Kwame Brathwaite, a pioneering photographer who played a pivotal role in defining the 'Black is Beautiful' movement of the 1960s and beyond, has passed away at the age of 85.
Born in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants in Brooklyn, New York, Brathwaite's journey as an artist was shaped by his early encounters with powerful images that left a lasting impact. The haunting photograph of Emmett Till's open casket in 1955 and witnessing a young photographer taking pictures without flash in a jazz club in 1956 ignited a spark within him. These pivotal moments led Brathwaite to develop his unique style, which emphasized the beauty of Black skin.
As an artist, Brathwaite was instrumental in pushing back against Eurocentric beauty standards that dominated the fashion industry at the time. Alongside his colleagues at the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS), he founded the Grandassa Models, a group of young Black women who were celebrated for their natural beauty. The concept gained traction with Brathwaite's photographs, which showcased these models in all their glory.
One notable figure who was immortalized by Brathwaite is his wife Sikolo, whom he married in 1966. Their union was marked by love and mutual respect, as Brathwaite was deeply devoted to capturing the essence of her beauty on film.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite's work traversed various genres, from jazz legends like Miles Davis and John Coltrane to popular Black music icons such as Nina Simone and Bob Marley. His photographs not only captured these artists but also preserved their essence for posterity.
By the 1970s, Brathwaite shifted his focus towards other forms of Black culture, documenting the Jackson Five's tour in Africa and photographing historic events like Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman at the 'Rumble in the Jungle'. His work continued to flourish as he worked with prominent artists, including Stevie Wonder and Sly and the Family Stone.
Brathwaite's photography was characterized by its powerful storytelling, infused with an unwavering commitment to capturing the beauty of Black identity. As a trailblazer, his impact on the art world will be felt for generations to come.
Despite facing declining health, Brathwaite continued to create work until 2018, when he captured stunning portraits for The New Yorker. A retrospective of his work is currently showing at the Art Institute of Chicago, where it will remain until July 24.
Born in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants in Brooklyn, New York, Brathwaite's journey as an artist was shaped by his early encounters with powerful images that left a lasting impact. The haunting photograph of Emmett Till's open casket in 1955 and witnessing a young photographer taking pictures without flash in a jazz club in 1956 ignited a spark within him. These pivotal moments led Brathwaite to develop his unique style, which emphasized the beauty of Black skin.
As an artist, Brathwaite was instrumental in pushing back against Eurocentric beauty standards that dominated the fashion industry at the time. Alongside his colleagues at the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS), he founded the Grandassa Models, a group of young Black women who were celebrated for their natural beauty. The concept gained traction with Brathwaite's photographs, which showcased these models in all their glory.
One notable figure who was immortalized by Brathwaite is his wife Sikolo, whom he married in 1966. Their union was marked by love and mutual respect, as Brathwaite was deeply devoted to capturing the essence of her beauty on film.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite's work traversed various genres, from jazz legends like Miles Davis and John Coltrane to popular Black music icons such as Nina Simone and Bob Marley. His photographs not only captured these artists but also preserved their essence for posterity.
By the 1970s, Brathwaite shifted his focus towards other forms of Black culture, documenting the Jackson Five's tour in Africa and photographing historic events like Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman at the 'Rumble in the Jungle'. His work continued to flourish as he worked with prominent artists, including Stevie Wonder and Sly and the Family Stone.
Brathwaite's photography was characterized by its powerful storytelling, infused with an unwavering commitment to capturing the beauty of Black identity. As a trailblazer, his impact on the art world will be felt for generations to come.
Despite facing declining health, Brathwaite continued to create work until 2018, when he captured stunning portraits for The New Yorker. A retrospective of his work is currently showing at the Art Institute of Chicago, where it will remain until July 24.
Like, I'm not surprised to hear about another icon passing away... like, how many legendary photographers do we have left? 
Kwame Brathwaite was literally a pioneer in capturing Black beauty, and his work is still giving us life today 
. It's so sad that he didn't get to see the full impact of his legacy, especially with how much more representation there is for Black people in media now 
. Anyway, I guess it's great that people are finally recognizing his contributions to art and history... like, about time 
.
Kwame Brathwaite's work is so iconic and his legacy lives on through the beauty and pride of Black identity 
it's crazy to think about how much impact one person can have on changing the way we see ourselves and each other 
kwame brathwaite was like a god to me, you know? his photography was more than just pretty pics, it was like he captured the soul of black culture 
in the 60s and 70s. i mean, can you imagine growing up without seeing yourself reflected in the media? it's crazy that someone like him came along and showed the world what beauty looked like 
. but overall, kwame brathwaite's legacy is something to be celebrated 
. he paved the way for so many artists and photographers who followed in his footsteps. rest in peace, brutha 
just read about Kwame Brathwaite passing away and I'm still trying to process how someone who was so young and vibrant in their photography career has left us 
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! Who else could make Eurocentric beauty standards go from 0 to 100 in one sentence? 
His work is still giving us life today, and we're low-key obsessed with his wife Sikolo too 
. RIP Kwame, your legacy lives on through the countless Black faces you captured with love and respect 
man that's crazy he lived thru so much and still managed to keep pushing boundaries with his art i love how he focused on celebrating black skin as a beauty thing back in the day it was super radical for its time but also kinda obvious now looking at all these old pics of him with icons like nina simone and bob marley...anyway what really gets me is that he passed away at 85 which feels like a loss to our modern art world 
we need more people like kwame brathwaite who aren't afraid to speak truth to power through their work 
...he was literally the one who made me feel seen and celebrated as a black person growing up. i remember reading about his work in art history books and being blown away by these gorgeous portraits of black women, like sikolo, his wife... she was the real MVP 
. brathwaite was more than just a photographer, he was like a guardian of black culture and beauty... we need more people like him 
I'm really saddened to hear about Kwame Brathwaite's passing... Like, what a loss for art and culture 
. He was literally a pioneer in showcasing Black beauty and identity through his photography, and it's crazy to think that he paved the way for so many others to do the same. The way he celebrated the beauty of natural hair, skin tones, and style is still so influential today... I mean, who wouldn't want to see themselves reflected in art? 
his wife sikolo was lucky to have him as her partner in crime, those portraits of her are straight fire 
can't believe Kwame Brathwaite passed away 
I mean, who else could make 'Black is Beautiful' a thing? 
... Kwame Brathwaite was like a true pioneer in the art world, he had this special way of capturing beauty and identity that still resonates today. his work was so much more than just pretty pictures, it was about challenging these Eurocentric standards that everyone's been trying to push against for ages. and let's not forget about his wife Sikolo, she was like the ultimate muse 
. Still mind-blowing to think he snapped Stevie Wonder & Sly Stone back in the day 
, his work was more than just photography, it was a movement, and we're still feeling the impact today 
, can't help but think about how much more diverse our world would be if artists like him were still with us to inspire future generations 
Kwame Brathwaite's work still gives me chills - those portraits of Black jazz legends, the women who broke away from Eurocentric standards... it's like he was a precursor to our modern understanding of body positivity 
. The way he captured the essence of Nina Simone and Bob Marley is just magic 
. It's amazing that his work is still being celebrated today, especially with this retrospective at the Art Institute of Chicago 
.
what I love most about Kwame's story is how he used his platform to uplift and empower other Black artists and women 
it's a true testament to the impact one person can have on the world