We have witnessed many engaging features highlighting visual artists: Tish Murtha. It could be cinematic storytelling particularly shines when presenting remarkably striking visual compositions. Today we have one more exceptional example, by creator Yemi Bamiro, documenting the remarkable professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, performer and African American activist who represented a distinct politico-aesthetic vision.
In partnership with his sibling Elombe, he effectively created the expression “Black Is Beautiful” in the 1960s by capturing the Grandassa Models in New York: young African American women who became the groundbreaking template for beauty, moving beyond conventional beauty standards and the predominant Caucasian standard of female beauty.
The Power of Three Words
This powerful statement evolved into a transformative call to action, an inspired three-word manifesto for progress. Merely stating that African Americans were beautiful proved to be a liberating power in society, activism and creative expression. The photographer became integral to the Black power global Black movement by photographing Muhammad Ali leading up to his iconic Zaire bout in the seventies.
He became the exclusive photographer for the Jackson 5's African tour, and subsequently became the official visual chronicler for the legendary cultural institution, assembling an incredible collection of African American artists. Alongside Elombe, he was the central figure behind securing Nelson Mandela to appear in Harlem.
Family Legacy
The photographer's offspring his namesake recounts the their campaign to achieve appropriate credit for his parent's achievements after he was hurtfully overlooked in Washington DC's Smithsonian institution, opened by the former president in this century.
This documentary additionally explores the deeply tragic origin of the artist's passion for image making: the horrendous images of the young victim, the adolescent Black lynching victim whose bereaved parent courageously insisted on an uncovered casket so the violent nature of racist violence would not be concealed.
From Tragedy to Empowerment
In this image of tragedy, the visionary encountered a type of profound understanding that led him toward visual representations of beauty. His photographs were eloquent of community pride and frequently subtle in messaging: he established a innovative visual language of strength through which social causes could unite.
This represents an exhilarating record of creative genius that persists in inspire decades later.
