History has seen countless fascinating documentaries about image makers: Vivian Maier. Perhaps the documentary format truly excels when displaying particularly vivid photographs. Now we have another outstanding instance, by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, exploring the impressive life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, musician and social justice champion who represented a special politico-aesthetic perspective.
In partnership with his brother Elombe, he pioneered the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” during the mid-century era by capturing the African American women in New York: youthful women of color who emerged as the transformative archetype for visual appeal, rejecting traditional beauty standards and the predominant Caucasian standard of femininity.
The Impact of Three Words
Black Is Beautiful evolved into a powerful unifying message, an brilliant concise prose poem for progress. Simply stating that people of color were beautiful proved to be a liberating power in art, politics and creative expression. The artist emerged as a key figure in the Black power global Black struggle by photographing Muhammad Ali prior to his historic Rumble in the Jungle in the seventies.
He served as the official visual documentarian for the band's international performances, and later became the resident artist for the historic Harlem venue, building an amazing portfolio of black musicians. Together with Elombe, he emerged as the central figure 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 appropriate credit for his family heritage after he was hurtfully overlooked in the prestigious National Museum of African American History and Culture, established by the former president in 2016.
This documentary additionally explores the deeply tragic origin of Brathwaite's dedication to visual storytelling: the horrendous images of the young victim, the young Black tragic figure whose grieving mother defiantly insisted on an uncovered casket so the violent nature of racial hatred might not be covered up.
Through Darkness to Beauty
From this image of tragedy, Brathwaite encountered a type of transformative realization that guided him toward images of beauty. His work beautifully expressed empowering beauty and frequently not overtly political: he developed a fresh iconography of pride through which social causes could gather.
The documentary stands as an captivating record of creative genius that persists in inspire across generations.
