There have been many fascinating documentaries highlighting photographers: Vivian Maier. It could be the documentary format naturally comes alive when presenting exceptionally powerful photographs. Today comes a new outstanding example, by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, documenting the extraordinary professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—a photographer, performer and African American activist who represented a special artistic-political vision.
Together with his brother Elombe, he virtually invented the expression “Black Is Beautiful” in the 1960s by documenting the African American women in Harlem: young Black women who became the sensational template for visual appeal, rejecting typical grooming practices and the established white standard of womanhood.
The Power of a Revolutionary Slogan
The iconic phrase evolved into a powerful call to action, an visionary three-word prose poem for transformation. Just stating that African Americans possessed beauty proved to be a empowering influence in art, social movements and creative expression. Brathwaite became part of the civil rights global Black struggle by photographing Muhammad Ali prior to his historic championship fight in 1974.
He became the exclusive visual documentarian for the musical group's international performances, and subsequently was named the official visual chronicler for the historic cultural institution, assembling an incredible collection of African American artists. Alongside Elombe, he was the central figure behind arranging for Nelson Mandela to address the public in the community.
Historical Recognition
Brathwaite's son his namesake recounts the personal campaign to achieve due acknowledgment for his parent's achievements after he was painfully overlooked in Washington DC's cultural museum, opened by the former president in recent years.
This documentary further reveals the inexpressibly painful genesis of the photographer's interest in image making: the shocking pictures of Emmett Till, the adolescent African American murder victim whose bereaved parent courageously insisted on an open coffin so the horrific reality of bigoted brutality could not be hidden.
Amidst Sorrow to Empowerment
Through this image of horror, the visionary found a type of profound understanding that directed him toward visual representations of aspiration. His photographs were eloquent of celebratory strength and frequently not overtly political: he curated a fresh visual language of strength around which activist groups could mobilize.
This represents an captivating chronicle of cultural impact that continues to inspire through the years.
