- Co-founder of Essence Magazine
- First African-American to write, produce and direct a film for a major studio (Warner Brothers): The Learning Tree (1969), which was based on his semi-autobiographical novel of the same name.
- His life story was told in a TV documentary co-produced by Denzel Washington: Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks (2000).
- He was the youngest of 15 children. He dropped out of high school after his mother died. His jobs included playing piano in a brothel before he became interested in photography while working as a train porter.
- Has three schools named after him at lifetime: The Gordon Parks Elementary School in Kansas City, MO; Gordon Parks Academy in East Orange, NJ; Gordon Parks High School in St. Paul, MN.
- He was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1988 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C.
- Frequently smoked a pipe when he made cameo appearances.
- Once was a piano player in a Minnesota bordello.
- Became very close with author Candace Bushnell soon after she moved to Manhattan.
- Godfather to 'Quibilah Shabazz', the daughter of Malcolm X (1920-65).
- Best known for his gritty photo essays on the grinding effects of poverty in the United States and abroad and on the spirit of the civil rights movement.
- The Phantom of the Opera (1925) with Lon Chaney is his favorite film.
- Spent 1948-49 as a photographer and reporter for Life Magazine.
- Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Writers Branch)
- Father of Gordon Parks Jr., David, Leslie, Toni Parks-Parsons. Grandfather of Alain, Gordon III, Sarah, Campbell and Satchel.
- He has directed two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: The Learning Tree (1969) and Shaft (1971).
- Considered one of the contributors (along with Melvin Van Peebles) to the blaxploitation genre - Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) and Shaft (1971) were the first films to start that genre.
- Was the commencement speaker at the Kansa City Art Institute's Class of 1984 graduation.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content