History has seen numerous fascinating documentaries about visual artists: Martin Parr. Perhaps the film medium truly excels when showcasing particularly vivid still images. Here arrives another outstanding case, from filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the impressive life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—a photographer, performer and social justice champion who exemplified a distinct artistic-political perspective.
Together with his sibling Elombe, he virtually invented the expression “Black Is Beautiful” in the sixties by documenting the African American women in New York: youthful women of color who became the sensational standard for beauty, abandoning typical cosmetic products and the established Eurocentric standard of femininity.
The Influence of a Simple Phrase
The iconic phrase transformed into a radical call to action, an brilliant memorable declaration for transformation. Just declaring that people of color radiated beauty became a transformative power in art, social movements and culture. The artist emerged as part of the civil rights African diaspora movement by photographing the legendary boxer before his iconic Rumble in the Jungle in the seventies.
He served as the official photographer for the Jackson 5's African tour, and eventually was named the house photographer for the legendary Harlem venue, building an incredible collection of African American artists. In collaboration with his sibling, he became the key organizer behind bringing the anti-apartheid icon to address the public in Harlem.
Historical Recognition
His son Kwame Jr is interviewed the family's mission to achieve due acknowledgment for his family heritage after he was unjustly ignored in the prestigious National Museum of African American History and Culture, established by the former president in this century.
The feature also recounts the profoundly sorrowful genesis of the artist's passion for photography: the disturbing images of the young victim, the young Black murder victim whose mourning family member defiantly insisted on an uncovered casket so the brutal truth of racist violence might not be concealed.
Through Darkness to Hope
In this vision of tragedy, Brathwaite found a form of profound understanding that directed him toward visual representations of beauty. His work beautifully expressed community pride and frequently not overtly political: he developed a innovative symbolic representation of pride through which social causes could unite.
This represents an inspiring record of creative genius that persists in inspire across generations.
