I AM YOU

What I want. What I am. What you force me to be is what you are. For I am you, staring back from a mirror of poverty and despair, of revolt and freedom. Look at me and know that to destroy me is to destroy yourself. —Gordon Parks

Gordon Parks (1912–2006) was a prolific artist whose photographs formed a comprehensive portrait of 20th century American society and culture. As the first African American staff photographer for LIFE Magazine, Parks was also an important advocate for racial equality and his images told groundbreaking stories about poverty, marginalization, and injustice.

I AM YOU presents the work of this remarkable storyteller whose striking imagery resonated with a wide and diverse audience during a turbulent time within American society. The exhibition focuses on photographs covering two decades of the Civil Rights movement including portraits of leaders such as Malcolm X and Rosa Parks, as well as images from some of Parks’ most influential bodies of work.