There have been many compelling documentaries highlighting visual artists: Tish Murtha. It could be the film medium particularly shines when presenting remarkably striking photographs. Today arrives another outstanding case, from creator Yemi Bamiro, documenting the extraordinary professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—a creative force, artist and social justice champion who embodied a distinct politico-aesthetic vision.
Alongside his brother Elombe, he virtually invented the slogan “Black Is Beautiful” in the mid-century era by documenting the Grandassa Models in New York: emerging women of color who became the transformative standard for visual appeal, abandoning conventional beauty standards and the established white standard of womanhood.
The Influence of a Revolutionary Slogan
The iconic phrase transformed into a radical call to action, an brilliant three-word declaration for change. Simply to assert that black people radiated beauty emerged as a empowering power in society, politics and the arts. The artist became a key figure in the civil rights pan-Africanist cause by documenting the legendary boxer leading up to his historic championship fight in that era.
He became the primary visual documentarian for the Jackson 5's continental journey, and eventually became the house photographer for the legendary Apollo theatre, creating an incredible collection of African American artists. In collaboration with his brother, he became the key organizer behind bringing Nelson Mandela to speak in the community.
Personal Journey
The photographer's offspring the younger Brathwaite shares the family's mission to ensure appropriate credit for his father's legacy after he was hurtfully overlooked in the nation's capital's cultural museum, inaugurated by the political leader in 2016.
This documentary also recounts the inexpressibly painful inspiration of Brathwaite's interest in photography: the horrendous photographs of the lynching martyr, the adolescent civil rights murder victim whose bereaved parent courageously insisted on an public viewing so the horrific reality of bigoted brutality would not be covered up.
Amidst Sorrow to Beauty
In this vision of tragedy, Brathwaite encountered a form of transformative realization that guided him toward visual representations of community. His work were eloquent of community pride and often nuanced in approach: he established a innovative symbolic representation of empowerment upon which activist groups could gather.
It is an inspiring testament of artistic vision that continues to inspire across generations.
