Gordon Parks, Nicholas Tefft

Two African American men are captured in this photo examining the wounds of a recently murdered gang member in a coffin. The astonished look caught on both of their faces seems to scream a very important message for gang members to hear; being a gangster is real. The money and life style that comes along with the roll of a gangster are very tempting, and easy to fall into, especially for African Americans in a racist community. Often times the negative aspects of this title, one of them being death, were over looked and lead to consequences similar to the man in the coffins fate. Through this picture Gordon Parks was attempting to teach young people the negative aspects of this lifestyle, before they even became a part of it.

                Gordon used the lighting in this photograph in a very unique way. Everything that was unimportant had little to no lighting focused on it, and more important aspects of the photo had vibrant white lighting surrounding it. The lifeless facial expression made by Maurice Gaines, the dead gang member, is surrounded by the most light in the picture. The light helps to emphasize how lifeless the man actually is, how real the consequences of being a gangster can be, and could be interpreted as an important guide for the other two men. This guide explains to the other men that they are equal to Maurice, and that their fate could be the same if they continue down the same path.  The contrast between the Maurice’s face and the bright white coffin make the specific location where they meet the focal point of the picture.

                Both of the men are looking downward, and the photograph was taken in a similar manner. It makes the audience feel as if they are a third man looking at the body, while examining others reaction to what is before their eyes. This vantage point makes a very personal statement to the audience and I believe that is why he chose this angle and view.

                Parks seemed to have taken this picture in an attempt to take the temptation people had to fall into this lifestyle away from them by showing them the real consequences in a personal manner.