Spike Lee calls Gordon Parks one of his heroes and recalls seeing Shaft in theaters in Times Square on 42nd Street in 1971. He discusses the need to grow as an artist, Gordon’s ability to establish trust as a photographer and social justice through art.

Spike Lee is an Oscar awardwinning director, writer, actor, producer, author, and NYU Grad Film tenured professor. Lee has directed and produced over thirty films since his first feature film, the independently produced She’s Gotta Have It (1986). Lee continues to produce cinematic works of art that display his skill and ability to showcase outspoken and proactive sociopolitical critiques that challenge cultural assumptions about race, class and gender identity, such as the Oscarnominated, Do the Right Thing (1989) and Lee’s epic Malcolm X (1992), which features photographs that Gordon Parks took of the activist and leader while on assignment for Life Magazine.

From the HBO / Kunhardt Film Foundation (KFF) Documentary "A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks" that follows Parks' career, from staff photographer for LIFE magazine through his artistic development and evolution as a novelist and filmmaker.

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Spike Lee, Filmmaker
Interviewed By: John Maggio

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