We have witnessed countless engaging films about image makers: Martin Parr. Maybe the documentary format naturally comes alive when displaying particularly vivid photographs. Now arrives one more remarkable instance, directed by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, documenting the remarkable professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—a creative force, performer and social justice champion who exemplified a unique cultural-activist vision.
Together with his sibling Elombe, he pioneered the expression “Black Is Beautiful” in the 1960s by photographing the African American women in Harlem: youthful Black women who transformed into the transformative archetype for beauty, abandoning conventional cosmetic products and the usual Eurocentric model of womanhood.
The Power of a Revolutionary Slogan
Black Is Beautiful transformed into a radical rallying cry, an brilliant concise manifesto for change. Merely declaring that black people were beautiful emerged as a transformative power in culture, politics and creative expression. The artist grew into part of the social justice global Black cause by capturing images of the sports icon prior to his historic championship fight in that era.
He served as the official visual documentarian for the Jackson 5's continental journey, and eventually was named the resident artist for the historic Harlem venue, assembling an incredible archive of African American artists. Alongside his sibling, he emerged as the driving force behind securing the South African leader to address the public in the community.
Family Legacy
Brathwaite's son the younger Brathwaite shares the their quest to secure proper recognition for his parent's achievements after he was painfully overlooked in the nation's capital's cultural museum, inaugurated by Barack Obama in recent years.
The feature additionally explores the inexpressibly painful origin of the artist's passion for image making: the horrendous pictures of the young victim, the teenage African American tragic figure whose grieving mother boldly demanded an open coffin so the horrific reality of bigoted brutality could not be covered up.
From Tragedy to Hope
From this representation of violence, the artist found a form of profound understanding that guided him toward images of aspiration. His images beautifully expressed community pride and often not overtly political: he established a new visual language of empowerment around which political movements could mobilize.
This represents an inspiring testament of creative genius that still inspire through the years.
