There have been countless fascinating documentaries about photographers: Vivian Maier. Perhaps the documentary format naturally comes alive when showcasing exceptionally powerful still images. Now comes one more outstanding example, from creator Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the extraordinary professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, artist and social justice champion who represented a special politico-aesthetic approach.
In partnership with his brother Elombe, he pioneered the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” in the sixties by documenting the Grandassa Models in New York: emerging African American women who emerged as the groundbreaking standard for visual appeal, abandoning conventional beauty standards and the predominant white standard of womanhood.
The Influence of Three Words
Black Is Beautiful transformed into a radical rallying cry, an visionary three-word declaration for change. Just declaring that black people radiated beauty became a transformative power in culture, activism and the arts. The artist emerged as part of the social justice pan-Africanist cause by capturing images of Muhammad Ali leading up to his historic Zaire bout in that era.
He became the exclusive photographer for the musical group's international performances, and eventually was named the resident artist for the iconic cultural institution, creating an incredible archive of musical pioneers. Alongside Elombe, he became the key organizer behind securing Nelson Mandela to speak in the community.
Family Legacy
The photographer's offspring Kwame Jr shares the family's mission to achieve appropriate credit for his family heritage after he was painfully ignored in Washington DC's National Museum of African American History and Culture, inaugurated by the former president in recent years.
The film additionally explores the inexpressibly painful origin of the photographer's interest in image making: the disturbing images of Emmett Till, the teenage Black lynching victim whose bereaved parent courageously insisted on an open coffin so the horrific reality of racist violence would not be covered up.
From Tragedy to Empowerment
In this vision of horror, the artist found a type of transformative realization that guided him toward images of community. His work beautifully expressed celebratory strength and typically not overtly political: he developed a innovative visual language of strength around which social causes could mobilize.
It is an inspiring record of cultural impact that still resonate decades later.
