There have been countless fascinating features focusing on photographers: Vivian Maier. Perhaps cinematic storytelling naturally comes alive when displaying exceptionally powerful still images. Now comes another exceptional instance, by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, documenting the extraordinary professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—a creative force, performer and social justice champion who represented a special artistic-political approach.
Together with his family member Elombe, he virtually invented the expression “Black Is Beautiful” during the 1960s by photographing the African American women in Harlem: youthful Black women who transformed into the groundbreaking template for aesthetics, rejecting typical grooming practices and the established Caucasian model of femininity.
The Impact of a Simple Phrase
The iconic phrase evolved into a transformative unifying message, an visionary memorable declaration for change. Just to assert that African Americans were beautiful proved to be a liberating power in society, activism and the arts. The photographer grew into integral to the civil rights African diaspora struggle by photographing Muhammad Ali leading up to his legendary Zaire bout in the seventies.
He became the official photographer for the Jackson 5's international performances, and eventually assumed the role of the house photographer for the iconic cultural institution, assembling an extraordinary archive of musical pioneers. Alongside his sibling, he emerged as the driving force behind bringing Nelson Mandela to appear in New York.
Historical Recognition
Brathwaite's son Kwame Jr is interviewed the personal quest to achieve due acknowledgment for his father's legacy after he was hurtfully ignored in the nation's capital's cultural museum, inaugurated by the former president in 2016.
The feature additionally explores the deeply tragic inspiration of Brathwaite's passion for visual storytelling: the horrendous images of the young victim, the teenage African American murder victim whose mourning family member defiantly demanded an public viewing so the brutal truth of racist violence would not be concealed.
From Tragedy to Hope
In this representation of horror, Brathwaite discovered a kind of anti-epiphany that guided him toward visual representations of aspiration. His photographs powerfully conveyed celebratory strength and typically subtle in messaging: he curated a innovative visual language of strength upon which political movements could gather.
The documentary stands as an exhilarating chronicle of artistic vision that persists in resonate decades later.
