History has seen many fascinating features about image makers: Tish Murtha. It could be cinematic storytelling naturally comes alive when displaying particularly vivid still images. Today we have a new outstanding example, by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, documenting the impressive professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—a creative force, musician and social justice champion who represented a unique politico-aesthetic approach.
Alongside his family member Elombe, he pioneered the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” throughout the mid-century era by capturing the African American women in New York: emerging women of color who became the groundbreaking archetype for visual appeal, moving beyond conventional beauty standards and the predominant Eurocentric ideal of female beauty.
The Impact of a Simple Phrase
This powerful statement became a transformative unifying message, an visionary concise manifesto for transformation. Just stating that people of color were beautiful proved to be a transformative power in culture, activism and creative expression. The photographer became part of the Black power African diaspora cause by photographing Muhammad Ali before his iconic Rumble in the Jungle in 1974.
He was appointed the official image creator for the band's continental journey, and subsequently was named the house photographer for the iconic Apollo theatre, creating an incredible portfolio of African American artists. In collaboration with Elombe, he emerged as the key organizer behind arranging for the South African leader to address the public in the community.
Personal Journey
Brathwaite's son Kwame Jr shares the family's mission to secure due acknowledgment for his father's legacy after he was unjustly ignored in Washington DC's National Museum of African American History and Culture, established by the former president in recent years.
This documentary additionally explores the inexpressibly painful inspiration of Brathwaite's passion for photography: the disturbing images of the young victim, the young civil rights lynching victim whose mourning family member boldly requested an open coffin so the brutal truth of racist violence would not be hidden.
Amidst Sorrow to Hope
In this vision of violence, the artist encountered a type of transformative realization that directed him toward visual representations of aspiration. His images powerfully conveyed community pride and typically subtle in messaging: he developed a new visual language of empowerment through which activist groups could mobilize.
The documentary stands as an exhilarating testament of creative genius that continues to empower through the years.
