We have witnessed numerous compelling features focusing on visual artists: Martin Parr. Maybe cinematic storytelling naturally comes alive when presenting particularly vivid visual compositions. Here arrives another remarkable case, from filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the impressive career of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, musician and social justice champion who represented a distinct politico-aesthetic perspective.
Alongside his sibling Elombe, he virtually invented the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” during the sixties by documenting the Grandassa Models in the cultural epicenter: emerging African American women who emerged as the sensational archetype for aesthetics, abandoning conventional grooming practices and the established Eurocentric ideal of femininity.
The Power of Three Words
This powerful statement evolved into a radical unifying message, an inspired concise manifesto for progress. Merely declaring that black people radiated beauty became a empowering force in art, politics and culture. The artist became part of the civil rights pan-Africanist cause by capturing images of Muhammad Ali prior to his legendary championship fight in the seventies.
He became the primary image creator for the Jackson 5's international performances, and subsequently was named the house photographer for the historic Apollo theatre, building an incredible collection of African American artists. Together with his sibling, he became the central figure behind bringing the South African leader to address the public in the community.
Historical Recognition
Brathwaite's son his namesake recounts the personal quest to achieve appropriate credit for his parent's achievements after he was unjustly excluded in the nation's capital's cultural museum, inaugurated by Barack Obama in 2016.
The feature further reveals the profoundly sorrowful inspiration of Brathwaite's passion for visual storytelling: the disturbing images of the lynching martyr, the teenage civil rights tragic figure whose grieving mother defiantly demanded an open coffin so the horrific reality of racial hatred would not be hidden.
From Tragedy to Empowerment
From this image of horror, the visionary discovered a kind of transformative realization that guided him toward images of community. His work were eloquent of community pride and frequently subtle in messaging: he curated a fresh symbolic representation of pride upon which activist groups could gather.
This represents an inspiring record of artistic vision that persists in inspire across generations.
