We have witnessed many fascinating documentaries about visual artists: Vivian Maier. It could be the documentary format particularly shines when showcasing remarkably striking photographs. Here we have another outstanding instance, by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, documenting the remarkable professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—a creative force, artist and African American activist who embodied a special artistic-political vision.
In partnership with his brother Elombe, he virtually invented the slogan “Black Is Beautiful” during the sixties by documenting the Harlem models in the cultural epicenter: emerging women of color who became the groundbreaking template for aesthetics, rejecting conventional beauty standards and the established Caucasian model of womanhood.
The Impact of a Revolutionary Slogan
The iconic phrase evolved into a radical call to action, an inspired concise declaration for transformation. Merely declaring that people of color radiated beauty emerged as a transformative influence in society, politics and creative expression. The artist emerged as part of the Black power pan-Africanist struggle by photographing Muhammad Ali leading up to his iconic championship fight in the seventies.
He was appointed the primary visual documentarian for the musical group's international performances, and later was named the official visual chronicler for the legendary Harlem venue, building an incredible portfolio of musical pioneers. In collaboration with his sibling, he emerged as the driving force behind bringing Nelson Mandela to address the public in New York.
Historical Recognition
The photographer's offspring the younger Brathwaite recounts the family's quest to secure due acknowledgment for his family heritage after he was unjustly overlooked in Washington DC's cultural museum, established by Barack Obama in 2016.
This documentary additionally explores the deeply tragic origin of Brathwaite's dedication to photography: the disturbing pictures of the young victim, the young Black lynching victim whose grieving mother defiantly insisted on an uncovered casket so the violent nature of bigoted brutality would not be hidden.
Through Darkness to Beauty
In this representation of horror, the visionary discovered a kind of anti-epiphany that directed him toward photographs of beauty. His photographs were eloquent of celebratory strength and typically subtle in messaging: he developed a fresh iconography of empowerment through which activist groups could gather.
The documentary stands as an inspiring testament of cultural impact that still inspire through the years.
