We have witnessed countless engaging documentaries highlighting photographers: Vivian Maier. Perhaps the film medium naturally comes alive when presenting exceptionally powerful photographs. Today arrives another remarkable example, by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the extraordinary career of Kwame Brathwaite—a photographer, artist and civil rights advocate who exemplified a unique politico-aesthetic vision.
Together with his brother Elombe, he effectively created the slogan “Black Is Beautiful” in the mid-century era by documenting the Grandassa Models in the cultural epicenter: youthful African American women who became the sensational archetype for visual appeal, abandoning traditional cosmetic products and the predominant Caucasian ideal of womanhood.
The Impact of Three Words
Black Is Beautiful transformed into a radical call to action, an inspired three-word prose poem for change. Simply to assert that black people radiated beauty became a transformative force in culture, activism and culture. The photographer became part of the Black power global Black cause by capturing images of the sports icon leading up to his iconic Zaire bout in that era.
He became the exclusive photographer for the Jackson 5's continental journey, and subsequently became the official visual chronicler for the historic Harlem venue, assembling an incredible portfolio of musical pioneers. Alongside his brother, he emerged as the driving force behind arranging for the anti-apartheid icon to appear in the community.
Historical Recognition
His son Kwame Jr recounts the personal campaign to ensure due acknowledgment for his family heritage after he was painfully overlooked in the nation's capital's National Museum of African American History and Culture, inaugurated by the former president in this century.
The feature additionally explores the deeply tragic origin of Brathwaite's interest in photography: the shocking photographs of the lynching martyr, the adolescent Black lynching victim whose bereaved parent courageously demanded an public viewing so the brutal truth of bigoted brutality might not be covered up.
Amidst Sorrow to Hope
In this image of violence, the visionary found a type of transformative realization that guided him toward images of community. His work were eloquent of empowering beauty and often not overtly political: he developed a new visual language of strength through which political movements could gather.
It is an captivating testament of creative genius that continues to empower across generations.
