We have witnessed countless engaging films highlighting image makers: Vivian Maier. Maybe the film medium naturally comes alive when displaying remarkably striking visual compositions. Now comes a new exceptional case, by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, exploring the remarkable life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, musician and civil rights advocate who represented a special cultural-activist vision.
Together with his family member Elombe, he virtually invented the expression “Black Is Beautiful” throughout the mid-century era by photographing the Harlem models in the cultural epicenter: emerging women of color who became the groundbreaking standard for aesthetics, abandoning conventional cosmetic products and the predominant Eurocentric standard of femininity.
The Impact of a Revolutionary Slogan
This powerful statement evolved into a transformative unifying message, an visionary three-word declaration for change. Merely to assert that people of color radiated beauty emerged as a empowering force in art, activism and culture. The artist became part of the Black power African diaspora cause by documenting the legendary boxer leading up to his iconic Rumble in the Jungle in the seventies.
He became the primary visual documentarian for the musical group's continental journey, and subsequently was named the house photographer for the iconic Apollo theatre, creating an extraordinary archive of African American artists. Together with Elombe, he emerged as the driving force behind bringing the South African leader to speak in Harlem.
Personal Journey
Brathwaite's son his namesake shares the personal quest to ensure appropriate credit for his parent's achievements after he was unjustly ignored in Washington DC's Smithsonian institution, established by Barack Obama in recent years.
The feature further reveals the profoundly sorrowful genesis of the artist's dedication to visual storytelling: the shocking images of the young victim, the young African American murder victim whose mourning family member boldly demanded an public viewing so the violent nature of racist violence could not be covered up.
From Tragedy to Hope
In this image of tragedy, Brathwaite discovered a kind of profound understanding that guided him toward visual representations of aspiration. His photographs beautifully expressed celebratory strength and typically nuanced in approach: he developed a fresh iconography of pride around which activist groups could unite.
It is an exhilarating chronicle of artistic vision that still inspire through the years.
