History has seen numerous compelling features highlighting photographers: Vivian Maier. Maybe the documentary format naturally comes alive when presenting exceptionally powerful visual compositions. Here we have a new outstanding example, from filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the extraordinary professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—a photographer, musician and African American activist who represented a special politico-aesthetic vision.
Alongside his brother Elombe, he virtually invented the slogan “Black Is Beautiful” during the mid-century era by photographing the Harlem models in New York: young Black women who transformed into the sensational standard for visual appeal, moving beyond conventional beauty standards and the usual Caucasian standard of femininity.
The Influence of Three Words
Black Is Beautiful became a radical rallying cry, an inspired three-word prose poem for change. Just declaring that black people possessed beauty emerged as a empowering influence in society, politics and culture. Brathwaite became part of the social justice African diaspora movement by capturing images of Muhammad Ali prior to his legendary championship fight in the seventies.
He served as the official image creator for the Jackson 5's African tour, and subsequently was named the official visual chronicler for the legendary cultural institution, creating an incredible collection of African American artists. Together with his brother, he became the key organizer behind securing the South African leader to speak in Harlem.
Personal Journey
The photographer's offspring his namesake recounts the their campaign to ensure appropriate credit for his family heritage after he was unjustly excluded in the nation's capital's National Museum of African American History and Culture, opened by the former president in this century.
The film further reveals the profoundly sorrowful origin of Brathwaite's passion for image making: the disturbing images of Emmett Till, the young African American tragic figure whose mourning family member courageously insisted on an public viewing so the horrific reality of bigoted brutality could not be hidden.
Through Darkness to Hope
From this representation of horror, the artist found a type of anti-epiphany that guided him toward images of community. His photographs beautifully expressed empowering beauty and often not overtly political: he developed a innovative visual language of pride through which social causes could gather.
This represents an captivating record of cultural impact that continues to inspire through the years.
