History has seen many fascinating documentaries about photographers: Martin Parr. Maybe the documentary format particularly shines when presenting remarkably striking visual compositions. Here arrives a new exceptional example, by writer-director Yemi Bamiro, documenting the remarkable professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—a photographer, musician and civil rights advocate who embodied a unique cultural-activist approach.
Alongside his brother Elombe, he virtually invented the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” throughout the 1960s by capturing the Harlem models in the cultural epicenter: youthful women of color who became the sensational standard for aesthetics, moving beyond conventional beauty standards and the predominant Caucasian standard of womanhood.
The Influence of Three Words
The iconic phrase became a radical call to action, an visionary memorable declaration for progress. Merely declaring that people of color were beautiful became a empowering power in society, social movements and the arts. Brathwaite grew into part of the Black power global Black struggle by capturing images of the sports icon prior to his historic championship fight in that era.
He served as the exclusive visual documentarian for the Jackson 5's continental journey, and later was named the official visual chronicler for the legendary Apollo theatre, creating an incredible collection of musical pioneers. In collaboration with his sibling, he emerged as the central figure behind securing the anti-apartheid icon to appear in Harlem.
Personal Journey
His son his namesake is interviewed the personal quest to secure proper recognition for his parent's achievements after he was hurtfully ignored in the prestigious Smithsonian institution, inaugurated by the former president in 2016.
The film additionally explores the profoundly sorrowful origin of the artist's passion for image making: the disturbing images of Emmett Till, the young Black lynching victim whose bereaved parent boldly demanded an public viewing so the violent nature of bigoted brutality might not be covered up.
Amidst Sorrow to Empowerment
Through this vision of horror, the visionary encountered a kind of profound understanding that led him toward images of beauty. His photographs were eloquent of empowering beauty and often nuanced in approach: he curated a fresh symbolic representation of strength upon which political movements could mobilize.
It is an inspiring record of cultural impact that still empower across generations.
