We have witnessed many compelling documentaries focusing on image makers: Tish Murtha. Maybe cinematic storytelling truly excels when displaying particularly vivid visual compositions. Today comes another outstanding instance, by creator Yemi Bamiro, documenting the impressive professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—a creative force, artist and civil rights advocate who embodied a unique cultural-activist vision.
Together with his family member Elombe, he pioneered the slogan “Black Is Beautiful” during the mid-century era by documenting the Grandassa Models in New York: youthful Black women who emerged as the groundbreaking archetype for beauty, moving beyond traditional cosmetic products and the predominant white ideal of femininity.
The Impact of Three Words
Black Is Beautiful transformed into a radical call to action, an inspired concise declaration for change. Just to assert that African Americans possessed beauty became a transformative force in culture, activism and creative expression. The photographer grew into integral to the Black power pan-Africanist struggle by photographing Muhammad Ali leading up to his historic Zaire bout in 1974.
He became the official visual documentarian for the musical group's continental journey, and subsequently became the house photographer for the historic Apollo theatre, creating an extraordinary portfolio of African American artists. Alongside his sibling, he was the central figure behind securing the anti-apartheid icon to speak in New York.
Historical Recognition
The photographer's offspring his namesake shares the personal quest to ensure proper recognition for his parent's achievements after he was hurtfully ignored in Washington DC's cultural museum, opened by the political leader in 2016.
This documentary also recounts the inexpressibly painful inspiration of Brathwaite's interest in visual storytelling: the disturbing photographs of Emmett Till, the adolescent Black tragic figure whose mourning family member boldly insisted on an public viewing so the violent nature of bigoted brutality could not be covered up.
From Tragedy to Empowerment
From this image of horror, the artist discovered a form of transformative realization that directed him toward visual representations of community. His images were eloquent of empowering beauty and often subtle in messaging: he established a innovative visual language of strength around which political movements could gather.
The documentary stands as an inspiring testament of cultural impact that persists in empower through the years.
