Street fight, from the series Harlem Gang Leader, Harlem in 1948 by Gordon Parks, marked up by the photographer for cropping in the darkroom.
The series documented the daily life of 17-year-old Leonard “Red” Jackson, leader of the Midtowners, a gang in Harlem. Here is Red at home with his mother and brother, New York in 1948 by Gordon Parks.
Red Jackson, gang leader, Midtowners gang, Harlem, New York in 1948 by Gordon Parks. Parks spent a week driving Jackson and his companions around and winning their trust before asking if he could take their photographs.
The subsequent series documenting the brutality of gang life in Harlem was to go on to solidify Gordon Parks’ position at Life Magazine. You can also see from this that the crop in that first photo was too tight and wasn’t used in the final publication which included the witness.
The subsequent series documenting the brutality of gang life in Harlem was to go on to solidify Gordon Parks’ position at Life Magazine. You can also see from this that the crop in that first photo was too tight and wasn’t used in the final publication which included the witness.
The subsequent series documenting the brutality of gang life in Harlem was to go on to solidify Gordon Parks’ position at Life Magazine. You can also see from this that the crop in that first photo was too tight and wasn’t used in the final publication which included the witness.
The subsequent series documenting the brutality of gang life in Harlem was to go on to solidify Gordon Parks’ position at Life Magazine. You can also see from this that the crop in that first photo was too tight and wasn’t used in the final publication which included the witness.
The subsequent series documenting the brutality of gang life in Harlem was to go on to solidify Gordon Parks’ position at Life Magazine. You can also see from this that the crop in that first photo was too tight and wasn’t used in the final publication which included the witness.
The photos which were eventually used by Life reinforced the editor’s preconceived ideas about gang life and focussed on the violence. It wasn’t how Parks wanted to portray them at all but he had no power to change the decision on what was to be left out.
The handling of this photo essay speaks to the issue that there is little truth in photography and the viewer is manipulated by what is shown and what is not. It was to have been the cover story for Life but Parks intervened and destroyed the cover story negative so it couldn’t
be used. The photo they intended using was of Red holding a gun and Life wouldn’t listen when Parks objected so he destroyed the negative to prevent them using it. As a result the story was buried and not run as a cover. The photos which weren’t used tell a very different story.
When Gordon Parks shared the Life Magazine story with him Red Jackson said “Damn, Mr. Parks, you made a criminal out of me.”
Leonard ‘Red’ Jackson outlived Gordon Parks and was photographed in 2007 aged 93 by Lyric R. Cabral.
Leonard ‘Red’ Jackson outlived Gordon Parks and was photographed in 2007 aged 93 by Lyric R. Cabral.
Leonard ‘Red’ Jackson outlived Gordon Parks and was photographed in 2007 aged 93 by Lyric R. Cabral.
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