Gordon Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks was born 30 November 1912 in Fort Scott, Kansas to Andrew Jackson and Sarah (Ross) Parks. At fifteen, after his mother's death, Parks moved to St. Paul, Minnesota to live with family.

In the 1930s, after working a variety of jobs, Parks landed in Chicago, where he discovered photography. Following World War II, during which he was an Office of War Information correspondent, Parks joined the staff of Life in 1949; he remained with the magazine until 1972.

While working as a photographer, Parks also began writing, publishing autobiographies, essays, and poetry. In this capacity as writer, Parks was a founder and, from 1970 to 1973 editorial director, of Essence magazine. In 1968, Parks directed the filmic adaptation of his first autobiography, The Learning Tree. He also directed several popular fiction films, including Shaft (1971). In addition to photography, writing, and film directing, Parks also became involved with music, writing films scores, popular music, and classical pieces.

During his lifetime, Parks was honored with a variety of awards and honors. In 1972 the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) presented him with their highest award, the Springarn Medal, and in 1988 he received a National Medal of Art. In 1985 Parks was named Kansan of the Year. He also received numerous honorary degrees from universities and colleges across the United States.

Parks married Sally Avis circa 1934; they had three children: Gordon, Jr., Toni, and David. The couple divorced in 1961. In 1963, Parks married Elizabeth Campbell, with whom he had a daughter, Leslie; they divorced in 1973. That year Parks married Genevieve Young and they divorced in 1979. Following a battle with cancer, Gordon Parks died 7 March 2006 in New York, New York.Gordon Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks was born 30 November 1912 in Fort Scott, Kansas to Andrew Jackson and Sarah (Ross) Parks. At fifteen, after his mother's death, Parks moved to St. Paul, Minnesota to live with family.

In the 1930s, after working a variety of jobs, Parks landed in Chicago, where he discovered photography. Following World War II, during which he was an Office of War Information correspondent, Parks joined the staff of Life in 1949; he remained with the magazine until 1972.

While working as a photographer, Parks also began writing, publishing autobiographies, essays, and poetry. In this capacity as writer, Parks was a founder and, from 1970 to 1973 editorial director, of Essence magazine. In 1968, Parks directed the filmic adaptation of his first autobiography, The Learning Tree. He also directed several popular fiction films, including Shaft (1971). In addition to photography, writing, and film directing, Parks also became involved with music, writing films scores, popular music, and classical pieces.

During his lifetime, Parks was honored with a variety of awards and honors. In 1972 the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) presented him with their highest award, the Springarn Medal, and in 1988 he received a National Medal of Art. In 1985 Parks was named Kansan of the Year. He also received numerous honorary degrees from universities and colleges across the United States.

Parks married Sally Avis circa 1934; they had three children: Gordon, Jr., Toni, and David. The couple divorced in 1961. In 1963, Parks married Elizabeth Campbell, with whom he had a daughter, Leslie; they divorced in 1973. That year Parks married Genevieve Young and they divorced in 1979. Following a battle with cancer, Gordon Parks died 7 March 2006 in New York, New York.