There have been countless engaging features about photographers: Martin Parr. Perhaps the documentary format naturally comes alive when showcasing particularly vivid visual compositions. Now we have another remarkable example, by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the remarkable professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, musician and social justice champion who exemplified a special politico-aesthetic perspective.
In partnership with his brother Elombe, he effectively created the slogan “Black Is Beautiful” in the 1960s by capturing the Grandassa Models in New York: emerging African American women who emerged as the sensational standard for aesthetics, abandoning traditional beauty standards and the predominant white model of womanhood.
The Power of a Simple Phrase
The iconic phrase evolved into a transformative rallying cry, an brilliant memorable prose poem for change. Merely to assert that African Americans were beautiful emerged as a transformative power in culture, politics and culture. The artist became part of the social justice global Black movement by documenting the legendary boxer before his historic Rumble in the Jungle in the seventies.
He served as the official photographer for the Jackson 5's African tour, and later became the resident artist for the legendary Harlem venue, assembling an incredible archive of African American artists. Together with his brother, he was the key organizer behind bringing Nelson Mandela to address the public in New York.
Personal Journey
The photographer's offspring the younger Brathwaite recounts the personal quest to achieve appropriate credit for his father's legacy after he was painfully ignored in Washington DC's Smithsonian institution, inaugurated by the political leader in this century.
The feature also recounts the deeply tragic inspiration of the artist's passion for image making: the horrendous images of the lynching martyr, the young civil rights tragic figure whose mourning family member defiantly demanded an public viewing so the brutal truth of bigoted brutality might not be hidden.
Amidst Sorrow to Empowerment
From this representation of tragedy, the visionary encountered a type of transformative realization that guided him toward images of aspiration. His photographs were eloquent of celebratory strength and typically not overtly political: he curated a fresh visual language of empowerment through which social causes could mobilize.
This represents an inspiring record of creative genius that continues to resonate decades later.
