Gordon Parks (November 31, 1913 – March 8, 2007), born into rural poverty, was a noted African-American photographer, musician, writer and film director, who became prominent in U.S. documentary photojournalism in the 1950s through 1980s—particularly in issues of civil rights, poverty and African-Americans—and in glamour photography. As the first famous pioneer among black filmmakers, he was first African-American to produce and direct major motion pictures—developing films relating the experience of slaves and struggling black Americans, and creating the "blaxploitation" genre. He is best remembered for his iconic photos of poor Americans during the 1950s (taken for a federal government project), for his photographic essays for Life magazine, and as the director of the 1972 film Shaft. Parks also was an author, poet and composer.