Black Is Beautiful: The Revealing Journey of Trailblazing Visionary Kwame Brathwaite

We have witnessed many compelling documentaries highlighting photographers: Vivian Maier. Maybe the documentary format particularly shines when displaying particularly vivid still images. Now we have one more remarkable instance, directed by writer-director Yemi Bamiro, documenting the extraordinary life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, musician and African American activist who represented a distinct cultural-activist approach.

Together with his sibling Elombe, he pioneered the expression “Black Is Beautiful” throughout the 1960s by capturing the Grandassa Models in New York: young African American women who became the transformative template for visual appeal, moving beyond traditional grooming practices and the predominant white ideal of womanhood.

The Power of a Revolutionary Slogan

The iconic phrase became a radical call to action, an visionary concise declaration for transformation. Merely stating that people of color were beautiful proved to be a empowering power in society, politics and creative expression. The artist became integral to the social justice global Black movement by photographing Muhammad Ali before his legendary Rumble in the Jungle in that era.

He served as the primary photographer for the Jackson 5's international performances, and later became the official visual chronicler for the iconic Apollo theatre, assembling an extraordinary portfolio of black musicians. Together with Elombe, he became the key organizer behind arranging for the anti-apartheid icon to appear in New York.

Historical Recognition

Brathwaite's son his namesake recounts the their quest to ensure appropriate credit for his father's legacy after he was hurtfully ignored in the prestigious Smithsonian institution, established by the political leader in recent years.

This documentary additionally explores the inexpressibly painful origin of the artist's passion for visual storytelling: the horrendous images of Emmett Till, the teenage African American lynching victim whose mourning family member boldly insisted on an open coffin so the horrific reality of bigoted brutality could not be hidden.

Through Darkness to Hope

Through this representation of horror, Brathwaite encountered a kind of transformative realization that directed him toward visual representations of community. His images powerfully conveyed community pride and frequently nuanced in approach: he established a innovative visual language of strength around which political movements could gather.

It is an exhilarating record of artistic vision that continues to empower through the years.