History has seen countless engaging films about image makers: Martin Parr. Maybe the documentary format naturally comes alive when displaying remarkably striking photographs. Today comes one more exceptional case, by creator Yemi Bamiro, documenting the extraordinary career of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, musician and social justice champion who embodied a distinct politico-aesthetic approach.
Together with his sibling Elombe, he virtually invented the slogan “Black Is Beautiful” in the 1960s by photographing the Grandassa Models in the cultural epicenter: youthful Black women who transformed into the groundbreaking standard for aesthetics, moving beyond traditional beauty standards and the usual white model of womanhood.
The Impact of Three Words
Black Is Beautiful evolved into a powerful rallying cry, an visionary memorable manifesto for transformation. Just stating that people of color radiated beauty proved to be a empowering influence in culture, activism and the arts. The photographer emerged as part of the civil rights global Black cause by documenting Muhammad Ali prior to his legendary championship fight in that era.
He served as the primary image creator for the musical group's international performances, and later became the resident artist for the legendary Apollo theatre, creating an incredible collection of musical pioneers. Alongside his brother, he became the key organizer behind arranging for the anti-apartheid icon to speak in New York.
Family Legacy
The photographer's offspring his namesake shares the their quest to secure proper recognition for his father's legacy after he was painfully ignored in the nation's capital's cultural museum, opened by Barack Obama in 2016.
The feature additionally explores the inexpressibly painful genesis of Brathwaite's dedication to photography: the disturbing pictures of the lynching martyr, the adolescent civil rights lynching victim whose mourning family member courageously requested an public viewing so the horrific reality of racist violence might not be concealed.
From Tragedy to Empowerment
In this vision of tragedy, Brathwaite found a type of anti-epiphany that guided him toward images of community. His photographs powerfully conveyed empowering beauty and frequently not overtly political: he developed a fresh symbolic representation of empowerment through which political movements could unite.
It is an exhilarating chronicle of creative genius that persists in empower across generations.
