We have witnessed many compelling documentaries about visual artists: Martin Parr. It could be the documentary format naturally comes alive when presenting remarkably striking photographs. Today we have another exceptional example, by writer-director Yemi Bamiro, documenting the remarkable life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—a photographer, musician and African American activist who represented a special cultural-activist approach.
Alongside his family member Elombe, he effectively created the expression “Black Is Beautiful” during the mid-century era by documenting the Grandassa Models in Harlem: young African American women who transformed into the sensational archetype for visual appeal, abandoning typical grooming practices and the predominant Eurocentric standard of femininity.
The Influence of a Revolutionary Slogan
Black Is Beautiful evolved into a powerful call to action, an brilliant memorable manifesto for progress. Just stating that people of color radiated beauty emerged as a liberating power in society, social movements and culture. Brathwaite became part of the Black power African diaspora movement by capturing images of the sports icon before his historic Rumble in the Jungle in the seventies.
He became the primary photographer for the musical group's African tour, and later assumed the role of the house photographer for the historic Harlem venue, building an extraordinary archive of musical pioneers. Together with his sibling, he was the central figure behind securing Nelson Mandela to address the public in the community.
Family Legacy
The photographer's offspring the younger Brathwaite shares the family's mission to achieve proper recognition for his father's legacy after he was unjustly excluded in Washington DC's National Museum of African American History and Culture, established by the political leader in this century.
The feature additionally explores the profoundly sorrowful genesis of the photographer's passion for visual storytelling: the disturbing images of the lynching martyr, the adolescent Black tragic figure whose mourning family member boldly demanded an public viewing so the brutal truth of bigoted brutality might not be covered up.
From Tragedy to Beauty
In this representation of tragedy, the visionary encountered a type of anti-epiphany that guided him toward visual representations of beauty. His work powerfully conveyed celebratory strength and frequently nuanced in approach: he established a fresh symbolic representation of strength around which activist groups could gather.
It is an captivating testament of creative genius that still resonate decades later.
