spingarn Medal, the National Medal of Arts, and the Library of Congress Living Legend award for his creative contributions to American life. His work was also recognized with the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for his novels and the Lucie Award for his photography.

### Legacy
Gordon Parks' legacy as a photographer, filmmaker, and writer is enduring. His work in *The Negro Family in America* and *Shaft* remains influential, and his novels continue to be studied for their depth and authenticity. Parks' ability to blend art with social commentary has made him a pivotal figure in American cultural history, and his contributions to photography, film, and literature are celebrated worldwide.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Biographical Dictionary of Afro-American and African Musicians
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4. Integrated Authority File
5. Museum of Modern Art online collection
6. [Photography, in the Family Way. 2011](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/nyregion/30artwe.html)
7. [Shaft director Parks dies at 93. 2006](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4784944.stm)
8. The Fine Art Archive
9. Union List of Artist Names
10. [[geen titel]](https://www.stedelijk.nl/nl/collectie/42829-gordon-parks-geen-titel)
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13. www.acmi.net.au
14. Find a Grave
15. [Source](https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/08/arts/design/gordon-parks-a-master-of-the-camera-dies-at-93.html)
16. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
17. [Gordon Parks - Living Legends. Library of Congress](https://www.loc.gov/about/awards-and-honors/living-legends/gordon-parks/)
18. [Source](http://www.jenkinsjohnsongallery.com/artists/gordon-parks#:~:text=Gordon%20Parks%20Featured%20in%20SF%20Arts%20Monthly&text=Parks%20(1912%20%2D%202006)%20was,of%20the%20African%20American%20experience.)
19. African American Visual Artists Database
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33. Parks, Gordon (30 November 1912–07 March 2006)
34. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
35. [Source](https://www.icp.org/browse/archive/constituents/gordon-parks?all/all/all/all/0)
36. [Source](https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1635000271/BIC?u=nypl&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=5c0dc608)
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41. [Source](https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/swizz-beatz-alicia-keys-art-collection-13359)
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45. [Source](https://bard.emuseum.com/people/2186/gordon-parks)
46. [Source](https://www.pamm.org/en/artwork/2020.208/)
47. [Source](https://www.studiomuseum.org/artists/gordon-parks)
48. [Source](https://library.si.edu/art-and-artist-files)
49. [Source](https://lib.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=86082&query_desc=kw%2Cwrdl%3A%20Gordon%20Parks)
50. [Source](https://library.nga.gov/permalink/01NGA_INST/1cl1g8d/alma991133553504896)