AGAINST ALL SORTS OF SOCIAL WRONGS:The FSA Photos of Gordon Parks

Our Goals for Today:THE SKINNY

Identify key concepts about the relationship between the Roosevelt administration and the African American

community.

FOR THE TOOLKITLearn to “read” photographs as historical evidence.

CONNECT THE DOTSCraft your own argument about the Great Depression by

analyzing the photographs of Gordon Parks.

“Self-Portrait,” Gordon Parks (1945)

"I saw that the camera could be a

weapon against poverty, against

racism, against all sorts of social

wrongs. I knew at that point I had

to have a camera.”

Gordon Parks (1999)

Ralph Lauren: Blue Label Ad (2009)

(1885) (1865)

What’s going on in this photograph? What details about the people or the room seem significant? Why?

(1942) (1930)

Journal Assignment:

Find a documentary photograph in a newspaper of your choice.What’s happening in the photograph? What details do you see that make you think this?

What insights into American culture in 2012 does the photograph give you?

How would the photo be a good source for future historians?

Image List:• Slide One: • Gordon Parks, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

• Slide Three: • Gordon Parks, “Self Portrait,” Startribune.com, 1945. • Shaft Poster, IMDB.com, 1971.

• Slide Five: • Ralph Lauren Ad, 2009.• L. Wallack, “Double Portrait: Barber and Client,” from the American Museum of

Photography, 1885.• “The Giant Baby,” from the American Museum of Photograph, c. 1865.

• Slide Six:• Gordon Parks, “Mrs. Ella Watson, a government charwoman, with three grandchildren and

her adopted daughter.” Library of Congress Prints and Photographs, 1942.• Slide Seven:• Gordon Parks, “American Gothic, Washington D.C.” Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1942.• Grant Wood, “American Gothic,” 1930.