History has seen numerous fascinating documentaries focusing on visual artists: Vivian Maier. It could be the film medium truly excels when showcasing remarkably striking photographs. Now comes another exceptional example, by creator Yemi Bamiro, exploring the impressive career of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, musician and social justice champion who exemplified a unique cultural-activist perspective.
Together with his family member Elombe, he effectively created the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” during the sixties by documenting the Harlem models in New York: youthful African American women who transformed into the groundbreaking archetype for visual appeal, abandoning traditional beauty standards and the predominant white model of womanhood.
The Impact of a Simple Phrase
Black Is Beautiful evolved into a radical call to action, an brilliant three-word manifesto for transformation. Just to assert that African Americans possessed beauty emerged as a transformative force in culture, politics and culture. The artist became part of the civil rights African diaspora struggle by capturing images of Muhammad Ali before his historic championship fight in 1974.
He served as the official photographer for the band's international performances, and subsequently assumed the role of the house photographer for the iconic Harlem venue, building an incredible archive of black musicians. In collaboration with his sibling, he became the central figure behind securing Nelson Mandela to address the public in the community.
Personal Journey
His son the younger Brathwaite shares the their campaign to achieve appropriate credit for his parent's achievements after he was hurtfully ignored in the nation's capital's Smithsonian institution, inaugurated by the former president in recent years.
This documentary also recounts the deeply tragic inspiration of the artist's passion for photography: the horrendous pictures of Emmett Till, the teenage civil rights tragic figure whose grieving mother courageously insisted on an public viewing so the violent nature of bigoted brutality could not be covered up.
Amidst Sorrow to Hope
From this image of tragedy, Brathwaite found a type of profound understanding that guided him toward images of beauty. His photographs powerfully conveyed community pride and typically not overtly political: he curated a new symbolic representation of empowerment around which political movements could mobilize.
The documentary stands as an captivating record of creative genius that continues to resonate across generations.
