History has seen many compelling documentaries highlighting photographers: Vivian Maier. Perhaps cinematic storytelling truly excels when displaying exceptionally powerful photographs. Today comes a new outstanding instance, by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, documenting the remarkable life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—a creative force, musician and African American activist who exemplified a distinct politico-aesthetic vision.
In partnership with his family member Elombe, he effectively created the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” throughout the 1960s by documenting the Harlem models in the cultural epicenter: young African American women who transformed into the groundbreaking archetype for aesthetics, moving beyond traditional cosmetic products and the usual Eurocentric standard of female beauty.
The Power of a Simple Phrase
Black Is Beautiful transformed into a radical unifying message, an visionary three-word prose poem for transformation. Simply to assert that African Americans possessed beauty became a transformative influence in art, activism and the arts. The artist became a key figure in the social justice global Black struggle by photographing the legendary boxer before his legendary Rumble in the Jungle in that era.
He became the exclusive photographer for the musical group's international performances, and subsequently became the house photographer for the iconic Apollo theatre, building an amazing portfolio of musical pioneers. In collaboration with his sibling, he was the key organizer behind bringing the anti-apartheid icon to address the public in the community.
Personal Journey
Brathwaite's son Kwame Jr is interviewed the their campaign to secure appropriate credit for his parent's achievements after he was unjustly excluded in the nation's capital's Smithsonian institution, opened by Barack Obama in 2016.
The feature further reveals the inexpressibly painful genesis of the photographer's dedication to photography: the shocking photographs of the lynching martyr, the adolescent civil rights lynching victim whose grieving mother courageously demanded an public viewing so the brutal truth of bigoted brutality might not be hidden.
Amidst Sorrow to Beauty
In this image of tragedy, Brathwaite discovered a form of profound understanding that guided him toward images of aspiration. His images powerfully conveyed community pride and frequently subtle in messaging: he established a innovative symbolic representation of pride around which political movements could mobilize.
This represents an exhilarating record of cultural impact that still empower through the years.
