Gordon Rogers Parks, Jr. (1934-1979) was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the son of Gordon Parks and Sally Parks, and brother to Toni Parks and David Parks. Following in his father's footsteps, Parks Jr. was a photographer and a film director. After working as photographer and cameraman for several productions, including his father's films, The World of Piri Thomas and The Learning Tree (1969), his directorial debut was in Super Fly (1972), part of a genre then referred to as Blaxploitation films. He made three other features, Thomasine and Bushrod (1974), Three the Hard Way (1974), and Aaron Loves Angela (1975). He was also an accomplished horseman, automobile racer, and guitarist. Parks tragically died with three others when their small airplane crashed after takeoff near Nairobi, Kenya.
Access to the Gordon Parks, Jr. archive is restricted. For more information, email info@mkfound.org.