Gordon Parks, Evening Wraps at Dawn, New York, New York, 1956. Some artists create with a sense of purpose that extends beyond making something beautiful. American photographer Gordon Parks is a consummate example. Over a nearly seven-decade career, he used his camera to document “all the things I dislike about America—poverty, racism, discrimination.” And he was consistent: consistently prolific, inspired and committed to fighting inequality. According to his daughter Leslie Parks, “He always wanted to show injustice. That’s all he knew, so that’s what he took photographs of.” Most people know Parks for his firsts: first African-American man to work at Life magazine, first to write and direct a Hollywood film (The Learning Tree in 1969)—or for a single iconic photograph or film. Few are aware of the breadth of his creativity, that he was also a self-taught pianist, composer and author of memoirs, poetry, novels and plays. Fewer still appreciate how he brought to the American mainstream the truth—ugly and beautiful—of people rendered invisible because of This story is from Kinfolk Issue Twenty-Six Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 19 Going Incognito We all secretly wonder what mischief we’d make if invisible: When our identity is hidden, everything seems possible. Arts & Culture Issue 19 The Best Policy Sometimes we talk to each other without feeling heard. Honesty—a most intimate interaction—can be just as thrilling as its more devious inverse. Arts & Culture Issue 19 A Sense of Suspense With unhinged imaginations and mountains of cliff-hangers, the filmmakers behind the sci-fi podcast Limetown have all the makings of a scary story. Arts & Culture Issue 19 Like Clockwork In this new column about time, we learn how slipping off our watches makes us feel like deadline-damning renegades. Fashion Issue 19 The Heat of the Moment Wide eyes, tense muscles, goose-bumped skin and sweat-dotted brows. Fashion Issue 19 This Tall to Ride Amusement parks offer us a taste of danger as sweet as cotton candy.
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