History has seen countless fascinating films about photographers: Martin Parr. It could be cinematic storytelling truly excels when displaying particularly vivid still images. Here we have one more remarkable instance, from creator Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the extraordinary career of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, artist and civil rights advocate who exemplified a distinct politico-aesthetic vision.
In partnership with his brother Elombe, he pioneered the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” in the 1960s by capturing the Harlem models in the cultural epicenter: young Black women who became the sensational archetype for visual appeal, moving beyond conventional cosmetic products and the established Caucasian model of womanhood.
The Impact of Three Words
Black Is Beautiful transformed into a transformative call to action, an visionary memorable prose poem for transformation. Just declaring that black people possessed beauty became a empowering force in culture, politics and the arts. Brathwaite emerged as a key figure in the Black power pan-Africanist struggle by photographing the sports icon leading up to his legendary Zaire bout in 1974.
He served as the primary image creator for the band's continental journey, and subsequently assumed the role of the resident artist for the iconic Apollo theatre, building an amazing archive of black musicians. Together with his sibling, he became the key organizer behind securing Nelson Mandela to appear in Harlem.
Family Legacy
Brathwaite's son the younger Brathwaite is interviewed the personal campaign to ensure appropriate credit for his parent's achievements after he was unjustly ignored in Washington DC's Smithsonian institution, opened by Barack Obama in 2016.
This documentary further reveals the deeply tragic origin of the photographer's dedication to photography: the shocking photographs of Emmett Till, the young African American tragic figure whose bereaved parent boldly demanded an uncovered casket so the violent nature of racist violence could not be concealed.
From Tragedy to Beauty
From this representation of tragedy, the visionary discovered a form of profound understanding that guided him toward images of community. His images powerfully conveyed empowering beauty and frequently nuanced in approach: he established a new iconography of strength upon which social causes could gather.
The documentary stands as an captivating testament of artistic vision that persists in resonate decades later.
