We have witnessed countless compelling films about image makers: Martin Parr. Maybe cinematic storytelling naturally comes alive when presenting remarkably striking visual compositions. Now comes one more remarkable case, directed by creator Yemi Bamiro, documenting the remarkable professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—a photographer, musician and social justice champion who exemplified a special artistic-political vision.
In partnership with his family member Elombe, he virtually invented the expression “Black Is Beautiful” throughout the mid-century era by documenting the African American women in the cultural epicenter: emerging African American women who became the sensational template for visual appeal, moving beyond traditional cosmetic products and the predominant white model of femininity.
The Power of a Revolutionary Slogan
Black Is Beautiful transformed into a radical rallying cry, an visionary concise prose poem for change. Just to assert that African Americans were beautiful became a transformative influence in culture, activism and creative expression. The photographer grew into integral to the civil rights global Black struggle by capturing images of the sports icon before his iconic Rumble in the Jungle in 1974.
He served as the exclusive photographer for the band's African tour, and eventually assumed the role of the official visual chronicler for the historic Apollo theatre, creating an incredible archive of black musicians. In collaboration with Elombe, he emerged as the central figure behind securing the South African leader to address the public in Harlem.
Personal Journey
The photographer's offspring his namesake is interviewed the their quest to secure proper recognition for his parent's achievements after he was hurtfully excluded in the nation's capital's Smithsonian institution, established by Barack Obama in this century.
The feature further reveals the inexpressibly painful genesis of the artist's interest in visual storytelling: the horrendous images of the young victim, the young Black murder victim whose grieving mother defiantly requested an public viewing so the horrific reality of racist violence could not be covered up.
From Tragedy to Hope
Through this vision of tragedy, Brathwaite discovered a type of transformative realization that led him toward visual representations of community. His photographs were eloquent of empowering beauty and frequently not overtly political: he established a fresh symbolic representation of empowerment around which activist groups could mobilize.
It is an exhilarating testament of cultural impact that persists in empower decades later.
