Legendary Photographer and Activist Kwame Brathwaite Passes Away at 85
Kwame Brathwaite, a pioneering photographer and activist who helped define the aesthetics of the "Black is Beautiful" movement in the 1960s, has passed away at the age of 85. Born in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants in New York, Brathwaite's life was marked by his passion for photography, activism, and celebrating Black culture.
Brathwaite's journey into photography began in 1955 when he encountered David Jackson's haunting photograph of Emmett Till's open casket. This experience sparked his interest in capturing the beauty and humanity of Black people. He attended the School of Industrial Art (now the High School of Art and Design) and was drawn to photography by two pivotal moments: witnessing a young photographer taking photos without flash in a jazz club, which ignited his creative spark; and being inspired by David Jackson's photograph.
Using a Hasselblad medium-format camera, Brathwaite learned to work with limited light, which enhanced the visual narrative of his imagery. He developed a darkroom technique that deepened how Black skin appeared in his photography, honing his craft in a small Harlem apartment. His photographs captured jazz legends performing throughout the 1950s and '60s, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and others.
In the early 1960s, Brathwaite co-founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) with his brother Elombe. The group pushed against whitewashed beauty standards by using photography to celebrate Black features. They organized "Naturally '62," a fashion show held in a Harlem club, which became an annual event until 1992. Brathwaite also married Sikolo, a Grandassa Model whom he had met on the street, and they remained together for life.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite continued to explore and develop his photography style through the lens of the "Black is Beautiful" ethos. He joined Philip Martin Gallery in Los Angeles in 2016 and was still photographing commissions as recently as 2018. In 2021, T Magazine published a profile of Brathwaite's retrospective at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, where it noted that his health was failing, preventing him from being interviewed.
Brathwaite's work has been recognized with several exhibitions, including "Kwame Brathwaite: Things Well Worth Waiting For" at the Art Institute of Chicago, which will run until July 24. His legacy as a photographer and activist continues to inspire new generations, celebrating Black culture and beauty through his images.
Brathwaite's untimely passing leaves behind a body of work that is both beautiful and powerful. He will be remembered for his tireless efforts to promote Black excellence and his contributions to the cultural landscape.
Kwame Brathwaite, a pioneering photographer and activist who helped define the aesthetics of the "Black is Beautiful" movement in the 1960s, has passed away at the age of 85. Born in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants in New York, Brathwaite's life was marked by his passion for photography, activism, and celebrating Black culture.
Brathwaite's journey into photography began in 1955 when he encountered David Jackson's haunting photograph of Emmett Till's open casket. This experience sparked his interest in capturing the beauty and humanity of Black people. He attended the School of Industrial Art (now the High School of Art and Design) and was drawn to photography by two pivotal moments: witnessing a young photographer taking photos without flash in a jazz club, which ignited his creative spark; and being inspired by David Jackson's photograph.
Using a Hasselblad medium-format camera, Brathwaite learned to work with limited light, which enhanced the visual narrative of his imagery. He developed a darkroom technique that deepened how Black skin appeared in his photography, honing his craft in a small Harlem apartment. His photographs captured jazz legends performing throughout the 1950s and '60s, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and others.
In the early 1960s, Brathwaite co-founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) with his brother Elombe. The group pushed against whitewashed beauty standards by using photography to celebrate Black features. They organized "Naturally '62," a fashion show held in a Harlem club, which became an annual event until 1992. Brathwaite also married Sikolo, a Grandassa Model whom he had met on the street, and they remained together for life.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite continued to explore and develop his photography style through the lens of the "Black is Beautiful" ethos. He joined Philip Martin Gallery in Los Angeles in 2016 and was still photographing commissions as recently as 2018. In 2021, T Magazine published a profile of Brathwaite's retrospective at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, where it noted that his health was failing, preventing him from being interviewed.
Brathwaite's work has been recognized with several exhibitions, including "Kwame Brathwaite: Things Well Worth Waiting For" at the Art Institute of Chicago, which will run until July 24. His legacy as a photographer and activist continues to inspire new generations, celebrating Black culture and beauty through his images.
Brathwaite's untimely passing leaves behind a body of work that is both beautiful and powerful. He will be remembered for his tireless efforts to promote Black excellence and his contributions to the cultural landscape.
Kwame Brathwaite was only 85, but his life was already marked by so much struggle & pain... born in NY to Barbadian immigrants, he had to grow up with racism & inequality all around him 
But he used his camera as a tool for resistance & empowerment, capturing the beauty of Black culture & challenging whitewashed beauty standards 
His legacy is still inspiring new generations, but it's hard not to think about what could've been if he was still with us 
, i mean who else could make black beauty look so beautiful? he was more than just a photographer, he was a movement 
, and i think we can all learn from his dedication to celebratin the culture he loved 
. his work at ajass was ahead of its time, chasin whitemainstream's idea of beauty right outta the room 
, but in a good way 
Kwame Brathwaite was a true pioneer, no doubt about that. i mean, who else could make black culture look so beautiful and powerful? 
his "black is beautiful" movement was way ahead of its time, and it's crazy he didn't get more recognition during his lifetime. anyway, gotta respect the dude for using his platform to celebrate black excellence and culture. his legacy will live on, and we should all be inspired by his work 
kudos to him for being a true pioneer in celebrating black beauty & excellence 
love how he used photography to celebrate Black culture and beauty, especially with the "Black is Beautiful" movement in the 60s. his work is so inspiring and powerful 
hope his legacy continues to inspire new generations of artists and activists 
. I mean, can you even imagine living in a time when Black people were being erased from photography? 
His work was like a breath of fresh air, celebrating our beauty and humanity. And the fact that he co-founded the AJASS with his brother Elombe is just amazing 
. They were really pushing against the status quo back then. I love how he continued to innovate and evolve as a photographer even in his later years 
. Your work will keep on inspiring us for generations to come 
.