Black Is Beautiful: The Inspiring Story of Revolutionary Visionary Kwame Brathwaite

There have been countless engaging films highlighting visual artists: Vivian Maier. Maybe the documentary format particularly shines when displaying remarkably striking still images. Now arrives another exceptional instance, from writer-director Yemi Bamiro, chronicling the extraordinary professional journey of Kwame Brathwaite—an artist, musician and African American activist who exemplified a special artistic-political approach.

Alongside his family member Elombe, he pioneered the phrase “Black Is Beautiful” during the sixties by documenting the African American women in New York: emerging women of color who transformed into the groundbreaking template for beauty, abandoning conventional cosmetic products and the predominant white ideal of female beauty.

The Impact of a Simple Phrase

The iconic phrase evolved into a powerful rallying cry, an brilliant memorable declaration for change. Simply to assert that people of color radiated beauty emerged as a empowering force in culture, politics and culture. Brathwaite emerged as part of the Black power global Black movement by capturing images of the legendary boxer prior to his legendary Rumble in the Jungle in that era.

He became the exclusive image creator for the band's African tour, and later assumed the role of the house photographer for the legendary Apollo theatre, building an amazing portfolio of musical pioneers. Together with Elombe, he was the driving force behind securing the South African leader to appear in Harlem.

Family Legacy

His son the younger Brathwaite is interviewed the their campaign to achieve due acknowledgment for his parent's achievements after he was unjustly ignored in Washington DC's Smithsonian institution, opened by the political leader in this century.

The film further reveals the deeply tragic origin of Brathwaite's passion for visual storytelling: the disturbing images of the young victim, the teenage African American tragic figure whose grieving mother defiantly insisted on an public viewing so the brutal truth of bigoted brutality might not be hidden.

Amidst Sorrow to Hope

From this vision of tragedy, the visionary discovered a form of anti-epiphany that guided him toward images of community. His photographs powerfully conveyed celebratory strength and frequently not overtly political: he established a fresh symbolic representation of empowerment upon which activist groups could mobilize.

It is an exhilarating chronicle of artistic vision that continues to inspire through the years.