History has seen countless engaging films focusing on visual artists: Tish Murtha. Maybe the documentary format naturally comes alive when presenting exceptionally powerful still images. Here arrives another remarkable instance, by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, documenting the remarkable professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—a photographer, artist and civil rights advocate who exemplified a unique politico-aesthetic perspective.
In partnership with his brother Elombe, he pioneered the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” during the 1960s by photographing the Grandassa Models in New York: emerging women of color who transformed into the groundbreaking standard for visual appeal, moving beyond typical beauty standards and the predominant Eurocentric ideal of female beauty.
The Impact of a Simple Phrase
Black Is Beautiful transformed into a powerful rallying cry, an inspired memorable prose poem for progress. Merely to assert that people of color radiated beauty became a liberating influence in society, activism and creative expression. The photographer emerged as integral to the civil rights African diaspora cause by capturing images of the legendary boxer leading up to his historic Zaire bout in that era.
He became the primary visual documentarian for the band's international performances, and later became the resident artist for the historic Apollo theatre, creating an incredible archive of musical pioneers. Together with Elombe, he emerged as the driving force behind arranging for the South African leader to appear in Harlem.
Historical Recognition
His son the younger Brathwaite shares the personal mission to secure due acknowledgment for his family heritage after he was hurtfully overlooked in Washington DC's Smithsonian institution, established by the former president in this century.
The film further reveals the inexpressibly painful origin of Brathwaite's dedication to image making: the horrendous photographs of the young victim, the adolescent African American tragic figure whose bereaved parent defiantly requested an public viewing so the horrific reality of bigoted brutality might not be concealed.
Through Darkness to Beauty
In this vision of violence, the visionary found a form of transformative realization that guided him toward images of beauty. His images were eloquent of empowering beauty and typically subtle in messaging: he curated a innovative symbolic representation of empowerment upon which social causes could gather.
This represents an inspiring record of cultural impact that still inspire through the years.
