There have been countless compelling features highlighting visual artists: Vivian Maier. Perhaps the film medium particularly shines when displaying remarkably striking still images. Here arrives another outstanding case, by creator Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the extraordinary professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, performer and civil rights advocate who exemplified a unique artistic-political perspective.
Together with his family member Elombe, he virtually invented the slogan “Black Is Beautiful” throughout the sixties by documenting the Harlem models in the cultural epicenter: young women of color who emerged as the groundbreaking archetype for beauty, moving beyond conventional cosmetic products and the established Caucasian model of female beauty.
The Impact of a Revolutionary Slogan
The iconic phrase evolved into a powerful unifying message, an brilliant memorable manifesto for transformation. Simply stating that people of color possessed beauty proved to be a transformative power in society, politics and creative expression. The photographer became part of the Black power global Black movement by documenting Muhammad Ali leading up to his iconic Zaire bout in that era.
He served as the official image creator for the Jackson 5's continental journey, and subsequently was named the house photographer for the iconic cultural institution, assembling an incredible portfolio of African American artists. In collaboration with his brother, he emerged as the key organizer behind securing the South African leader to appear in Harlem.
Family Legacy
His son Kwame Jr recounts the their campaign to secure proper recognition for his parent's achievements after he was painfully overlooked in the nation's capital's cultural museum, opened by the political leader in this century.
This documentary also recounts the inexpressibly painful origin of Brathwaite's passion for visual storytelling: the disturbing photographs of the lynching martyr, the young civil rights lynching victim whose mourning family member courageously insisted on an uncovered casket so the violent nature of bigoted brutality might not be concealed.
Through Darkness to Hope
From this representation of tragedy, the artist discovered a form of profound understanding that led him toward photographs of beauty. His work beautifully expressed empowering beauty and often nuanced in approach: he established a fresh iconography of pride through which social causes could gather.
This represents an captivating chronicle of cultural impact that still resonate through the years.
