We have witnessed many fascinating films about visual artists: Vivian Maier. Perhaps the documentary format truly excels when showcasing particularly vivid still images. Here comes a new remarkable instance, directed by creator Yemi Bamiro, documenting the remarkable professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—a photographer, performer and African American activist who embodied a unique cultural-activist perspective.
Alongside his sibling Elombe, he pioneered the expression “Black Is Beautiful” in the 1960s by documenting the African American women in the cultural epicenter: emerging women of color who became the transformative archetype for aesthetics, abandoning conventional beauty standards and the predominant Caucasian standard of female beauty.
The Power of a Simple Phrase
This powerful statement became a powerful unifying message, an visionary three-word manifesto for transformation. Just stating that African Americans possessed beauty became a transformative force in society, activism and the arts. The artist grew into part of the social justice African diaspora movement by photographing the sports icon prior to his iconic Rumble in the Jungle in the seventies.
He became the primary image creator for the Jackson 5's international performances, and later became the house photographer for the iconic cultural institution, creating an incredible archive of black musicians. Alongside his brother, he became the key organizer behind arranging for the anti-apartheid icon to appear in New York.
Historical Recognition
Brathwaite's son the younger Brathwaite shares the personal quest to ensure due acknowledgment for his father's legacy after he was painfully overlooked in the prestigious cultural museum, opened by Barack Obama in 2016.
The feature also recounts the inexpressibly painful inspiration of Brathwaite's interest in visual storytelling: the shocking images of the lynching martyr, the teenage Black tragic figure whose grieving mother boldly insisted on an uncovered casket so the violent nature of racist violence could not be concealed.
From Tragedy to Hope
In this representation of horror, the visionary found a form of profound understanding that directed him toward photographs of aspiration. His images powerfully conveyed empowering beauty and often nuanced in approach: he curated a fresh visual language of strength upon which social causes could unite.
The documentary stands as an inspiring record of cultural impact that continues to inspire through the years.
