Gordon Parks: The Flavio Story - by Paul Roth & Amanda Maddox (Hardcover)

The extraordinary story of one Life photo-essay by Gordon Parks and its impact is a must-read for anyone interested in the power of photography and journalism.

Published in Life magazine in June 1961, "Poverty: Freedom's Fearful Foe" profiled the da Silva family living in a hillside favela near a wealthy enclave of Rio de Janeiro.

Parks' empathetic photo-essay elicited over 3,000 letters and $25,000 in donations from Life readers to help the family and the favela.

The story sparked controversy in Brazil, leading one news magazine to send a photographer to document poverty in New York City.

Undeterred, Life embarked on a multi-year "rescue" effort that involved moving the family to a new home and administering funds to support the favela.

The story of Flavio, the eldest son suffering from crippling asthma, and Parks' relationship with him provide a fascinating example of US exceptionalism during the early 1960s and a revealing look inside the power and cultural force of the "Great American Magazine." This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the impact of photography on society and the power of journalism to create change.