We have witnessed numerous compelling features about photographers: Vivian Maier. It could be cinematic storytelling truly excels when showcasing exceptionally powerful visual compositions. Today we have one more outstanding case, by writer-director Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the impressive life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, artist and social justice champion who represented a unique politico-aesthetic vision.
Together with his brother Elombe, he virtually invented the expression “Black Is Beautiful” during the mid-century era by documenting the Grandassa Models in the cultural epicenter: emerging Black women who became the transformative template for beauty, rejecting typical grooming practices and the predominant white standard of female beauty.
The Impact of Three Words
Black Is Beautiful became a powerful rallying cry, an visionary memorable declaration for change. Just declaring that African Americans possessed beauty emerged as a empowering force in culture, activism and culture. Brathwaite grew into integral to the civil rights pan-Africanist struggle by documenting the legendary boxer leading up to his legendary championship fight in that era.
He became the exclusive image creator for the Jackson 5's continental journey, and subsequently was named the house photographer for the iconic Apollo theatre, creating an amazing archive of black musicians. In collaboration with his sibling, he became the driving force behind bringing the anti-apartheid icon to appear in the community.
Personal Journey
The photographer's offspring the younger Brathwaite shares the family's quest to ensure appropriate credit for his family heritage after he was hurtfully ignored in the prestigious cultural museum, established by Barack Obama in this century.
This documentary additionally explores the profoundly sorrowful origin of the artist's dedication to photography: the shocking photographs of Emmett Till, the young civil rights murder victim whose bereaved parent courageously requested an uncovered casket so the brutal truth of bigoted brutality could not be hidden.
Through Darkness to Hope
Through this vision of horror, the visionary discovered a form of transformative realization that guided him toward photographs of beauty. His work beautifully expressed empowering beauty and often not overtly political: he established a fresh iconography of strength through which social causes could gather.
It is an inspiring testament of creative genius that continues to inspire decades later.
