was a groundbreaking African American photographer, filmmaker, writer, and activist. He is best known for using his camera to document racial and social injustices in America, particularly during the Civil Rights Movement. As the first Black photographer for Life magazine, Parks captured powerful images of poverty, segregation, and everyday Black life. His most famous photograph, American Gothic, Washington, D.C., depicts a Black government worker holding a mop and broom in front of an American flag, symbolizing racial inequality. Parks also made history as the director of Shaft (1971), one of the first major Hollywood films directed by a Black filmmaker. His work continues to inspire artists and activists today.