On a snow-lashed winter afternoon on Nov. 30 at Landmark Center, Minnesota lawmakers, cultural leaders, and members of the Gordon Parks family formally announced the creation of the Gordon Parks Living Memorial, a long-awaited public tribute to the legendary photographer, filmmaker, author, and humanitarian whose artistic journey began in Minnesota and reshaped global culture.
The announcement coincided with what would have been Parks’ birthday and came just months ahead of the 20th anniversary of his death in 2026, marking a poignant moment of reflection and forward-looking purpose.
“This is a monumental statement that we are making as a society,” said State Sen. Foung Hawj (DFL–St. Paul), chair of the Senate Legacy Committee and chief author of the memorial legislation. “The Living Memorial to Gordon Parks must be completed because it honors one of America’s greatest storytellers. Gordon Parks represents the very best of Minnesota and the very best of St. Paul.”
The Minnesota Legislature approved $150,000 in initial Legacy Amendment funding to launch the memorial’s development. Additional funds will be raised through public and private partnerships. Unlike traditional monuments, the memorial is being designed as a living space for education, youth engagement, and artistic development, rather than solely a physical statue.
Legislative backing across chambers
State Rep. Samakab Hussein (DFL–St. Paul), who carried the companion legislation in the House and serves as vice chair of Legacy and Finance, described the project as both historical and aspirational.
“Gordon Parks was more than a photographer, he was a storyteller. He was a fighter for justice,” Hussein said. “He showed the world what dignity should look like. I want my kids to look at downtown St. Paul one day and say, ‘I can be like him. I can dream.’”
Hussein emphasized that the memorial also addresses long-standing inequities in who is honored in public spaces, providing a platform for historically underrepresented voices.
Cultural and educational impact
The Minnesota Humanities Center, a legacy-funded organization and partner in the project, pledged long-term educational collaboration.
“By sharing how you see the world, you can shape and impact the direction of the world,” said Kevin Lindsey, CEO of the Minnesota Humanities Center. “Gordon Parks’ life proves that every person matters, every child matters, and that’s a powerful lesson for Minnesota.”
Tracey Williams-Dillard, publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, emphasized the homegrown roots of Parks’ journey. “It means so much to remind people that Gordon Parks started his photography career right here at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, formerly known as the Minneapolis Spokesman.” she said. “His legacy is part of our legacy.”
Officials envision a broader ecosystem attributable to Parks’ influence, including a permanent Gordon Parks exhibit at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport. Veteran journalist Don Shelby, who with Dr. Robin Hickman-Winfield championed the airport exhibit, reflected on Parks’ human-centered approach to the camera.
“Gordon Parks didn’t take pictures of landscapes, he took pictures of human beings,” Shelby said. “You couldn’t look into the eyes of his subjects without seeing the humanity and the story behind their lives.”
“Gordon Parks was more than a photographer, he was a storyteller. He was a fighter for justice… I want my kids to look at downtown St. Paul one day and say, ‘I can be like him. I can dream.’
A living memorial, rooted in youth
The effort is being led by Dr. Robin Hickman-Winfield, Parks’ grandniece and long-time cultural organizer. She stressed that the memorial will be shaped alongside young people at every stage.
“Every step along the way, young people will be learning the process of creating,” she said. “Any artist who can’t get with that can’t be part of this project. This is why it’s taken so long, but delay does not mean denial.”
Hickman-Winfield traced the project’s origins back more than 20 years to shortly after Parks’ death, including early public memorial concepts and statewide education efforts tied to his life. She also reflected on Parks’ final years, sharing his concern for young people caught in cycles of violence and despair.
“Before he passed away, we spent a day of me getting my instructions, and after dinner with tears in his eyes. He asked me, baby, what happened to black boys? He loved all young people. He loved all people. He was a humanitarian,” she said. “He believed in when his dear friend James Baldwin says, time for lovers of humanity to find one another. That’s who he was. But he reflected in his final days about being a young black man trying to survive on these streets out here. What did I really do? He questioned his own legacy, and I had to remind him. I said, Uncle Gordon, don’t worry. We’ve got this.”
Family, poetry, and legacy
Several members of the Parks family were recognized at the announcement. A poem from Parks’ later poetry collection, “The Mother’s Lane,” was recited in honor of his mother, Sarah Parks, whose influence deeply shaped his worldview and artistic voice.
Speakers noted Parks’ long engagement with incarcerated youth through letter-writing programs and community storytelling, as well as his mentorship of emerging artists and journalists across decades. Hickman-Winfield shared moments when young people, inspired by Parks’ life, retraced his journey from St. Paul to Fort Scott, Kansas, standing at his resting place and recommitting themselves to creative purpose.
“We’re not playing,” Hickman-Winfield said.
Next steps
While final design and placement details have not yet been made public, St. Paul Parks and Recreation officials indicated that a replica of a proposed statue may be unveiled this spring. The memorial is expected to be in downtown St. Paul, near sites connected to Parks’ career.
Beyond the sculpture, organizers said the memorial will include:
- Youth-led public art creation
- Educational programming
- Oral history and digital storytelling
- Film, photography, and journalism training
Despite the gripping cold outside Landmark Center, the announcement inside carried both celebration and responsibility, affirming Minnesota’s role in shaping a life that would go on to influence the world.
“Today we celebrate not just the day Gordon Parks was born,” one speaker said, “but the reason he was born.”
Hickman-Winfield closed the event with the words that now shape the mission of the Living Memorial itself:
“This is not just a statue. This is a living memorial. And young people will be walking in Uncle Gordon’s footsteps every step of the way.”
Scott Selmer welcomes reader responses at sselmer@spokesman-recorder.com