There have been countless engaging films highlighting visual artists: Martin Parr. It could be the film medium particularly shines when presenting exceptionally powerful photographs. Now we have a new remarkable example, by writer-director Yemi Bamiro, documenting the impressive life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, performer and social justice champion who represented a unique artistic-political approach.
Together with his family member Elombe, he effectively created the expression “Black Is Beautiful” during the 1960s by photographing the Harlem models in Harlem: young women of color who emerged as the transformative template for visual appeal, abandoning typical beauty standards and the established white model of womanhood.
The Influence of a Simple Phrase
The iconic phrase became a radical rallying cry, an brilliant concise prose poem for progress. Just to assert that people of color were beautiful emerged as a transformative force in society, social movements and culture. The photographer grew into integral to the social justice pan-Africanist cause by documenting Muhammad Ali prior to his legendary championship fight in the seventies.
He was appointed the official image creator for the Jackson 5's African tour, and later was named the house photographer for the legendary Apollo theatre, assembling an extraordinary collection of African American artists. In collaboration with his sibling, he was the key organizer behind bringing the anti-apartheid icon to appear in Harlem.
Personal Journey
His son his namesake recounts the their quest to achieve appropriate credit for his parent's achievements after he was unjustly ignored in the prestigious Smithsonian institution, established by the political leader in this century.
The feature further reveals the deeply tragic inspiration of the photographer's dedication to image making: the disturbing photographs of the young victim, the young African American murder victim whose grieving mother boldly demanded an open coffin so the horrific reality of racist violence would not be covered up.
Through Darkness to Empowerment
Through this vision of horror, the visionary encountered a form of transformative realization that directed him toward images of community. His work were eloquent of celebratory strength and often not overtly political: he developed a fresh visual language of strength upon which activist groups could gather.
It is an captivating chronicle of creative genius that still empower across generations.
