Kwame Brathwaite, photographer of 'Black is Beautiful' movement, dies at 85

Kwame Brathwaite, A Visionary Behind the 'Black is Beautiful' Movement, Dies at 85

For decades, Kwame Brathwaite's photography has been a powerful symbol of resistance and self-love, inspiring generations with its unapologetic celebration of Black beauty. The pioneering activist and photographer, who passed away on April 1 at the age of 85, left behind a body of work that continues to resonate today.

Born in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants in what he called "the People's Republic of Brooklyn," Brathwaite grew up surrounded by the vibrant culture of New York City. It was there that he discovered his passion for photography, sparked by two pivotal moments: witnessing David Jackson's haunting image of Emmett Till in open casket and seeing a photographer capturing jazz performances without flash. These experiences ignited a fire within him, driving him to create images that would challenge the status quo.

Brathwaite co-founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) with his brother Elombe, where he began using photography as a means of pushing back against Eurocentric beauty standards. In 1962, he organized the first "Naturally '62" fashion show in Harlem's Purple Manor, featuring young Black women who embodied the Grandassa Models' philosophy of embracing their natural hair and features.

Through his lens, Brathwaite captured images that celebrated Black beauty, challenging the dominant narratives of white supremacy. His photographs of jazz legends like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk not only documented musical history but also infused them with a sense of community and solidarity.

In 1966, Brathwaite met Sikolo, one of his Grandassa Models, in a Harlem street, and the two would go on to spend the rest of their lives together. Their marriage was a testament to the power of Black love and partnership.

As the years passed, Brathwaite continued to push boundaries through his photography. He traveled with the Jackson Five to Africa in 1974, documenting their tour and photographing the historic "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. He also captured images of Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, and Bob Marley.

Throughout his career, Brathwaite remained committed to his ethos, which prioritized the beauty and dignity of Black people. In 2016, he joined Philip Martin Gallery in Los Angeles, where he continued to create commissions until as recently as 2018.

Today, Brathwaite's legacy lives on through his photographs, which have been exhibited globally, including a recent retrospective at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas. His work continues to inspire a new generation of artists and activists, cementing his place as one of the most important photographers of the 20th century.

In a statement released by his son Kwame Brathwaite Jr., who announced his father's passing on Instagram, Sikolo Brathwaite remembered her husband as "the patriarch of our family, our rock, and my hero."

I'm really gonna miss this guy. It feels like just yesterday I was reading about the 'Black is Beautiful' movement in 1962 and it was all thanks to Kwame Brathwaite's photography. He had such a powerful vision of Black beauty and self-love that it's still inspiring people today. I mean, who wouldn't want to see more pics of jazz legends like Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk in their prime? And can you believe he married Sikolo from one of the Grandassa Models? That's some serious Black love right there! Anyway, I'm gonna have to check out this retrospective at the Blanton Museum of Art... maybe it'll be like stepping into a time machine or something

Kwaasooo, the legacy of Kwame Brathwaite is a reminder that embracing our true selves is the first step towards breaking free from societal expectations. His photos aren't just a celebration of Black beauty, but also a testament to the power of self-love and community. We can all learn from his example to focus on what makes us unique and beautiful, rather than trying to conform to someone else's standards

omg i cant even right now kwame brathwaite was literally a god to me he pioneered the whole 'black is beautiful' movement and his photos are still giving me LIFE i mean who else could make black hair look so gorgeous and proud? anyway i'm def gonna have to go through some of his archives again his legacy lives on thru the ppl he inspired and continues 2 inspire new genz rest in peace sir

just heard about kwame brathwaite passing away at 85... he was a total icon in the photography world, especially when it comes to celebrating black beauty his 'black is beautiful' movement was so ahead of its time and i love how he used his lens to challenge those eurocentric beauty standards anyway, if you want to see some of his amazing work, check out this link: https://www.philipmartin.com/artists/kwame-brathwaite/

I'm so sad to hear about Kwame Brathwaite's passing, but at the same time, I think he lived a pretty cool life and did some amazing things with his photography... wait, no, that can't be right, what if his whole "Black is Beautiful" movement was just a marketing ploy to sell more cameras to black people? Ugh, I don't know anymore! But for real though, it's crazy how he inspired generations with his photos and stuff...

omg i just found out about this guy kwame brathwaite he was 85 tho i dont know how old is 85 anymore lol anyway its crazy to think that someone who lived in brooklyn his whole life has such a big impact on the world. like, what was it like living in brooklyn back then? did they have jazz and soul music there back in the day? i gotta check out some of his photos now lol did he use any special camera equipment or something?

omg i just heard about kwame brathwaite passing away he was literally a legend in the photography world and i'm so grateful to have known about him. his work is still giving me life today especially those pics of the grandassa models, who wouldn't want to see themselves celebrated in that way? i remember learning about him in school and being like wow this guy was a total pioneer for black beauty standards. it's crazy to think he started doing this back in the 60s when everyone else was still stuck on eurocentric ideals anyhoo, his legacy lives on through his amazing pics and i'm so down to see more of them exhibited everywhere

just read about kwame brathwaite... what a legend . i mean, 85 is old but he still managed to live his best life & leave behind an incredible legacy . love how he & his sister started the grandassa models back in the day - they were basically the OGs of embracing natural hair & beauty standards . and can we talk about his photography skills tho? the man was a master photographer . i'm so glad his work is still inspiring new generations . btw, who else remembers watching those old episodes of 'black music television' ?

OMG just heard about Kwame Brathwaite he was literally a total game changer in the art world! I mean, can you even imagine living back then? seeing Emmett Till's image and being like "wait a minute, this is what we need to challenge?" And that first 'Naturally '62' fashion show was LIFE. CHANGING ! His photography wasn't just about capturing Black beauty, it was about RECLAIMING it . And can we talk about his marriage with Sikolo? they were literally the ultimate power couple ! The fact that he continued to push boundaries and create until 2018 is just insane I'm so grateful for people like Kwame Brathwaite who paved the way for us today .

omg, just heard about Kwame Brathwaite he was literally a game changer in the fight for Black beauty standards #BlackIsBeautiful #KwameBrathwaite #LegacyLivesOn I mean, can you even imagine living in a world where people weren't already celebrating their natural hair and features? Brathwaite's photography was more than just a hobby, it was a movement and I'm so grateful that his work is still inspiring new generations today #RespectToThePioneers

Man... just read about Kwame Brathwaite and I'm literally shook . 85 years young and he was still fighting for Black love and self-love . His legacy is EVERYTHING. I mean, can you imagine living in a world where Black people aren't celebrated for who they are? It's crazy to think about how far we've come but also how much work is still left to be done . The fact that he was able to capture the beauty of Black culture through his lens and share it with the world is just... wow . I'm gonna have to go dig up some of his pics now . R.I.P Kwame Brathwaite

just heard about kwame brathwaite passing away at 85... what a legend! he's been a symbol of resistance and self-love for decades with his 'black is beautiful' movement his photos are so powerful, they still give me chills thinking about emmett till and the beauty of black culture he lived life on his own terms and inspired so many young people to do the same can't wait to see what his legacy will look like a few decades from now

WHAT A LEGACY KWAME BRATHWITE LEFT BEHIND!!! 85 YEARS YOUNG AND STILL PULLING TRAPS WITH HIS CAMERA HE WAS THE EPITOME OF A VISIONARY WHO REFUSED TO BOW DOWN TO SOCIETAL NORMS, INSTEAD CHOOSING TO CELEBRATE BLACK BEAUTY IN ALL ITS GLORY BRATHWITE'S PHOTOS ARE NOT JUST MERE CAPTURES OF FASHION OR CULTURE, THEY'RE TESTAMENTS TO THE POWER OF BLACK LOVE AND COMMUNITY FROM HIS WORK WITH AJASS TO HIS PHOTOGRAPHY OF JAZZ LEGENDS LIKE MILES DAVIS, JOHN COLTRANE, AND THELONIOUS MONK, BRATHWATE LEFT AN INDISPENSABLE MARK ON HISTORY

omg i just found out about this amazing photographer kwame brathwaite he was so inspiring to create art that celebrated black beauty like no one else did back then... i wonder what his favorite lens was tho lol anyway its sad that he passed away but his legacy lives on and im so grateful to have grown up learning about people like him who paved the way for us to love ourselves more

️ this guy was all about celebrating Black beauty in a time when it wasn't cool to do that. his pics are still fire today and he paved the way for other artists to express themselves freely my grandma used to show me these old pics of Black people dancing and playing music and she'd say "this is what we looked like when we were free" sadly, kwame passed away at 85 but his legacy lives on through the amazing work he left behind

Kwame Brathwaite was the OG Black beauty icon. His photography still gives me CHILLS . The way he celebrated Black skin, hair, and culture without apology is still so inspiring today . He paved the way for countless artists and activists to express themselves authentically . And can we talk about how he and his sister Elombe co-founded AJASS? That's some pioneering stuff right there . The fact that his legacy lives on through his work is a testament to his impact .

this guy kwame brathwaite was a total game changer for the way we think about beauty and identity. his photos are like a time capsule of black culture and history, showing us that we're not just one-dimensional objects being stared at but complex human beings with our own style and flair

think about it , he started this whole "naturally '62" movement back in the day, celebrating black hair and features in a way that was totally counter to what was considered "acceptable" at the time . and then he went on to work with some of the biggest names in music and art... it's like he was the ultimate connector

anyway, his legacy lives on through the countless people he inspired and the photos that keep being shared and celebrated today so let's take a moment to appreciate this quiet icon

what's with all the nostalgia vibes surrounding this guy? Like, I get it, he was a pioneer and all that jazz... but can we talk about how his legacy feels a bit sanitized? like, he didn't just 'celebrate' Black beauty, he also challenged Eurocentric norms through his photography. But what about the complexities of those same Black experiences? How did he navigate them?

Also, 85 is still pretty young, tbh... feels like we're losing him before we can even have a real conversation about what's next.

omg just read about kwame brathwaite he was like a superhero for black people in the 60s and 70s what a legend! his photography is still so iconic today i mean who else could make black beauty look that beautiful? he's def one of the most underrated artists of all time, imo. the fact that he was married to sikolo for life is like, goals anyways rest in peace kwame brathwaite, your legacy lives on through your amazing pics