History has seen numerous engaging films about photographers: Vivian Maier. Maybe cinematic storytelling naturally comes alive when showcasing exceptionally powerful still images. Today arrives one more remarkable instance, from writer-director Yemi Bamiro, documenting the impressive professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, artist and civil rights advocate who represented a distinct cultural-activist approach.
Alongside his family member Elombe, he pioneered the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” in the sixties by photographing the African American women in the cultural epicenter: emerging Black women who transformed into the transformative archetype for visual appeal, moving beyond conventional cosmetic products and the usual Caucasian model of female beauty.
The Impact of a Simple Phrase
The iconic phrase became a powerful rallying cry, an brilliant three-word prose poem for change. Just to assert that black people were beautiful became a transformative force in culture, social movements and creative expression. Brathwaite became part of the social justice pan-Africanist cause by documenting the sports icon leading up to his iconic championship fight in that era.
He was appointed the exclusive image creator for the musical group's international performances, and subsequently was named the official visual chronicler for the historic Apollo theatre, assembling an amazing collection of African American artists. In collaboration with his sibling, he emerged as the central figure behind securing Nelson Mandela to speak in New York.
Family Legacy
The photographer's offspring the younger Brathwaite is interviewed the their mission to secure due acknowledgment for his parent's achievements after he was hurtfully overlooked in Washington DC's cultural museum, established by Barack Obama in 2016.
The film further reveals the inexpressibly painful origin of the photographer's passion for photography: the disturbing photographs of the lynching martyr, the teenage Black murder victim whose mourning family member defiantly requested an public viewing so the violent nature of bigoted brutality would not be concealed.
Through Darkness to Hope
From this image of horror, Brathwaite found a type of anti-epiphany that directed him toward images of aspiration. His images powerfully conveyed empowering beauty and typically nuanced in approach: he developed a fresh iconography of empowerment through which activist groups could mobilize.
The documentary stands as an inspiring chronicle of cultural impact that continues to empower through the years.
