Jamel Shabazz Interview: Capturing Culture & the Influence of Gordon Parks

Photographer Jamel Shabazz discusses being born and raised in Brooklyn. At the age of fifteen, he picked up his first camera and started to document his peers. He credits photographers Leonard Freed, James Van Der Zee, and Gordon Parks’s documentation of the African American community as an inspiration and explains how photography gave him a voice and purpose.
In 1980 as a concerned photographer Jamel Shabazz embarked on a mission to extensively document various aspects of life in New York City, from youth culture to a wide range of social conditions. Due to its spontaneity and uniqueness, the streets and subway system became backdrops for many of his photographs. Shabazz says his goal is to contribute to the preservation of world history and culture. In the past 10 years, he has had over two dozen solo exhibitions which have been shown around the world and throughout the United States.
From the HBO / Kunhardt Film Foundation (KFF) Documentary "A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks" that follows Parks' career, from staff photographer for LIFE magazine through his artistic development and evolution as a novelist and filmmaker.
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Jamel Shabazz, Photographer
Interviewed By: John Maggio
© Home Box Office and Kunhardt Film Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

[@torkwaseyahmi1569]

Excellent interview!!!! Jamel Shabazz is an extraordinary documentarian, historian and inspirational, Intellectual speaker. There was never a dull moment during his interview. Thanks for sharing I felt like I was looking at his portfolio as he verbally shared his experiences and “frozen-moments”

[@TheBlackkat63]

Great interview , such. Gentleman even as a teenager 👌🏽

[@KadeemBooth]

This needs more likes, views!

[@highway65]

What cameras did he start using, what are his favorite cameras, what cameras would he recommend for beginners ?