We have witnessed numerous compelling documentaries highlighting photographers: Martin Parr. Maybe the film medium naturally comes alive when displaying exceptionally powerful photographs. Today comes another outstanding instance, directed by writer-director Yemi Bamiro, exploring the extraordinary life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, musician and social justice champion who exemplified a special cultural-activist approach.
Together with his family member Elombe, he virtually invented the slogan “Black Is Beautiful” in the sixties by photographing the Harlem models in Harlem: emerging Black women who transformed into the transformative template for visual appeal, abandoning traditional beauty standards and the predominant Caucasian ideal of womanhood.
The Influence of Three Words
This powerful statement transformed into a powerful unifying message, an brilliant concise declaration for progress. Simply declaring that African Americans possessed beauty became a empowering force in society, activism and the arts. The artist grew into integral to the social justice African diaspora struggle by photographing the sports icon leading up to his legendary Zaire bout in 1974.
He served as the primary visual documentarian for the musical group's international performances, and later was named the official visual chronicler for the iconic Apollo theatre, creating an amazing collection of black musicians. In collaboration with his brother, he became the key organizer behind securing the South African leader to appear in Harlem.
Personal Journey
The photographer's offspring Kwame Jr shares the their mission to achieve due acknowledgment for his parent's achievements after he was hurtfully excluded in the nation's capital's National Museum of African American History and Culture, established by the political leader in recent years.
This documentary further reveals the deeply tragic inspiration of Brathwaite's interest in visual storytelling: the shocking images of Emmett Till, the teenage Black lynching victim whose bereaved parent defiantly requested an open coffin so the horrific reality of racial hatred might not be covered up.
Through Darkness to Hope
In this image of horror, the artist discovered a kind of anti-epiphany that led him toward photographs of community. His work beautifully expressed community pride and often not overtly political: he curated a innovative symbolic representation of strength upon which activist groups could mobilize.
It is an inspiring testament of cultural impact that persists in empower decades later.
