Gordon Parks (November 30, 1912 – March 7, 2006), born into
rural poverty, was a noted African-American photographer, musician, writer and
film director, who became prominent in U.S. documentary photojournalism in the 1940s through 1970s—particularly in issues of civil rights, poverty and African-Americans—and in glamour photography. As the first famous pioneer among black filmmakers, he was first African-American to produce and direct major motion pictures—developing films relating the experience of slaves and struggling black Americans, and creating the "
blaxploitation" genre. He is best remembered for his iconic photos of poor Americans during the 1940s (taken for a federal government project), for his photographic essays for
Life magazine, and as the director of the 1971 film
Shaft. Parks also was an author, poet and composer.