Black Is Beautiful: A Inspiring Tale of Trailblazing Photographer Kwame Brathwaite

We have witnessed numerous fascinating features about image makers: Tish Murtha. Perhaps the film medium naturally comes alive when displaying exceptionally powerful still images. Here we have a new exceptional instance, from writer-director Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the extraordinary life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, musician and civil rights advocate who exemplified a unique artistic-political perspective.

Alongside his brother Elombe, he virtually invented the slogan “Black Is Beautiful” in the mid-century era by photographing the Harlem models in Harlem: youthful women of color who became the sensational archetype for visual appeal, moving beyond conventional grooming practices and the established Caucasian model of womanhood.

The Impact of Three Words

This powerful statement evolved into a powerful rallying cry, an brilliant concise declaration for transformation. Simply stating that black people possessed beauty proved to be a liberating power in art, social movements and creative expression. The photographer emerged as part of the Black power global Black struggle by documenting the legendary boxer leading up to his iconic Zaire bout in that era.

He served as the primary visual documentarian for the Jackson 5's African tour, and eventually was named the resident artist for the iconic Apollo theatre, creating an amazing portfolio of black musicians. Together with his brother, he emerged as the driving force behind bringing Nelson Mandela to address the public in Harlem.

Historical Recognition

Brathwaite's son his namesake is interviewed the personal quest to secure proper recognition for his family heritage after he was painfully excluded in the nation's capital's National Museum of African American History and Culture, inaugurated by the political leader in 2016.

The feature further reveals the inexpressibly painful genesis of the artist's interest in visual storytelling: the horrendous images of the young victim, the adolescent African American murder victim whose bereaved parent defiantly insisted on an uncovered casket so the horrific reality of racist violence might not be concealed.

Through Darkness to Beauty

Through this representation of violence, the artist discovered a form of anti-epiphany that directed him toward photographs of beauty. His images powerfully conveyed community pride and frequently subtle in messaging: he developed a new visual language of strength upon which activist groups could gather.

It is an exhilarating record of cultural impact that persists in empower decades later.