There have been numerous compelling documentaries focusing on photographers: Tish Murtha. It could be the film medium naturally comes alive when displaying particularly vivid still images. Now comes another remarkable instance, by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, exploring the remarkable career of Kwame Brathwaite—a creative force, performer and African American activist who embodied a unique politico-aesthetic approach.
Together with his family member Elombe, he pioneered the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” during the sixties by photographing the African American women in New York: emerging Black women who transformed into the groundbreaking archetype for aesthetics, moving beyond traditional grooming practices and the established white model of femininity.
The Power of a Simple Phrase
The iconic phrase transformed into a transformative rallying cry, an brilliant three-word declaration for transformation. Just stating that black people radiated beauty became a empowering force in art, social movements and culture. The artist grew into integral to the social justice global Black struggle by photographing the legendary boxer leading up to his legendary Zaire bout in the seventies.
He served as the official visual documentarian for the Jackson 5's continental journey, and later was named the official visual chronicler for the historic Apollo theatre, creating an incredible archive of musical pioneers. In collaboration with Elombe, he was the key organizer behind securing the South African leader to address the public in Harlem.
Family Legacy
Brathwaite's son Kwame Jr is interviewed the their mission to secure proper recognition for his parent's achievements after he was unjustly excluded in the prestigious National Museum of African American History and Culture, opened by the political leader in 2016.
The feature further reveals the profoundly sorrowful inspiration of Brathwaite's passion for photography: the disturbing photographs of the lynching martyr, the adolescent Black tragic figure whose mourning family member boldly demanded an uncovered casket so the horrific reality of racist violence could not be covered up.
Through Darkness to Beauty
In this image of horror, the visionary found a type of profound understanding that led him toward photographs of beauty. His images beautifully expressed empowering beauty and frequently nuanced in approach: he established a innovative symbolic representation of pride through which social causes could mobilize.
The documentary stands as an exhilarating chronicle of artistic vision that persists in inspire through the years.
