There have been countless engaging films about visual artists: Martin Parr. Maybe cinematic storytelling particularly shines when presenting particularly vivid visual compositions. Here comes another exceptional case, by filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the extraordinary professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, musician and civil rights advocate who exemplified a distinct cultural-activist approach.
Together with his brother Elombe, he virtually invented the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” during the sixties by documenting the African American women in Harlem: youthful women of color who emerged as the sensational standard for aesthetics, moving beyond typical beauty standards and the usual white ideal of female beauty.
The Influence of a Simple Phrase
The iconic phrase transformed into a transformative call to action, an brilliant concise manifesto for change. Just stating that black people possessed beauty proved to be a empowering influence in society, politics and creative expression. The artist became a key figure in the social justice global Black movement by capturing images of the legendary boxer leading up to his historic Zaire bout in that era.
He became the official visual documentarian for the band's international performances, and subsequently became the resident artist for the iconic Harlem venue, building an amazing portfolio of African American artists. Alongside Elombe, he became the central figure behind bringing the South African leader to address the public in Harlem.
Historical Recognition
Brathwaite's son Kwame Jr recounts the personal quest to achieve appropriate credit for his parent's achievements after he was hurtfully excluded in the prestigious cultural museum, established by the political leader in 2016.
The film also recounts the inexpressibly painful inspiration of Brathwaite's dedication to image making: the disturbing images of Emmett Till, the adolescent African American murder victim whose bereaved parent courageously insisted on an uncovered casket so the violent nature of bigoted brutality could not be covered up.
Through Darkness to Empowerment
From this vision of horror, the artist encountered a kind of transformative realization that directed him toward visual representations of beauty. His images powerfully conveyed celebratory strength and often not overtly political: he curated a innovative iconography of empowerment around which activist groups could mobilize.
This represents an exhilarating record of cultural impact that persists in resonate across generations.
