History has seen numerous compelling films highlighting photographers: Martin Parr. Perhaps the documentary format naturally comes alive when presenting particularly vivid photographs. Now comes another outstanding case, directed by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, documenting the impressive life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—a photographer, artist and civil rights advocate who embodied a distinct politico-aesthetic perspective.
Together with his sibling Elombe, he virtually invented the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” throughout the sixties by capturing the Harlem models in New York: emerging African American women who became the sensational standard for aesthetics, rejecting conventional cosmetic products and the established white model of womanhood.
The Power of Three Words
The iconic phrase transformed into a transformative call to action, an inspired concise manifesto for change. Simply to assert that African Americans were beautiful became a transformative power in culture, social movements and the arts. The photographer emerged as integral to the Black power pan-Africanist struggle by documenting Muhammad Ali prior to his iconic Zaire bout in that era.
He became the exclusive image creator for the musical group's international performances, and subsequently assumed the role of the official visual chronicler for the legendary Apollo theatre, assembling an incredible portfolio of black musicians. In collaboration with Elombe, he became the key organizer behind bringing the anti-apartheid icon to appear in Harlem.
Historical Recognition
Brathwaite's son Kwame Jr is interviewed the personal mission to secure proper recognition for his father's legacy after he was painfully excluded in the nation's capital's Smithsonian institution, inaugurated by the political leader in recent years.
The feature further reveals the deeply tragic inspiration of the photographer's passion for image making: the shocking pictures of the young victim, the adolescent African American tragic figure whose grieving mother defiantly demanded an public viewing so the horrific reality of racist violence could not be hidden.
Through Darkness to Hope
Through this representation of violence, the visionary encountered a kind of transformative realization that directed him toward images of beauty. His images powerfully conveyed celebratory strength and frequently not overtly political: he developed a innovative iconography of pride around which political movements could mobilize.
It is an inspiring chronicle of cultural impact that still inspire decades later.
