Chance The Rapper was one of several celebrities who purchased artwork during the Gordon Parks Foundation’s 20th anniversary gala this week.
Held Tuesday night (May 19) at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York, the foundation’s anniversary dinner and auction drew stars including Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys, Joey Badass, John Legend, Colin Kaepernick, and Delroy Lindo from Sinners. Several attendees also purchased artwork to honor the legacy of Parks, the legendary photographer and multidisciplinary artist who became one of the most influential photojournalists between the 1940s and 1970s before passing away in 2006 at age 93.
Among the pieces sold was Parks’ reprinted 1956 photograph, “At Segregated Drinking Fountain, Mobile, Alabama,” which Chance the Rapper purchased for $150,000 during the event. The rapper reportedly bought the iconic image for his daughters, Kensli, 10, and Marli, 6, to appreciate and learn from.
In addition to purchasing the artwork, Chance also performed “I Was A Rock” alongside The Anthony Morgan Inspirational Choir of Harlem in tribute to late boxing legend and activist Muhammad Ali. The Grammy-winning artist was later honored with an award presented by conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas.
“It’s an incredible honor to be in this room surrounded by so many artists, activists, and truth tellers,” Chance The Rapper said during his speech. “The job that we have at this time in history is so threatened. The world is on fire and the greatest defense we have in the world of art is as documentarians. Are we going to be bystanders or are we going to create the future that we want? Let’s keep fcking sht up.”
