Kwame Brathwaite, the Iconic Photographer Behind 'Black is Beautiful' Movement, Passes Away at 85
Kwame Brathwaite, a pioneering photographer and activist whose work played a pivotal role in shaping the 'Black is Beautiful' movement of the 1960s and beyond, has passed away at the age of 85. His son announced his father's death on social media earlier this week.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1938, Brathwaite was raised by Barbadian immigrants who instilled in him a strong sense of identity and culture. He began his photography career at just 17 years old, influenced by powerful images he encountered, including David Jackson's haunting photograph of Emmett Till in open casket. This moment sparked his passion for photography, which would eventually become an integral part of the 'Black is Beautiful' movement.
Through his work with the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS), Brathwaite aimed to challenge Eurocentric beauty standards by celebrating Black features and culture. His most notable achievement was photographing the Grandassa Models, young Black women who were redefining traditional notions of beauty. The 'Naturally '62' fashion show he organized in 1962 marked a significant milestone, with Brathwaite continuing to promote this concept throughout his career.
Brathwaite's photography extended beyond the realm of fashion and culture to capture iconic moments in Black music history. He documented numerous tours by legendary artists like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Nina Simone, as well as photographing pivotal events such as the historic 'Rumble in the Jungle' boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.
Despite health issues that forced him to slow down, Brathwaite continued to work on commissions until 2018. His legacy has been recognized with retrospectives at institutions like the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles and the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas. A current exhibition, 'Kwame Brathwaite: Things Well Worth Waiting For,' is now on view at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Throughout his remarkable career, Brathwaite's commitment to promoting Black beauty and culture has left an indelible mark on the world. His work continues to inspire new generations of artists, activists, and individuals seeking to redefine traditional norms of beauty.
Kwame Brathwaite, a pioneering photographer and activist whose work played a pivotal role in shaping the 'Black is Beautiful' movement of the 1960s and beyond, has passed away at the age of 85. His son announced his father's death on social media earlier this week.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1938, Brathwaite was raised by Barbadian immigrants who instilled in him a strong sense of identity and culture. He began his photography career at just 17 years old, influenced by powerful images he encountered, including David Jackson's haunting photograph of Emmett Till in open casket. This moment sparked his passion for photography, which would eventually become an integral part of the 'Black is Beautiful' movement.
Through his work with the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS), Brathwaite aimed to challenge Eurocentric beauty standards by celebrating Black features and culture. His most notable achievement was photographing the Grandassa Models, young Black women who were redefining traditional notions of beauty. The 'Naturally '62' fashion show he organized in 1962 marked a significant milestone, with Brathwaite continuing to promote this concept throughout his career.
Brathwaite's photography extended beyond the realm of fashion and culture to capture iconic moments in Black music history. He documented numerous tours by legendary artists like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Nina Simone, as well as photographing pivotal events such as the historic 'Rumble in the Jungle' boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.
Despite health issues that forced him to slow down, Brathwaite continued to work on commissions until 2018. His legacy has been recognized with retrospectives at institutions like the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles and the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas. A current exhibition, 'Kwame Brathwaite: Things Well Worth Waiting For,' is now on view at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Throughout his remarkable career, Brathwaite's commitment to promoting Black beauty and culture has left an indelible mark on the world. His work continues to inspire new generations of artists, activists, and individuals seeking to redefine traditional norms of beauty.
he was like a pioneer in promoting black culture and beauty, you know? his photography was all about showing the world that we're beautiful too, not just some idealized version of white perfection 
it's crazy to think about how much he influenced the 'black is beautiful' movement back in the 60s and beyond. his work still holds up today, and i'm so grateful to have grown up seeing his pics on display at museums and exhibitions 
rest in peace, kwame 
just heard about Kwame Brathwaite passin' away at 85... he was a total legend 
his work on 'Black is Beautiful' movement still holds up today, it's all about embracin' your culture & lovin' yourself just the way you are 
anythin' less would be just a watered-down version of what he was fightin' for... 
what a sad day 
can't wait to check it out 
his work still gives me chills especially when he photographed those legendary artists like Miles Davis and Nina Simone 
. I mean, Kwame Brathwaite was definitely makin' waves with his 'Black is Beautiful' movement back in the day, and it's dope that he got to see some of the fruits of his labor with all those retrospectives and exhibitions 
. But let's be real, his son's gotta step up the game now and keep his legacy goin', ya feel? I mean, 2018 was like, forever ago... 
#RIPKwameBrathwaite
KWAME BRATHWITE WAS LIKE A LEGEND IN MY EYES 
I REMEMBER SEEING THOSE OLD PHOTOS OF THE GRANDASSA MODELS FROM 'NATURALLY '62' AND IT WAS LIKE A WHOLE NEW WORLD OPENED UP TO ME 
Kwame Brathwaite's passing at 85 is another piece of the puzzle that falls into place 
. You know what really gets me though? He was a pioneer for Black beauty and culture in the 60s, but I bet there's more to it than meets the eye 
. Maybe his work was part of a bigger agenda to shift societal norms and pave the way for future generations. The fact that he had connections with famous artists like Miles Davis and Nina Simone makes me wonder if he had some kind of secret network or influence behind the scenes 
anywys his work had such an impact on the black beauty standard it's amazing 2 think about how far we've come since the 'black is beautiful' movement started 
it's crazy thinkin he started photography at 17 and went on to create somethin so powerful like the 'black is beautiful' movement 
reminds me of those iconic images from steven hollywood's photoshoots in the 90s... anyway, kwame brathwaite's legacy is gonna live on and inspire people to celebrate their culture and beauty 
his work wasn't just about fashion or art, it was about challenging societal norms and promoting self-love and acceptance 
so we gotta give it up for kwame brathwaite, a true legend in every sense of the word 