There have been many fascinating documentaries highlighting photographers: Vivian Maier. It could be cinematic storytelling naturally comes alive when displaying exceptionally powerful visual compositions. Now we have a new exceptional instance, directed by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, documenting the impressive life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—a creative force, musician and African American activist who embodied a unique artistic-political perspective.
In partnership with his sibling Elombe, he effectively created the expression “Black Is Beautiful” in the 1960s by photographing the Grandassa Models in Harlem: young Black women who emerged as the transformative template for aesthetics, abandoning conventional beauty standards and the predominant Eurocentric standard of femininity.
The Influence of Three Words
The iconic phrase transformed into a powerful rallying cry, an visionary three-word prose poem for progress. Just declaring that people of color radiated beauty emerged as a liberating force in society, activism and the arts. The photographer emerged as part of the civil rights African diaspora cause by photographing the sports icon leading up to his historic Rumble in the Jungle in that era.
He served as the official image creator for the Jackson 5's international performances, and eventually was named the official visual chronicler for the historic Harlem venue, assembling an incredible portfolio of musical pioneers. In collaboration with his brother, he was the key organizer behind arranging for Nelson Mandela to appear in the community.
Personal Journey
Brathwaite's son Kwame Jr recounts the family's mission to ensure appropriate credit for his father's legacy after he was unjustly overlooked in the nation's capital's cultural museum, established by Barack Obama in this century.
The feature additionally explores the deeply tragic genesis of the artist's dedication to photography: the disturbing photographs of the young victim, the teenage civil rights tragic figure whose bereaved parent defiantly insisted on an open coffin so the violent nature of bigoted brutality would not be hidden.
Through Darkness to Hope
In this vision of tragedy, the visionary found a form of transformative realization that led him toward visual representations of community. His photographs beautifully expressed community pride and typically nuanced in approach: he established a fresh visual language of empowerment around which activist groups could gather.
The documentary stands as an inspiring testament of artistic vision that persists in resonate across generations.
