A Visual History of Gordon Parks’ Art and Activism
Black Girl Nerds
Movie Reviews
By Cassondra Feltus
HBO’s ‘A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks’ Is a Visual History of the Photographer’s Art and Activism
This new documentary delves into the life and work of photographer, filmmaker, writer, composer, and activist Gordon Parks. Directed by John Maggio (Mr. Saturday Night), the documentary chronicles the fascinating story of a self-taught photographer from Kansas and his rise to a multi-hyphenate pop-culture icon. The film explores the psychology behind photography, the power of an image, and the importance of uplifting others through art.
The documentary features interviews with artists, activists, friends, and family, including Jelani Cobb, Ava DuVernay (Selma), Nelson George, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman), Anderson Cooper, Khalil Muhammad, Bryan Stevenson, Richard Roundtree (Shaft), Michal Raz-Russo, and Darren Walker. It’s produced by Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean, Alicia Keys, Gordon Parks Foundation director Peter W. Kunhardt, Jr., and HBO Documentary Films.
A Choice of Weapons looks at Gordon Parks’ cultural impact through the lens of three contemporary photographers — Devin Allen, LaToya Ruby Frazier, and Jamel Shabazz. Each has made a name for themselves with powerful photos. Allen’s photo from the Freddie Gray protests, “Baltimore Uprising,” landed on the cover of Time Magazine in 2015. For five years, Frazier covered the Flint, Michigan, water crisis in her series, “Flint Is Family,” for Elle. Most recently, she photographed Breonna Taylor’s family for Vanity Fair. Shabazz has documented hip-hop culture on the streets of New York since the 1980s.
Courtesy of: Black Girl Nerds
