Kwame Brathwaite, a photographer and activist whose works inspired the “Black is Beautiful” movement of the late 1950s and early 1960s, has died at the age of 85. Brathwaite, during his career which spanned seven decades, documented the everyday life of black people and events that celebrated African beauty, culture, and heritage, and subverted Western beauty standards alongside the civil rights and Black Power movements.
Kwame Brathwaite, Jr, his son, announced the passing of the legend in an Instagram post that read:
“I am deeply saddened to share that my Baba, the patriarch of our family, our rock and my hero has transitioned. Thank you for your love and support during this difficult time.”
Born in New York in 1938, Brathwaite documented the intersection of music, fashion, activism and art using his photography and writings. From promoting and photographing African-focused concerts and dance performances, he reported for leading black publications such as The Amsterdam News, City Sun and The Daily Challenge. Brathwaite’s early works helped to shape the public images of black men in the social and political space such as Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, James Brown and Muhammad Ali. He documented landmark events such as “The Motown Revue” at the Apollo (1963); “WattStax ’72” (1972); The Jackson 5’s first trip to Africa (1974); and the “Festival in Zaire” (1974) which accompanied the famous Foreman-Ali fight, “The Rumble in the Jungle.”
Image courtesy of The New York Times
In the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s, Kwame Brathwaite used his photography to popularize the political slogan “Black Is Beautiful.” This monograph, which was the first ever dedicated to Brathwaite’s career, tells the story of an important yet unrecognized member of the second Harlem Renaissance.
Inspired by the writings of Marcus Garvey, activist and Black nationalist, Brathwaite and his older brother, Elombe Brath, started the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) and the Grandassa Models. The AJASS was a community for artists, playwrights, designers, and dancers. Grandassa Models, a modeling community for Black women which was started to challenge the prevalent white beauty standards. The “Black is Beautiful” exhibition and publication which includes vibrant and stunning studio portraits, and behind-the-scenes images from Harlem’s artistic community, offers a long-overdue exploration of Brathwaite’s life and work.
“Kwame Brathwaite: Things Well Worth Waiting For”, opened on February 25 2023 is currently on view at the Art Institute of Chicago. The exhibition which conveys his view of the 1970s using Stevie Wonder’s album will remain open until July 24 2023.
