We have witnessed countless engaging features focusing on photographers: Tish Murtha. Maybe the documentary format truly excels when displaying exceptionally powerful visual compositions. Today comes another outstanding example, by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, documenting the impressive life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—a creative force, artist and social justice champion who represented a unique politico-aesthetic approach.
Together with his sibling Elombe, he effectively created the expression “Black Is Beautiful” during the mid-century era by photographing the Harlem models in Harlem: emerging women of color who became the sensational standard for visual appeal, abandoning typical beauty standards and the predominant Caucasian model of womanhood.
The Power of a Revolutionary Slogan
Black Is Beautiful transformed into a transformative rallying cry, an visionary concise manifesto for transformation. Merely to assert that black people were beautiful proved to be a transformative force in society, politics and culture. The photographer became part of the social justice African diaspora movement by photographing Muhammad Ali before his legendary Rumble in the Jungle in 1974.
He was appointed the official image creator for the Jackson 5's international performances, and later was named the house photographer for the historic Harlem venue, assembling an amazing collection of black musicians. Alongside his sibling, he was the key organizer behind securing the anti-apartheid icon to speak in New York.
Family Legacy
The photographer's offspring the younger Brathwaite recounts the personal quest to secure proper recognition for his father's legacy after he was hurtfully excluded in the prestigious National Museum of African American History and Culture, established by the political leader in this century.
The feature further reveals the inexpressibly painful inspiration of Brathwaite's interest in visual storytelling: the disturbing photographs of the lynching martyr, the young civil rights lynching victim whose grieving mother defiantly insisted on an public viewing so the violent nature of racist violence might not be hidden.
Amidst Sorrow to Hope
From this image of violence, the artist discovered a type of transformative realization that led him toward visual representations of aspiration. His work were eloquent of community pride and frequently subtle in messaging: he developed a fresh iconography of strength around which activist groups could mobilize.
It is an captivating testament of creative genius that still inspire across generations.
