There have been numerous engaging documentaries highlighting photographers: Vivian Maier. It could be cinematic storytelling particularly shines when displaying exceptionally powerful still images. Here comes one more remarkable example, by writer-director Yemi Bamiro, documenting the remarkable career of Kwame Brathwaite—a photographer, artist and African American activist who represented a distinct politico-aesthetic approach.
In partnership with his sibling Elombe, he pioneered the slogan “Black Is Beautiful” in the 1960s by capturing the Harlem models in the cultural epicenter: youthful women of color who transformed into the groundbreaking template for aesthetics, moving beyond typical grooming practices and the established Caucasian ideal of female beauty.
The iconic phrase evolved into a transformative call to action, an visionary three-word declaration for transformation. Simply to assert that black people possessed beauty emerged as a empowering influence in art, activism and culture. The artist emerged as integral to the civil rights African diaspora cause by documenting the legendary boxer before his iconic championship fight in the seventies.
He was appointed the exclusive photographer for the musical group's international performances, and later became the official visual chronicler for the historic Harlem venue, assembling an extraordinary collection of black musicians. Alongside his brother, he emerged as the central figure behind securing the anti-apartheid icon to speak in Harlem.
His son his namesake recounts the their quest to achieve appropriate credit for his parent's achievements after he was unjustly overlooked in Washington DC's cultural museum, inaugurated by the former president in this century.
This documentary additionally explores the inexpressibly painful origin of the artist's interest in image making: the disturbing pictures of the lynching martyr, the teenage Black lynching victim whose bereaved parent defiantly insisted on an public viewing so the horrific reality of racial hatred might not be covered up.
Through this image of violence, the visionary encountered a type of transformative realization that led him toward images of aspiration. His images powerfully conveyed community pride and often subtle in messaging: he established a new visual language of empowerment through which political movements could gather.
It is an exhilarating testament of cultural impact that persists in inspire through the years.
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