There have been countless fascinating documentaries focusing on photographers: Martin Parr. It could be cinematic storytelling naturally comes alive when showcasing particularly vivid photographs. Now arrives another outstanding instance, directed by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the impressive life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—a photographer, artist and social justice champion who embodied a distinct cultural-activist vision.
Alongside his family member Elombe, he effectively created the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” throughout the sixties by capturing the Harlem models in Harlem: emerging Black women who transformed into the groundbreaking standard for aesthetics, rejecting typical cosmetic products and the usual Caucasian model of womanhood.
The Impact of a Simple Phrase
The iconic phrase evolved into a radical call to action, an visionary three-word manifesto for progress. Just to assert that people of color radiated beauty proved to be a transformative force in society, activism and creative expression. Brathwaite emerged as part of the civil rights pan-Africanist struggle by photographing Muhammad Ali before his iconic championship fight in 1974.
He became the exclusive visual documentarian for the Jackson 5's continental journey, and later assumed the role of the resident artist for the legendary Apollo theatre, assembling an incredible portfolio of black musicians. Alongside his brother, he was the central figure behind bringing Nelson Mandela to appear in New York.
Family Legacy
His son Kwame Jr recounts the their campaign to secure proper recognition for his parent's achievements after he was painfully ignored in the nation's capital's cultural museum, established by the former president in recent years.
The film further reveals the inexpressibly painful origin of Brathwaite's dedication to image making: the disturbing images of Emmett Till, the adolescent civil rights tragic figure whose mourning family member defiantly demanded an public viewing so the horrific reality of bigoted brutality would not be hidden.
Through Darkness to Beauty
In this vision of tragedy, the visionary found a type of anti-epiphany that led him toward images of beauty. His images were eloquent of community pride and often not overtly political: he developed a innovative symbolic representation of empowerment around which social causes could mobilize.
This represents an inspiring chronicle of cultural impact that still empower through the years.
