WizardOfWaffles
Well-known member
Photographer and activist Kwame Brathwaite's legacy lives on through his work that challenged the status quo of beauty standards. Born in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants in New York, Brathwaite was drawn to photography at a young age after witnessing David Jackson's haunting image of Emmett Till in an open casket and seeing a photographer taking pictures without flash at a jazz club.
Using a Hasselblad camera, Brathwaite honed his craft in a small darkroom in Harlem, experimenting with techniques that enhanced the visual narrative of his images. He worked with limited light to capture the essence of his subjects, often focusing on the emotional and psychological depth of his portraits.
Brathwaite's work was instrumental in shaping the "Black is Beautiful" movement, which sought to redefine traditional beauty standards that were heavily influenced by European culture. The Grandassa Models, young Black women he photographed, became symbols of this movement, embracing their natural features and challenging the dominant narratives.
By the 1970s, Brathwaite had shifted his focus from jazz to other forms of popular Black music, photographing iconic figures like Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley. His work continued to be influential, with commissions in the 2010s, including a recent shoot for The New Yorker.
Brathwaite's health began to decline, but his legacy endures through exhibitions such as "Kwame Brathwaite: Things Well Worth Waiting For" currently on view at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Using a Hasselblad camera, Brathwaite honed his craft in a small darkroom in Harlem, experimenting with techniques that enhanced the visual narrative of his images. He worked with limited light to capture the essence of his subjects, often focusing on the emotional and psychological depth of his portraits.
Brathwaite's work was instrumental in shaping the "Black is Beautiful" movement, which sought to redefine traditional beauty standards that were heavily influenced by European culture. The Grandassa Models, young Black women he photographed, became symbols of this movement, embracing their natural features and challenging the dominant narratives.
By the 1970s, Brathwaite had shifted his focus from jazz to other forms of popular Black music, photographing iconic figures like Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley. His work continued to be influential, with commissions in the 2010s, including a recent shoot for The New Yorker.
Brathwaite's health began to decline, but his legacy endures through exhibitions such as "Kwame Brathwaite: Things Well Worth Waiting For" currently on view at the Art Institute of Chicago.
. And what's with the "Things Well Worth Waiting For" title for that exhibit? It sounds like a joke. Can't wait to go check it out at the Art Institute of Chicago though! They gotta have some decent coffee and snacks there, right? At least they're not just gonna display his pics on old-school prints... hope they updated the lighting in the gallery 
I mean, can you even imagine a time when black people weren't represented in media with some messed up beauty standards? it gives me chills thinking about how much he fought for his art and his people 
His pics of the Grandassa Models are everything - they're so powerful and beautiful in their own way 
. And the fact that he worked with legends like Nina Simone and Stevie Wonder is just mind-blowing 
I need to see this exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago ASAP, it's on my bucket list now! 
. his legacy lives on through exhibitions like the one at the art institute of chicago, where people can see his work up close.
Kwame Brathwaite's work is so inspiring, it shows us that we don't have to conform to societal norms when it comes to beauty. I love how he worked with limited light to capture the essence of his subjects, it adds a whole new level of emotional depth to his portraits. His legacy is not just about Black is Beautiful, but also about challenging traditional narratives and giving voice to those who were marginalized.
. But it's awesome that his work lives on and continues to inspire people to challenge traditional beauty standards 
. I mean, can you imagine a world where black people were just seen as pretty because of their skin tone? 
It's crazy how much power photography has in shaping our perceptions. And the fact that Brathwaite's photos helped create a movement like "Black is Beautiful" is just amazing 
. I love that he worked with young women from The Grandassa Models to show the world what beauty looks like without all the filters 
. Anyway, it's great that his legacy is still celebrated through exhibitions like this one in Chicago 
Kwame Brathwaite's work is so fire 
he was way ahead of his time you know? like, those portraits he took of The Grandassa Models back in the day? they're still giving us life today. and can we talk about how he used light to capture these amazing images? it's like he knew exactly what he was doing 
anyway, it's crazy that his health started declining but his legacy is living on through exhibitions and commissions. that's a real testament to the impact he had on the art world 
he captured so many amazing moments in black history thru his lens, from emmett till to bob marley... and it's crazy how much impact 'black is beautiful' movement had on changing beauty standards 
he was all about challenging the status quo and making people see black people in a new light, you know? like his work with the grandassa models was a total game changer for the "black is beautiful" movement. it's crazy to think that this dude started out taking pics at jazz clubs and then ended up photographing icons like nina simone and stevie wonder 
Kwame Brathwaite's legacy is not just about his art, but about inspiring others to be bold, take risks, and celebrate their individuality.
, but I gotta say, I'm a bit disappointed that his work isn't getting more mainstream recognition in my opinion 
. I mean, he was breaking ground way back when and challenging the status quo of beauty standards - that's some serious bravery 
.
. Would've made those portraits so much more poppin'!
this is so awesome that his work lives on and continues to inspire people about the importance of embracing our natural beauty. I mean, can you even imagine a world where black people weren't forced to hide their features because of society's standards? 
and it's crazy to think about how his work helped shape this whole "Black is Beautiful" movement, which is like so important for us to learn from today. and can we talk about these Grandassa Models he photographed? they're literally the original supermodels 
anyway, i'm so glad Kwame Brathwaite's legacy lives on through his work 
Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans - John Lennon 
. His influence can still be seen today, with commissions and exhibitions that celebrate his legacy