When Gordon Parks famously wrote that "I needed Paris," he was looking back on the two years that he spent in the city as a member of Life magazine's Paris bureau. His time in France had provided a temporary escape from the racism that he confronted every day in his personal and professional life. In the City of Lights, he felt free to explore his artistic ambitions in ways that seemed impossible at home. This talk looks at the how Parks' art flowered during and after his time in Paris, especially in his photography, writing, and musical compositions. Presented by Professor John Edwin Mason, Associated Professor, University of Virginia Department of History. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. Coffee, water, juice, and light refreshments will be available. FREE.