There have been countless fascinating documentaries highlighting visual artists: Vivian Maier. Perhaps cinematic storytelling truly excels when presenting particularly vivid still images. Now we have one more remarkable instance, directed by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, documenting the extraordinary life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—a photographer, artist and civil rights advocate who exemplified a special politico-aesthetic vision.
In partnership with his sibling Elombe, he effectively created the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” during the sixties by capturing the Grandassa Models in the cultural epicenter: young women of color who became the transformative template for visual appeal, moving beyond typical grooming practices and the usual Caucasian standard of female beauty.
The Power of a Revolutionary Slogan
Black Is Beautiful transformed into a radical call to action, an brilliant three-word declaration for change. Just declaring that people of color radiated beauty proved to be a empowering force in art, politics and creative expression. The artist emerged as integral to the Black power pan-Africanist struggle by photographing the legendary boxer leading up to his historic Zaire bout in 1974.
He served as the primary visual documentarian for the musical group's African tour, and later was named the resident artist for the historic Harlem venue, building an incredible collection of black musicians. Alongside his brother, he became the driving force behind arranging for the anti-apartheid icon to appear in the community.
Personal Journey
The photographer's offspring his namesake shares the personal campaign to ensure due acknowledgment for his father's legacy after he was painfully overlooked in Washington DC's National Museum of African American History and Culture, established by the former president in this century.
The feature further reveals the inexpressibly painful inspiration of the artist's dedication to visual storytelling: the disturbing images of the lynching martyr, the teenage Black tragic figure whose grieving mother boldly demanded an uncovered casket so the violent nature of bigoted brutality would not be concealed.
From Tragedy to Hope
From this representation of horror, the artist encountered a type of profound understanding that led him toward visual representations of beauty. His photographs powerfully conveyed empowering beauty and often not overtly political: he curated a innovative iconography of strength around which social causes could gather.
This represents an captivating chronicle of cultural impact that continues to inspire through the years.
