Gordon Parks’ American Gothic: Liberating the Voices and Visions of a New Generation

After a 20-year hiatus, Twin Cities PBS, in partnership with SoulTouch Productions, dusted off its acclaimed original program Don’t Believe the HYPE in 2023.
Executive Produced by original HYPE co-creator Robin Hickman-Winfield (with Susan Robeson), and Daniel Bergin, the project’s goal then-and now-is to leverage the power of media-making to help Indigenous, Black, Latine, and Asian American youth craft their own narratives and amplify their unique voices within the Twin Cities community.
Directed by Abdifatah Abdi and produced by the HYPE crew, the latest HYPE project features a visit to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts to explore Gordon Parks' iconic American Gothic collection centered on Ella Watson. This collection was created while Parks was on an apprenticeship with the Farm Security Administration and first met Ella Watkins, who cleaned the government buildings in Washington, D.C. After getting to know Watkins, Parks produced "American Gothic," his first photography series, which portrays the struggles and moments of joy in Black American life. In the film, Executive Producer Robin Hickman-Winfield and the crew engage in discussions reflecting on Watson's significance while relating the photos to their own lives.
Crew Members in Documentary:
- Mariam Elias-Danjuma
- Sarah Rahmoune
- Marquan Harper
- Shaylynn Walton
- Kevin Pollard
- Olivia Moore
- Semaj Ward
- Damarj Robinson
- Maleeah Overton
- Alimah Sure-Aisa
- Aketzally Murillo
Missing Crew Members (Pictured at the end of the film):
- Moogie Silva
- Nik Paw
- Benny Guajardo
- Mahogany Robinson
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