History has seen numerous engaging features highlighting photographers: Martin Parr. Perhaps the documentary format truly excels when presenting exceptionally powerful still images. Here comes one more exceptional instance, directed by writer-director Yemi Bamiro, exploring the impressive professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—a photographer, performer and civil rights advocate who represented a special artistic-political perspective.
In partnership with his family member Elombe, he virtually invented the slogan “Black Is Beautiful” during the mid-century era by photographing the African American women in Harlem: youthful African American women who became the sensational archetype for beauty, moving beyond conventional grooming practices and the established white ideal of femininity.
The Impact of a Revolutionary Slogan
The iconic phrase evolved into a radical call to action, an inspired memorable prose poem for progress. Simply stating that black people radiated beauty became a liberating power in art, politics and culture. The artist emerged as integral to the civil rights pan-Africanist struggle by capturing images of Muhammad Ali before his iconic Rumble in the Jungle in the seventies.
He became the exclusive photographer for the band's African tour, and eventually assumed the role of the resident artist for the historic cultural institution, assembling an extraordinary portfolio of musical pioneers. Alongside his brother, he became the key organizer behind securing the anti-apartheid icon to address the public in the community.
Family Legacy
His son the younger Brathwaite recounts the personal quest to ensure due acknowledgment for his parent's achievements after he was hurtfully ignored in Washington DC's Smithsonian institution, inaugurated by Barack Obama in 2016.
The film additionally explores the deeply tragic inspiration of the photographer's passion for visual storytelling: the shocking photographs of the lynching martyr, the teenage civil rights murder victim whose mourning family member defiantly insisted on an public viewing so the violent nature of racist violence could not be covered up.
Amidst Sorrow to Beauty
From this representation of violence, Brathwaite found a type of transformative realization that led him toward images of community. His work were eloquent of empowering beauty and frequently subtle in messaging: he developed a new visual language of empowerment around which activist groups could mobilize.
The documentary stands as an inspiring testament of artistic vision that still empower decades later.
