Kwame Brathwaite, a pioneer of the "Black is Beautiful" movement, has passed away at the age of 85. Brathwaite was a photographer and activist whose work played a pivotal role in shaping the aesthetics of Black identity and challenging Eurocentric beauty standards.
Born in New York in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants, Brathwaite's exposure to racism and inequality from an early age sparked his passion for photography as a means of empowerment. He attended the School of Industrial Art (now the High School of Art and Design) where he was drawn to photography by two pivotal moments: witnessing David Jackson's haunting photograph of Emmett Till in 1955, and seeing a young man taking photos without flash in a dark jazz club in 1956.
Brathwaite's work became synonymous with celebrating Black beauty and culture. He founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) in 1956, alongside his brother Elombe, to promote Black arts and photography. Through AJASS, Brathwaite curated a concept called "Grandassa Models," featuring young Black women whose natural hair he celebrated through photography.
One of these models was Sikolo, whom Brathwaite married in 1966. The couple remained together until Brathwaite's passing. In 1962, AJASS organized the first "Naturally '62" fashion show, which became an annual event until 1992. This initiative solidified Brathwaite's vision of challenging traditional beauty standards and embracing natural textures.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite worked with numerous jazz legends, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and Nina Simone. In the 1970s, he traveled to Africa to document the Jackson Five's tour and photograph the historic "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.
As Brathwaite continued his career, his photography continued to evolve under the "Black is Beautiful" ethos. He joined Philip Martin Gallery in Los Angeles in 2016 and commissioned photo shoots until as recently as 2018 for The New Yorker. His work has gained renewed attention in recent years, with a retrospective exhibition at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas.
Despite his contributions to photography and social justice, Brathwaite's health was failing by the time he passed away on April 1st.
Born in New York in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants, Brathwaite's exposure to racism and inequality from an early age sparked his passion for photography as a means of empowerment. He attended the School of Industrial Art (now the High School of Art and Design) where he was drawn to photography by two pivotal moments: witnessing David Jackson's haunting photograph of Emmett Till in 1955, and seeing a young man taking photos without flash in a dark jazz club in 1956.
Brathwaite's work became synonymous with celebrating Black beauty and culture. He founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) in 1956, alongside his brother Elombe, to promote Black arts and photography. Through AJASS, Brathwaite curated a concept called "Grandassa Models," featuring young Black women whose natural hair he celebrated through photography.
One of these models was Sikolo, whom Brathwaite married in 1966. The couple remained together until Brathwaite's passing. In 1962, AJASS organized the first "Naturally '62" fashion show, which became an annual event until 1992. This initiative solidified Brathwaite's vision of challenging traditional beauty standards and embracing natural textures.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite worked with numerous jazz legends, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and Nina Simone. In the 1970s, he traveled to Africa to document the Jackson Five's tour and photograph the historic "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.
As Brathwaite continued his career, his photography continued to evolve under the "Black is Beautiful" ethos. He joined Philip Martin Gallery in Los Angeles in 2016 and commissioned photo shoots until as recently as 2018 for The New Yorker. His work has gained renewed attention in recent years, with a retrospective exhibition at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas.
Despite his contributions to photography and social justice, Brathwaite's health was failing by the time he passed away on April 1st.
I'm shocked they didn't mention that Kwame Brathwaite's work was super influential to the Black Arts Movement in the 60s and 70s... like, without him, we wouldn't have seen all those iconic images of Black beauty and culture. And can we talk about how he paved the way for more Black photographers and artists to showcase their talents? It's crazy that it took so long for his work to get the recognition it deserves 
. Anyway, I'm glad they're celebrating his life and legacy now... about time, right? 
Kwame Brathwaite's passing is like a lost chapter closing 
- I keep thinking about all those "Naturally '62" fashion shows and how they paved the way for Black beauty to take center stage 
. I wonder if he'd be proud of how far we've come, but at the same time, it's like we're still rehashing his legacy 
- should we just move forward and create our own paths or keep honoring the ones who paved the way? 
another icon passes... sounds like Kwame Brathwaite lived a life full of 'artistic expression' 
kinda cool how his work influenced Black identity and beauty standards, but what's with the 'Black is Beautiful' thing? like, didn't he just want to take some pics of people looking pretty? 
anyway, gotta respect his dedication to promoting arts and photography, especially during the Civil Rights era. 
just heard about Kwame Brathwaite passin away at 85, feels like we losin a piece of history 
can't believe it's only now people startin to appreciate his legacy and the impact he had on the world 
showin us that we don't gotta conform to Eurocentric standards, we can celebrate our own culture and beauty 
Sikolo was lucky to have him as her husband, what a beautiful love story 
rest in peace, kwame 
he totally changed the game for Black people showing off their natural beauty and refusing to conform to Eurocentric standards 
. His partnership with Miles Davis and other jazz legends is still giving me life 
. I'm so grateful he was able to document some of those iconic moments in history 
He showed us that Black is beautiful and our hair doesn't have to be straight 
I mean, can you imagine a world where people didn't care about natural texture anymore? 
Anyway, I'm so glad he's no longer suffering. 
. His legacy lives on through the "Black is Beautiful" movement and initiatives like AJASS, which helped shape a more inclusive definition of beauty 
. May he rest in peace and continue to inspire future generations of creatives 
I'm literally sobbing over here! Kwame Brathwaite was a total legend 
! I love how his photography challenged those Eurocentric beauty standards and celebrated Black beauty instead 
. The fact that he started the "Grandassa Models" concept is everything 
! Those young women were totally serving natural hair and looking fierce 
. His legacy lives on through his photography and the countless people he inspired 
His work was all about celebrating natural textures and embracing individuality, which is something we could all use more of 
? Anyway, my condolences to his family and loved ones 
. I mean, can you even imagine a world without people like him breaking down beauty standards & celebrating Black culture in the 60s? It's crazy to think about how much impact he had on our society 
. And his legacy lives on through Sikolo, his wife & model 
.