We have witnessed many engaging films focusing on visual artists: Vivian Maier. Perhaps the documentary format truly excels when showcasing exceptionally powerful still images. Now comes one more outstanding example, directed by creator Yemi Bamiro, exploring the remarkable professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—a creative force, artist and civil rights advocate who represented a distinct cultural-activist vision.
In partnership with his sibling Elombe, he effectively created the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” in the 1960s by photographing the Grandassa Models in the cultural epicenter: young Black women who emerged as the sensational template for aesthetics, rejecting typical cosmetic products and the established Caucasian ideal of womanhood.
The Influence of Three Words
Black Is Beautiful became a transformative call to action, an visionary three-word manifesto for progress. Just to assert that black people were beautiful emerged as a empowering force in art, activism and culture. The photographer grew into integral to the social justice African diaspora movement by documenting Muhammad Ali leading up to his iconic Rumble in the Jungle in that era.
He served as the official image creator for the band's African tour, and later was named the official visual chronicler for the iconic cultural institution, building an incredible portfolio of black musicians. Together with Elombe, he was the key organizer behind arranging for Nelson Mandela to appear in New York.
Personal Journey
His son Kwame Jr shares the their mission to achieve appropriate credit for his parent's achievements after he was unjustly excluded in the nation's capital's cultural museum, established by the former president in 2016.
This documentary further reveals the inexpressibly painful inspiration of Brathwaite's passion for photography: the disturbing images of Emmett Till, the adolescent Black tragic figure whose bereaved parent courageously requested an uncovered casket so the brutal truth of racist violence would not be covered up.
From Tragedy to Hope
Through this vision of horror, the artist encountered a type of transformative realization that led him toward visual representations of beauty. His images powerfully conveyed celebratory strength and often nuanced in approach: he established a fresh iconography of strength around which political movements could gather.
It is an inspiring testament of artistic vision that persists in empower across generations.
