We have witnessed many fascinating documentaries highlighting image makers: Vivian Maier. Maybe the documentary format naturally comes alive when presenting exceptionally powerful visual compositions. Here arrives a new outstanding case, directed by writer-director Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the extraordinary life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, artist and civil rights advocate who represented a distinct cultural-activist approach.
In partnership with his brother Elombe, he effectively created the slogan “Black Is Beautiful” throughout the 1960s by documenting the African American women in New York: youthful Black women who became the groundbreaking standard for beauty, moving beyond traditional grooming practices and the usual Eurocentric ideal of femininity.
The Power of Three Words
The iconic phrase became a radical unifying message, an inspired three-word prose poem for transformation. Simply to assert that people of color were beautiful became a empowering influence in society, activism and culture. Brathwaite grew into a key figure in the civil rights African diaspora struggle by documenting Muhammad Ali before his iconic championship fight in that era.
He became the primary image creator for the musical group's continental journey, and eventually became the house photographer for the legendary Harlem venue, assembling an amazing archive of musical pioneers. In collaboration with Elombe, he was the driving force behind bringing the South African leader to appear in Harlem.
Historical Recognition
His son his namesake shares the personal quest to secure proper recognition for his family heritage after he was hurtfully excluded in the prestigious Smithsonian institution, established by Barack Obama in 2016.
This documentary further reveals the deeply tragic genesis of the photographer's interest in visual storytelling: the shocking photographs of the young victim, the young African American lynching victim whose mourning family member courageously requested an open coffin so the horrific reality of bigoted brutality would not be concealed.
Amidst Sorrow to Hope
From this representation of violence, the visionary encountered a type of transformative realization that led him toward visual representations of community. His images powerfully conveyed empowering beauty and typically nuanced in approach: he curated a fresh symbolic representation of strength around which activist groups could mobilize.
It is an captivating chronicle of cultural impact that still empower across generations.
