Why Chelsea Clinton was Honored at the Gordon Parks Foundation's Annual Gala

On June 5, The Gordon Parks Foundation celebrated photographer Gordon Parks’ legacy and honored those who keep his vision for social change alive. Parks was a rare artist with extraordinary range: he was a pioneering filmmaker (he made the 1971 crime thriller Shaft) and was the first Black photographer to shoot for LIFE and Vogue in the 1940s. He made portraits of subjects as diverse as Gloria Vanderbilt and Muhammad Ali. At the same time, he captured the racism and poverty that affected Black America, and his documentary-style images inspired the nation. Today, his foundation preserves his archives and supports educational and humanitarian causes. This year's event honored Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Chelsea Clinton, Raf Simons, and Kehinde Wiley, an nearly 600 guests gathered to raise $1.3M to support the Foundation. Hosted by comedienne and actress Sarah Jones, the evening also featured a performance by The Roots. Valerie Jarrett, Alicia Keys, Kasseem Dean, and Judy and Leonard Lauder, among others, served as co-chairs.