We have witnessed many compelling films focusing on visual artists: Tish Murtha. It could be the documentary format naturally comes alive when showcasing remarkably striking visual compositions. Today arrives a new exceptional instance, directed by creator Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the extraordinary professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—a creative force, performer and African American activist who embodied a distinct politico-aesthetic vision.
Together with his family member Elombe, he virtually invented the expression “Black Is Beautiful” throughout the sixties by documenting the African American women in New York: youthful women of color who transformed into the sensational template for beauty, moving beyond typical grooming practices and the usual white model of female beauty.
The Power of Three Words
The iconic phrase evolved into a transformative unifying message, an inspired memorable prose poem for transformation. Just stating that people of color were beautiful emerged as a transformative influence in art, activism and creative expression. Brathwaite emerged as integral to the civil rights African diaspora movement by capturing images of the legendary boxer prior to his historic Zaire bout in the seventies.
He became the exclusive image creator for the Jackson 5's African tour, and subsequently was named the resident artist for the legendary Harlem venue, creating an incredible archive of musical pioneers. Together with his sibling, he was the central figure behind securing the South African leader to speak in Harlem.
Historical Recognition
His son his namesake recounts the family's quest to ensure appropriate credit for his father's legacy after he was unjustly overlooked in the nation's capital's Smithsonian institution, inaugurated by Barack Obama in 2016.
The feature further reveals the profoundly sorrowful origin of the photographer's passion for photography: the disturbing photographs of Emmett Till, the adolescent civil rights tragic figure whose bereaved parent courageously insisted on an open coffin so the horrific reality of racist violence could not be concealed.
From Tragedy to Empowerment
Through this vision of violence, Brathwaite discovered a kind of anti-epiphany that guided him toward images of beauty. His images were eloquent of community pride and often not overtly political: he established a new iconography of pride through which activist groups could unite.
This represents an captivating record of creative genius that continues to empower across generations.
