We have witnessed countless fascinating documentaries focusing on photographers: Tish Murtha. Maybe cinematic storytelling naturally comes alive when displaying remarkably striking photographs. Here comes another exceptional instance, from creator Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the remarkable life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—a photographer, artist and social justice champion who exemplified a special politico-aesthetic vision.
Together with his sibling Elombe, he effectively created the expression “Black Is Beautiful” throughout the mid-century era by documenting the Harlem models in Harlem: emerging African American women who became the groundbreaking standard for aesthetics, rejecting traditional grooming practices and the predominant white model of female beauty.
The Impact of a Revolutionary Slogan
The iconic phrase transformed into a radical rallying cry, an inspired three-word declaration for progress. Simply declaring that people of color were beautiful became a liberating power in art, politics and culture. The photographer became a key figure in the Black power global Black cause by photographing the legendary boxer before his iconic championship fight in 1974.
He served as the primary visual documentarian for the Jackson 5's international performances, and subsequently became the resident artist for the historic cultural institution, assembling an amazing collection of African American artists. Together with Elombe, he was the key organizer behind securing Nelson Mandela to speak in Harlem.
Personal Journey
The photographer's offspring the younger Brathwaite is interviewed the family's mission to ensure proper recognition for his family heritage after he was painfully overlooked in Washington DC's National Museum of African American History and Culture, inaugurated by the political leader in this century.
This documentary additionally explores the inexpressibly painful inspiration of the photographer's interest in visual storytelling: the horrendous images of Emmett Till, the teenage Black tragic figure whose mourning family member boldly demanded an public viewing so the horrific reality of bigoted brutality might not be covered up.
From Tragedy to Empowerment
In this image of tragedy, Brathwaite discovered a type of transformative realization that led him toward images of beauty. His images beautifully expressed empowering beauty and frequently nuanced in approach: he developed a new visual language of empowerment around which political movements could unite.
It is an captivating chronicle of artistic vision that persists in empower through the years.
