History has seen countless compelling features focusing on photographers: Martin Parr. Perhaps the film medium naturally comes alive when displaying particularly vivid visual compositions. Now we have another outstanding case, from filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the remarkable professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—a creative force, performer and civil rights advocate who represented a unique politico-aesthetic approach.
In partnership with his sibling Elombe, he virtually invented the slogan “Black Is Beautiful” in the 1960s by documenting the Harlem models in New York: young women of color who became the groundbreaking archetype for aesthetics, abandoning traditional cosmetic products and the predominant Eurocentric standard of womanhood.
The Impact of Three Words
The iconic phrase became a radical unifying message, an inspired concise prose poem for progress. Just declaring that black people possessed beauty proved to be a transformative influence in society, social movements and creative expression. The photographer emerged as integral to the Black power global Black struggle by documenting the sports icon prior to his iconic Zaire bout in 1974.
He became the exclusive photographer for the band's international performances, and subsequently assumed the role of the resident artist for the historic Apollo theatre, creating an amazing portfolio of musical pioneers. In collaboration with his brother, he was the driving force behind bringing the anti-apartheid icon to address the public in New York.
Personal Journey
Brathwaite's son his namesake recounts the personal quest to secure appropriate credit for his family heritage after he was hurtfully ignored in the prestigious cultural museum, inaugurated by the political leader in recent years.
This documentary further reveals the deeply tragic inspiration of the artist's passion for photography: the shocking pictures of the lynching martyr, the young Black tragic figure whose bereaved parent defiantly requested an open coffin so the horrific reality of bigoted brutality would not be hidden.
Amidst Sorrow to Empowerment
Through this image of tragedy, the visionary discovered a type of profound understanding that directed him toward images of beauty. His work beautifully expressed community pride and often not overtly political: he developed a new iconography of empowerment upon which political movements could mobilize.
It is an exhilarating record of artistic vision that still empower across generations.
