Photographer Parks Passes Away
<i>Life</i> magazine photograher, writer, composer, director and producer Gordon Parks died on Tuesday at the age of 93.
Gordon Parks, the director of the 1971 movie Shaft, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 93.
Parks was known for his photographic skills, including creating covers for Life magazine. He was the magazine's first black staff photographer.
Parks was also known to be a leader in blaxploitation films — films that drew a connection to the black community. Not only did he work behind the lens, but he also wrote poetry, screenplays and novels. He produced, wrote, composed and directed 1969's The Learning Tree, which is based on his novel by the same name. His work on The Learning Tree made him the first black artist to direct and produce a major film in Hollywood.