There have been countless fascinating documentaries about visual artists: Tish Murtha. It could be cinematic storytelling naturally comes alive when showcasing particularly vivid photographs. Now comes a new exceptional example, from filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, documenting the remarkable life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—a creative force, artist and civil rights advocate who represented a distinct cultural-activist approach.
Together with his brother Elombe, he effectively created the expression “Black Is Beautiful” in the sixties by documenting the Harlem models in New York: youthful African American women who became the sensational archetype for beauty, abandoning typical beauty standards and the established white model of femininity.
The Power of a Simple Phrase
This powerful statement transformed into a radical call to action, an inspired concise manifesto for transformation. Just stating that people of color were beautiful emerged as a liberating influence in culture, politics and the arts. The artist grew into integral to the civil rights global Black movement by photographing the legendary boxer prior to his historic Zaire bout in 1974.
He served as the primary photographer for the band's African tour, and later assumed the role of the house photographer for the legendary Apollo theatre, building an incredible portfolio of black musicians. Together with Elombe, he became the key organizer behind arranging for the anti-apartheid icon to appear in the community.
Family Legacy
His son the younger Brathwaite shares the family's quest to achieve proper recognition for his parent's achievements after he was hurtfully excluded in the prestigious Smithsonian institution, established by Barack Obama in this century.
The feature further reveals the deeply tragic inspiration of the artist's passion for photography: the disturbing pictures of the young victim, the teenage Black murder victim whose bereaved parent courageously requested an open coffin so the violent nature of racist violence would not be hidden.
Amidst Sorrow to Empowerment
Through this representation of horror, Brathwaite discovered a form of profound understanding that guided him toward visual representations of community. His images powerfully conveyed empowering beauty and often nuanced in approach: he established a fresh iconography of empowerment around which social causes could mobilize.
This represents an inspiring chronicle of cultural impact that still resonate across generations.
