My wife, Vanessa and I, went to the High Museum this past
Saturday to take in the Gordon Parks exhibit one more time. I can’t get enough
of his work. What inspires me about
Gordon Parks is that he saw the world like no other photographer. He had a unique vision inspired by what W. E.
B. DuBois would call a “double consciousness.” Parks had to understand the
world his employers saw and then shoot what he saw and work between the lines
to get his work published.
I am convinced that African American photographers, coming
from a minority culture, see the world differently than their dominant culture
counterparts. The reason so many African
American photographers work doesn’t get the praise their white colleagues get
is that those defining the medium and passing out praise don’t see as African
Americans see.
Gordon Parks way of seeing was not only exhibited in his
photos but also in his music, his writings and his motion pictures. He stands head and shoulders above any of his
contemporaries. Not only does his
photography stand above that of his colleagues but Parks created art in
multiple forms that his colleagues couldn’t even dream of, then or now.
The African American artist can do more and still be seen
less. I don’t know if those from the
dominant culture can comprehend or see how minorities see? I don’t know if one can fully understand what
one has not sought to appreciate? When
we refer to the masters of photography you very rarely if ever hear the names
of the great African American photographers, women or persons from the
two-thirds world. We are still
worshiping at the altar of white male photographers. If we worship them is this a form of idolatry?
Can you see the work of the modern day African American
artist if you don’t understand the roots of his or her work? If you don’t appreciate the work of his or
her ancestors and historic influences how can you fully appreciate what African
American artist are creating today?
To: Dr. Gordon Parks:
I just want to say thank you for letting us see the
world as you saw it. Your work continues
to inspire so many of us to see as we see and to dare to tell our story. Every time I see your work I am inspired to
go out and shoot, make a video, tell a story and dare to share it the way I see
it. I celebrate you yet again!
Does American education fully celebrate and incorporate the
contributions of those who aren’t members of the privileged dominant
culture? Are the arts as racist as the
rest of America? Are artists being
taught to be disconnected from their cultural heritage?
