We have witnessed many compelling features focusing on visual artists: Vivian Maier. Perhaps the film medium truly excels when displaying remarkably striking still images. Here comes a new exceptional case, by writer-director Yemi Bamiro, exploring the remarkable life's work of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, artist and African American activist who exemplified a distinct politico-aesthetic approach.
Alongside his brother Elombe, he effectively created the slogan “Black Is Beautiful” throughout the sixties by photographing the African American women in Harlem: youthful African American women who transformed into the transformative template for beauty, abandoning traditional cosmetic products and the predominant white model of femininity.
The Influence of a Simple Phrase
Black Is Beautiful transformed into a radical rallying cry, an brilliant three-word prose poem for transformation. Merely to assert that black people were beautiful became a empowering influence in art, activism and creative expression. Brathwaite grew into part of the civil rights global Black struggle by documenting the legendary boxer before his legendary championship fight in the seventies.
He became the primary image creator for the band's international performances, and later was named the official visual chronicler for the iconic Apollo theatre, assembling an incredible collection of African American artists. Alongside his brother, he emerged as the key organizer behind bringing the South African leader to address the public in New York.
Personal Journey
His son Kwame Jr recounts the personal quest to achieve appropriate credit for his parent's achievements after he was painfully overlooked in Washington DC's Smithsonian institution, established by the political leader in 2016.
This documentary also recounts the profoundly sorrowful origin of the artist's dedication to image making: the shocking pictures of the young victim, the young Black tragic figure whose mourning family member boldly demanded an open coffin so the brutal truth of bigoted brutality could not be covered up.
From Tragedy to Empowerment
Through this image of violence, Brathwaite encountered a type of transformative realization that guided him toward visual representations of aspiration. His photographs powerfully conveyed community pride and typically nuanced in approach: he established a fresh symbolic representation of pride upon which political movements could unite.
The documentary stands as an exhilarating testament of cultural impact that persists in inspire through the years.
