History has seen many fascinating documentaries about photographers: Tish Murtha. Perhaps the documentary format particularly shines when presenting exceptionally powerful visual compositions. Here we have another outstanding example, directed by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, documenting the extraordinary career of Kwame Brathwaite—a photographer, musician and social justice champion who embodied a special politico-aesthetic vision.
Alongside his brother Elombe, he virtually invented the expression “Black Is Beautiful” throughout the mid-century era by photographing the African American women in Harlem: youthful Black women who transformed into the transformative standard for beauty, abandoning conventional grooming practices and the established white standard of womanhood.
The Influence of a Simple Phrase
This powerful statement transformed into a radical rallying cry, an brilliant three-word declaration for transformation. Merely to assert that African Americans were beautiful proved to be a liberating force in culture, politics and creative expression. The artist grew into a key figure in the Black power African diaspora struggle by documenting the sports icon prior to his iconic Rumble in the Jungle in that era.
He was appointed the exclusive image creator for the Jackson 5's African tour, and later was named the house photographer for the iconic Harlem venue, creating an incredible collection of black musicians. Alongside Elombe, he became the driving force behind arranging for the South African leader to address the public in the community.
Personal Journey
His son his namesake shares the family's campaign to achieve appropriate credit for his father's legacy after he was unjustly ignored in Washington DC's National Museum of African American History and Culture, opened by the political leader in this century.
The film further reveals the deeply tragic origin of the artist's dedication to visual storytelling: the shocking images of the young victim, the young Black tragic figure whose grieving mother boldly insisted on an uncovered casket so the horrific reality of racial hatred could not be concealed.
Through Darkness to Hope
From this vision of violence, the visionary found a type of anti-epiphany that directed him toward photographs of community. His work were eloquent of celebratory strength and often nuanced in approach: he developed a fresh symbolic representation of empowerment through which activist groups could unite.
This represents an exhilarating record of cultural impact that still resonate through the years.
