There have been many compelling films about image makers: Tish Murtha. Perhaps the documentary format truly excels when displaying remarkably striking visual compositions. Today arrives a new outstanding example, from creator Yemi Bamiro, documenting the impressive career of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, artist and civil rights advocate who embodied a special artistic-political vision.
Alongside his sibling Elombe, he virtually invented the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” in the sixties by documenting the Grandassa Models in Harlem: youthful women of color who transformed into the groundbreaking standard for beauty, moving beyond traditional grooming practices and the established Caucasian ideal of femininity.
The Power of a Simple Phrase
The iconic phrase became a radical call to action, an brilliant concise prose poem for change. Just stating that black people possessed beauty proved to be a liberating influence in society, social movements and culture. Brathwaite became a key figure in the civil rights pan-Africanist struggle by documenting Muhammad Ali leading up to his iconic Rumble in the Jungle in 1974.
He served as the official visual documentarian for the musical group's international performances, and subsequently became the resident artist for the legendary Harlem venue, creating an incredible portfolio of musical pioneers. Together with Elombe, he became the driving force behind bringing the anti-apartheid icon to speak in Harlem.
Historical Recognition
The photographer's offspring the younger Brathwaite recounts the family's campaign to secure proper recognition for his father's legacy after he was hurtfully overlooked in the nation's capital's National Museum of African American History and Culture, established by the former president in this century.
This documentary additionally explores the deeply tragic genesis of the artist's passion for image making: the horrendous images of the lynching martyr, the young civil rights murder victim whose mourning family member boldly demanded an open coffin so the brutal truth of racial hatred might not be concealed.
From Tragedy to Hope
From this image of tragedy, the artist encountered a type of transformative realization that led him toward visual representations of aspiration. His photographs beautifully expressed community pride and typically not overtly political: he established a innovative visual language of empowerment through which activist groups could unite.
The documentary stands as an captivating testament of cultural impact that continues to inspire decades later.
