Kwame Brathwaite, photographer of ‘Black is Beautiful’ movement, dies at 85 | CNN

Legendary Photographer Kwame Brathwaite Dies at 85, Leaving Behind a Legacy of Black Beauty and Jazz

Kwame Brathwaite, the pioneering photographer behind the iconic "Black is Beautiful" movement, has passed away at the age of 85. Brathwaite's work continues to inspire artists, curators, and collectors alike, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential photographers of our time.

Born in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants in Brooklyn, New York, Brathwaite grew up surrounded by a vibrant arts scene that would shape his future work. He discovered his passion for photography at just 17 years old, after encountering David Jackson's haunting image of Emmett Till's open casket in 1955. This moment sparked a sense of purpose and creativity that would define Brathwaite's career.

Throughout the 1960s, Brathwaite used his camera to challenge traditional beauty standards, capturing images of young Black women who embodied a new kind of beauty. His Grandassa Models, as they came to be known, were the epitome of this "Black is Beautiful" ethos, showcasing the beauty and strength of Black skin in all its forms.

Brathwaite's work extended far beyond his photography, however. He was also a dedicated organizer and artist, co-founding the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) with his brother Elombe in 1956. Through AJASS, Brathwaite promoted the arts and challenged racism in all its forms.

Over the years, Brathwaite's camera lens captured some of the most iconic images of jazz legends, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and Nina Simone. His photographs of Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, and Bob Marley are just as enduring, capturing the essence of popular Black music.

In recent years, Brathwaite's work has experienced a resurgence in popularity, with his photography being exhibited at institutions such as the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles and the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas. His 2019 retrospective, organized by the Aperture Foundation, marked a significant milestone in his career, cementing his status as one of the most important photographers of our time.

Despite struggling with health issues, Brathwaite continued to create until his passing at the age of 85. His legacy is a testament to the power of photography and art to challenge social norms and promote beauty, strength, and resilience in all its forms.

Brathwaite's work will continue to inspire generations to come, a reminder that true beauty lies not in conformity but in the celebration of our differences. As he once said, "You want to get the feeling, the mood that you're experiencing when they're playing." His photographs capture that feeling – and we are forever grateful for his vision.

its sad to hear about Kwame Brathwaite's passing he was a true legend and left an indelible mark on the world of photography. his work was more than just aesthetically pleasing, it was also deeply rooted in social justice and activism he used his camera to amplify the voices and stories of black people, particularly women, who were often marginalized or erased from history.

i think its amazing how his work has experienced a resurgence in popularity lately its a testament to the ongoing relevance of his message and the power of art to challenge societal norms. his legacy will continue to inspire new generations of artists, curators, and collectors to use their platforms to promote beauty, strength, and resilience in all its forms

another legend lost to us... kwame brathwaite's passing at 85 is a reminder of how quickly our time on this earth slips away . his work was more than just photography, it was a movement, a message that still resonates today . i mean, can you imagine the impact he could've made if he had another few decades to share his vision? . and what's with all these 'legacies' being highlighted lately? doesn't it feel like we're just cherry-picking folks who were 'good' people to remind us of how great they were after they're gone? . anyway, i guess kwame brathwaite was definitely one for the books .

man i'm not buying all the fuss around kwame brathwaite's passing 85 is old news even back in his day he was still making art and taking pics when most people were getting grey hairs what really gets me is how some ppl are already trying to turn him into a meme "black is beautiful" movement? please, that's just a fancy way of saying "i'm not racist but..."

I was just thinking about my old film camera the other day... I used to have so many rolls of film that I never got around to developing, lol. Do you guys still shoot with film or is it all digital now? I remember the process of loading the film, winding it up, and waiting for those sweet moments when you knew you'd gotten a great shot. It's funny how nostalgic we can get over old tech, right?

Kwame Brathwaite was more than just a photographer, he was a movement in itself He showed us that beauty isn't just about physical appearance but about the strength and resilience of the Black community His legacy is still felt today, with artists and curators continuing to draw inspiration from his work.

It's crazy to think that he started taking photos at 17 and went on to capture some of the most iconic images in jazz history The way he used his camera to challenge traditional beauty standards was so ahead of its time. And let's not forget about AJASS, he was a true pioneer when it came to promoting arts and challenging racism.

I love how his work has experienced a resurgence in popularity over the years It's amazing to see how his photography can evoke such strong emotions and feelings He really had a way of capturing the essence of Black culture and music.

Sadly, he passed away at 85, but his legacy will live on forever

omg, just heard about Kwame Brathwaite passin away 85 yrs old is still pretty young if u ask me lol. i mean, have u seen his pics of stevie wonder & bob marley? iconic! he was a total pioneer in showin us black ppl can be beautiful & strong too. his "black is beautiful" movement still inspires artists & collectors today i loved how he used his camera 2 challenge traditional beauty standards back in the day. it's crazy how much of an impact his work had on the art world anyway, let's keep celebratin' his legacy & the power of photography 2 bring people together

man ️... Kwame Brathwaite's legacy is more than just a photographer, it's a movement he showed us what beauty looks like beyond the traditional norms, and that's something we can all learn from his work is still giving us life today, and I love how his photography has been able to capture the essence of jazz legends like Miles Davis and Nina Simone it's a shame he had to leave us too soon, but his vision lives on through his art

Kwame Brathwaite was more than just a photographer, he was a movement . His work wasn't just about capturing images of beautiful Black women, it was about challenging the status quo and promoting self-love and acceptance. He showed us that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and forms, and that's something we need more of today . I'm so glad his legacy lives on through his incredible body of work, and I have no doubt that future generations will continue to be inspired by his vision .

I'm so saddened to hear about Kwame Brathwaite's passing . It's crazy how one person can leave such a lasting impact on our culture and society. I mean, who would've thought that a 17-year-old kid taking pictures of Emmett Till's open casket would spark the creation of the iconic "Black is Beautiful" movement?

I love how Brathwaite used his camera to challenge traditional beauty standards and showcase the beauty and strength of Black skin. His work was way ahead of its time, but it's no surprise that it's still inspiring artists and curators today .

It's also amazing to see how Brathwaite's photography career spanned so many genres, from jazz legends to popular music icons. I mean, who wouldn't want to capture the essence of Stevie Wonder or Bob Marley on camera?

But what really gets me is how his legacy continues to promote beauty, strength, and resilience in all its forms. It's a powerful reminder that true beauty lies not in conformity, but in celebrating our differences .

Anyway, I just want to say thanks for sharing this amazing news with us . Kwame Brathwaite may be gone, but his work will definitely live on forever .

just heard about kwame brathwaite passing away at 85, feels like a loss of an era he was so ahead of his time with the whole "black is beautiful" movement, still gives me chills seeing those grandassa models pics ‍ his work is more than just photography tho, it's a legacy of celebrating blackness and challenging racism in all forms can't believe we're gonna miss out on new art from him

ugh I'm so sad to hear about Kwame Brathwaite's passing ... 85 years is old, but his work will keep on inspiring us for a long time ... I mean, have you seen the pics of Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley? they're like whoa! how did he manage to capture their essence in photos so effortlessly? ... what was it about the "Black is Beautiful" movement that resonated with him, do you think?

man... kwame brathwaite was a legend his work was more than just photography it was a movement to change the way we see beauty and strength in black people he reminded us that our skin tone is not something to be ashamed of but something to be celebrated i remember seeing those grandassa models for the first time and being blown away by their confidence and swagger they were the epitome of what it means to be proud of who you are kwame's legacy will live on through his work and the countless artists, curators, and collectors he inspired over the years it's a reminder that we should always strive to challenge social norms and promote diversity in all its forms

Another great legend bites the dust ... I mean, it's always sad to see these kind of people pass on, but at least their work lives on in our hearts . I'm so glad they're getting the recognition they deserve now that Kwame Brathwaite is gone, especially from institutions like the Skirball Cultural Center and the Blanton Museum of Art . It's awesome to see his "Black is Beautiful" movement inspiring new artists and curators, but seriously can't our forum just get some better moderation on this topic? It's always getting hijacked by trolls with their own agendas . I swear, sometimes I think the platform itself is more of a hindrance than a help . Anyway, let's keep Kwame Brathwaite's memory alive and celebrate his incredible legacy !

85 years young and leaving behind a legacy that's still making waves in the art world... Kwame Brathwaite was more than just a photographer, he was a movement . The way he captured those "Black is Beautiful" moments back in the day was like a breath of fresh air for people who were tired of being told they didn't measure up. He showed us that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and we're still feeling the impact of that today .

I love how his work extended beyond just photography - he was an organizer, an artist, a true visionary. The fact that he co-founded AJASS with his brother Elombe is just incredible . And let's not forget those iconic jazz legends he photographed... I mean, who else can say they've got pics of Miles Davis and Stevie Wonder in the same frame?

It's amazing to see how his work has resonated with a new generation, too - all these recent exhibitions at institutions like Skirball Cultural Center and Blanton Museum of Art are proof that his legacy is still very much alive . And I'm so glad he continued creating until the end, leaving us with some truly beautiful images to cherish .

man 85 is old for a legend kwame brathwaite's legacy lives on tho, he was like a pioneer in showing black beauty on camera back in the day my grandma used to tell me about how he'd take pics of these gorgeous black women with afros and bold styles... it was like nothing anyone had seen before he also captured some iconic jazz moments which is dope. i wish we could've seen more of his work during his lifetime, but at least now his legacy is being celebrated ajass was doing some important stuff too, promoting black arts and challenging racism... it's like he paved the way for a lot of artists today

I'm so saddened to hear about Kwame Brathwaite's passing ... I mean, 85 is old age, but to think of all the beautiful images he captured over the years still makes me emotional ... His 'Black is Beautiful' movement was such a game changer for the art world & beyond ... It's crazy that his work has experienced a resurgence in popularity now, especially with younger generations discovering his photography ... I can only imagine how many iconic images he must have captured of jazz legends over the years ... Miles Davis and Nina Simone are my absolute faves, but really, who wouldn't want to be immortalized by Brathwaite's lens? He was truly a master of his craft & we're all better off for having known him

man this is sad news about Kwame Brathwaite . can't believe he's gone at 85, left us with so much beauty and a legacy that'll live on. i mean who else could make black beauty so iconic? the way he captured those grandassa models was like nothing anyone had seen before . and his connection to jazz is still giving me life . his work continues to inspire artists and collectors alike, but it's people like us who keep his memory alive by keeping his books on our shelves and referencing them in conversations . what's your favorite kwame brathwaite photo?

just had to share my thoughts on kwame brathwaite's passing 85 years young, but left us way too soon. what a legacy though! i mean, who else can say they captured the essence of jazz legends and black beauty in all its forms? his work is more than just photography - it's a movement, a reminder that true beauty lies in celebrating our differences . and can we talk about how his "black is beautiful" ethos is still so relevant today? sadly, it's going to take a generation to grow up with his vision as their own. rest in peace, kwame brathwaite