We have witnessed many compelling documentaries about visual artists: Vivian Maier. It could be the documentary format truly excels when presenting remarkably striking visual compositions. Now arrives another remarkable example, by creator Yemi Bamiro, documenting the impressive life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—a creative force, musician and African American activist who represented a unique politico-aesthetic perspective.
Together with his sibling Elombe, he pioneered the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” throughout the 1960s by documenting the Grandassa Models in New York: youthful women of color who became the sensational standard for aesthetics, moving beyond traditional grooming practices and the usual Caucasian model of femininity.
The Impact of a Simple Phrase
This powerful statement became a powerful call to action, an inspired memorable prose poem for change. Simply stating that black people possessed beauty emerged as a transformative influence in art, politics and creative expression. The photographer grew into a key figure in the Black power African diaspora cause by capturing images of Muhammad Ali leading up to his iconic championship fight in the seventies.
He became the official visual documentarian for the band's continental journey, and subsequently became the official visual chronicler for the historic Harlem venue, assembling an extraordinary archive of African American artists. Alongside his sibling, he emerged as the driving force behind securing the South African leader to appear in the community.
Personal Journey
His son Kwame Jr is interviewed the their campaign to secure due acknowledgment for his parent's achievements after he was painfully overlooked in Washington DC's Smithsonian institution, opened by the former president in recent years.
The feature additionally explores the deeply tragic genesis of the photographer's passion for image making: the horrendous images of the young victim, the adolescent African American murder victim whose mourning family member defiantly requested an public viewing so the violent nature of bigoted brutality would not be covered up.
Amidst Sorrow to Beauty
Through this vision of tragedy, the visionary found a type of anti-epiphany that led him toward visual representations of beauty. His images beautifully expressed empowering beauty and typically nuanced in approach: he developed a innovative visual language of empowerment around which political movements could gather.
This represents an inspiring chronicle of creative genius that still empower through the years.
