Renowned photographer and activist Kwame Brathwaite has passed away at the age of 85. His work played a pivotal role in shaping the 'Black is Beautiful' movement of the 1960s and beyond.
Born to Barbadian immigrants in New York, Brathwaite's interest in photography was sparked by two powerful moments: encountering David Jackson's haunting photograph of Emmett Till in 1955, and witnessing another young photographer at a jazz club without using flash. He attended the School of Industrial Art and co-founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) with his brother Elombe.
Brathwaite's work focused on capturing the essence of Black culture, particularly through his photographs of jazz legends like Miles Davis and John Coltrane. His darkroom technique enhanced the visual narrative of his imagery, particularly in how Black skin appeared. He photographed numerous famous musicians, including Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley.
The photographer's work was also instrumental in pushing back against Eurocentric beauty standards. Brathwaite co-founded the Grandassa Models, a group of young Black women who celebrated their natural hair and features through photography. His 1962 fashion show "Naturally '62" became an annual event until 1992.
Brathwaite's focus on jazz shifted to other forms of popular Black music in the 1970s. He traveled to Africa with the Jackson Five, documented their tour, and photographed the historic "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite continued to explore and develop his photography style, centered around the 'Black is Beautiful' ethos. His work has been the subject of renewed interest from curators, historians, and collectors in recent years.
A retrospective of Brathwaite's work was held at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, and another exhibition is currently on view at the Art Institute of Chicago until July 24.
Born to Barbadian immigrants in New York, Brathwaite's interest in photography was sparked by two powerful moments: encountering David Jackson's haunting photograph of Emmett Till in 1955, and witnessing another young photographer at a jazz club without using flash. He attended the School of Industrial Art and co-founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) with his brother Elombe.
Brathwaite's work focused on capturing the essence of Black culture, particularly through his photographs of jazz legends like Miles Davis and John Coltrane. His darkroom technique enhanced the visual narrative of his imagery, particularly in how Black skin appeared. He photographed numerous famous musicians, including Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley.
The photographer's work was also instrumental in pushing back against Eurocentric beauty standards. Brathwaite co-founded the Grandassa Models, a group of young Black women who celebrated their natural hair and features through photography. His 1962 fashion show "Naturally '62" became an annual event until 1992.
Brathwaite's focus on jazz shifted to other forms of popular Black music in the 1970s. He traveled to Africa with the Jackson Five, documented their tour, and photographed the historic "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite continued to explore and develop his photography style, centered around the 'Black is Beautiful' ethos. His work has been the subject of renewed interest from curators, historians, and collectors in recent years.
A retrospective of Brathwaite's work was held at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, and another exhibition is currently on view at the Art Institute of Chicago until July 24.
The passing of Kwame Brathwaite is a total loss for us. I mean can you even imagine not seeing those incredible photos? His work was like nothing anyone had ever seen before - so raw, so honest, and so beautiful 
. I love how he used light to make Black skin look stunning, it's like the whole world just came alive through his lens 
. And that "Black is Beautiful" movement is still going strong today because of him 
. He's not only a photographer, but an artist, activist and trailblazer all rolled into one 
. The way he co-founded Grandassa Models and pushed against those Eurocentric beauty standards? Iconic 
. I'm so glad we got to see his work in these amazing retrospective exhibitions 
.
his work was so ahead of its time and its great to see it getting the recognition it deserves again now
he was like a pioneer for black representation in photography and music journalism. his darkroom technique and approach to capturing black culture were super ahead of their time 
especially how he celebrated natural hair and beauty through his work it's crazy to think about the impact he had on the "black is beautiful" movement back in the 60s and beyond 
anyway i think its great to see people reminiscing about his life and legacy his contributions to the 'black is beautiful' movement are still so relevant today 
Kwame Brathwaite's legacy lives on - Black culture isn't just about beauty standards but also preserving our history through powerful images 
he really helped flip the script on Eurocentric beauty standards and what it means to be black and proud, you know? like his work with Grandassa Models was all about celebrating natural hair and features, which is still so relevant today 
it's crazy that we're still having conversations about what makes someone beautiful in this world 
. it's no wonder people are still talking about him today... he left an indelible mark on the world 
. anyway, can't help but feel grateful to have grown up seeing his work and learning from it 
but for real though, his work was more than just photography, it was a movement, it was a celebration of black culture and identity and i'm so grateful to have grown up with his images influencing my own perspective on beauty and identity