Gordon Parks Funeral, Riverside Church NYC March 15, 2006

Gordon Parks was a great Renaissance man and my personal hero. As a photojournalist he documented the heartache and joy of African-American life. His camera was his weapon against racism and poverty in America. His images did indeed speak a thousand words and made a diference in everyone's life he touched. I was fortunate to meet and speak to Mr. Parks on a few occasions and attend several of his exhibitions. Yesterday, I was one of hundreds of mourners to bid him farewell at his funeral service held at Riverside Church in Harlem, NYC. Below are a few photos from the funeral sevices, which turned out to be a Who's-Who of the black photography and art world. Gordon Parks will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on forever. I can only hope and strive to be as great of an artist and human being as he was.