Gordon Parks hadn’t lived in the state for many decades, but Kansans took so much pride in his singular genius and groundbreaking success that his death Tuesday at age 93 hit very close to home. The photographs he took for Life will forever grab their viewer by the conscience, depicting compelling truths about riots in Harlem, segregation in the South, a street urchin in Brazil and even haute couture in Paris. His vast array of creative pursuits, from poetry to painting to directing “Shaft,” will continue to inspire Kansans. As he told a group of Wichita high school kids in 1994, “I’m not going to let anybody set limits on what I can dream. I’m going to go out there and dream and dream and dream.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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13 Comments
Very few stand out amoung their own race. Little alone amoungst others. Mr. Parks did that both locally and nationally. Some how no matter where you are from or what you do in life. We all take the time to enjoy the art of life. Thank Mr.Parks
Put race aside, as it should be. Mr. Parks was a man with a vision, and knew how to make it a reality. There was nothing phony about the man, just the oppisite. He was a credit to the human race, and his name should be inscribed in the halls of the great.
Not to throw cold water on this parade, but prior to moving to Kansas, I had never heard of Mr. Parks. Before anyone attacks me, yes, I had heard of the 1971 movie “Shaft”, but had no idea of who directed it. I don’t know who directed other movies released in 1971 such as Billy Jack, Big Jake, Dirty Harry, or Fiddler on the Roof.
I am not downplaying Mr. Parks contributions, life or work. I am just presenting a little balance in the ‘national perspective’ of his life.
A true visionary.
He left a great mark towards progress in our world. He will be missed.
His images, words, and humanitarian sensibility provided a backdrop for our national life through a turbulent century. Truly a colossal artistic presence, and a great, great American in every sense of the word
Rapt,He was a photographer for Life Magazine,for crissake! He directed several movies and wrote the music for them. I was admiring his pictures long before I heard he was from Kansas! Apology accepted for your cultural illiteracy!
Where will his funeral be held?
He’ll be buried in his hometown of Fort Scott Kansas, which I believe was the location of the story ‘The Learning Tree’.
I remember how I felt when I met Mr. Parks at K-State (forgive my fleeting memory–I was 11 or 12 at the time).It’s the feeling you get when you are around someone you know has great wisdom.I remember his voice as he read a passage from “A Choice of Weapons”. That passage ought to be required reading for all young people.I remember it because every time I thought about stealing, his words would come back to me…the timbre of his voice, everything.It was one of the most powerful readings I’ve ever experienced.We need to redouble our efforts to make sure the Kansas Museum of African American History is built, so it can serve as a permanent repository for Mr. Parks’ work.
Culturally illiterate? Quite entirely possible…but, Jed, without googling, how many other photographers for Life Magazine can you name? (Ansel Adams is a gimme..)
I am not minimizing Mr. Parks or his contributions. I am just giving a little perspective on the national acclaim or recognition. He appeared to be a talented, hard working, dedicated individual. It just seems that he is not as well known outside Kansas as people might think.
I loved his work, such a talented man. What a positive mark he left on the world.
Rapt,How ’bout W. Eugene Smith, a former Wichita boy, who started out taking pictures for the Beacon, became a photographer for Life Magazine and practically invented the picture story? His WWII photos were legendary, as was his story of a Spanish Village, and one on migrant workers. He died as a delayed result of injuries sustained in a beating by company goons while doing an award-winning picture story on Minimata, a Japanese village suffering horrors from mercury that a large chemical company (Chisso) had dumped in the bay where the villagers fished.I certainly didn’t have to Google him! I have an autographed copy of his book.
Also, there was Margaret Bourke-White, George Silk, Richard Avedon, Robert Capa and a lot of other greats. None of them diminish Parks accomplishments and contribution, but they put him in damned good company!