We have witnessed many fascinating films highlighting photographers: Tish Murtha. It could be cinematic storytelling naturally comes alive when showcasing exceptionally powerful still images. Now we have one more outstanding example, directed by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, documenting the extraordinary career of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, artist and civil rights advocate who represented a special artistic-political perspective.
In partnership with his family member Elombe, he virtually invented the slogan “Black Is Beautiful” throughout the sixties by capturing the African American women in the cultural epicenter: young African American women who emerged as the sensational template for beauty, moving beyond traditional cosmetic products and the established Caucasian ideal of femininity.
The Power of Three Words
Black Is Beautiful transformed into a powerful unifying message, an brilliant concise manifesto for transformation. Simply stating that black people possessed beauty emerged as a liberating influence in culture, social movements and culture. Brathwaite grew into integral to the social justice pan-Africanist cause by capturing images of Muhammad Ali prior to his legendary championship fight in 1974.
He served as the primary image creator for the musical group's continental journey, and later became the resident artist for the iconic cultural institution, creating an incredible portfolio of African American artists. In collaboration with his brother, he became the central figure behind securing the anti-apartheid icon to address the public in New York.
Personal Journey
Brathwaite's son his namesake recounts the family's campaign to ensure appropriate credit for his family heritage after he was hurtfully ignored in the prestigious Smithsonian institution, inaugurated by Barack Obama in 2016.
This documentary also recounts the inexpressibly painful genesis of Brathwaite's dedication to visual storytelling: the horrendous pictures of Emmett Till, the teenage Black tragic figure whose grieving mother defiantly insisted on an uncovered casket so the violent nature of racial hatred could not be covered up.
Amidst Sorrow to Beauty
From this image of violence, the visionary found a type of transformative realization that led him toward visual representations of community. His images powerfully conveyed celebratory strength and often nuanced in approach: he developed a new iconography of empowerment through which political movements could mobilize.
The documentary stands as an inspiring testament of creative genius that continues to resonate across generations.
