10/15/2026
Gordon Parks was one of the most significant Black American photographers of the twentieth century, as well as a celebrated filmmaker, author, and composer.
In this short video, ‘Storytelling’ curator Elizabeth (Liz) Shannon, PhD, sheds light on the significance of Parks’ work, its relationship to that of fellow photographer Eve Arnold, and its continued relevance today.
In 1960, ‘Life’ magazine commissioned Arnold to produce a photo story on civil rights leader Malcolm X, but the article was ultimately pulled, in part due to concerns about the public’s familiarity with the Nation of Islam, an Islamic and Black nationalist organization with which Malcolm X was closely affiliated.
Several years later, as Malcolm X’s public profile continued to grow, ‘Life’ assigned a story to Parks. On view in ‘Storytelling’ is the complete photo essay Parks produced, as it appeared in the magazine’s May 31, 1963, issue. The article combines photographs with text written by unidentified Life staff members, alongside Parks’ own account of his time with the Nation of Islam.
Together, these works offer an opportunity to consider how photography, editorial decisions, and the relationship between images and text shape the stories presented to the public.
See works by Gordon Parks and Eve Arnold in ‘Storytelling: Photographers Making Meaning | Works from the Wellin Museum’s Collection,’ on view through June 12, 2027.
