Pioneering Photographer of 'Black is Beautiful' Movement Passes Away at 85
Kwame Brathwaite, a photographer and activist whose work played a pivotal role in shaping the 'Black is Beautiful' movement of the 1960s and beyond, has died at the age of 85.
Born in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants, Brathwaite was raised in Harlem and New York before moving to the South Bronx when he was five years old. He discovered his passion for photography after encountering a haunting image of Emmett Till's open casket by David Jackson in 1955 at just 17 years old.
Brathwaite's journey as a photographer was deeply influenced by his experiences with limited light and the African American community. Using a Hasselblad medium-format camera, he developed a darkroom technique that enriched how Black skin would appear in his photographs, allowing him to capture the visual narrative of his imagery.
In 1962, Brathwaite co-founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS), alongside his brother Elombe. He began using his photography and organizing prowess to push back against whitewashed beauty standards, focusing on young Black women whom he would photograph, celebrating their features as part of the "Grandassa Models." The concept led to a fashion show in 1962, with AJASS organizing "Naturally '62" in Harlem until 1992.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite photographed jazz legends such as Miles Davis and John Coltrane, capturing the essence and mood of live performances. In the 1970s, he shifted his focus to other forms of popular Black music, photographing Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, Bob Marley, and many more iconic musicians.
Throughout his life, Brathwaite continued to explore photography with an ethos that celebrated "Black is Beautiful." In 2016, he joined Philip Martin Gallery in Los Angeles, continuing commissions as recently as 2018. His work has garnered increasing interest from curators, historians, and collectors in recent years.
As of his passing, Brathwaite's retrospective exhibition, titled 'Things Well Worth Waiting For,' was currently on display at the Art Institute of Chicago until July 24. Despite struggling with health issues, allowing him to be unable to participate in an interview for a notable piece published by T Magazine in 2021, his legacy lives through the photographs he captured over the years.
Brathwaite's work not only left an indelible mark on photography but also continues to challenge societal norms and foster appreciation of Black beauty. As a result, his passing marks the end of an era for those who have been inspired by his artistry and activism.
Kwame Brathwaite, a photographer and activist whose work played a pivotal role in shaping the 'Black is Beautiful' movement of the 1960s and beyond, has died at the age of 85.
Born in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants, Brathwaite was raised in Harlem and New York before moving to the South Bronx when he was five years old. He discovered his passion for photography after encountering a haunting image of Emmett Till's open casket by David Jackson in 1955 at just 17 years old.
Brathwaite's journey as a photographer was deeply influenced by his experiences with limited light and the African American community. Using a Hasselblad medium-format camera, he developed a darkroom technique that enriched how Black skin would appear in his photographs, allowing him to capture the visual narrative of his imagery.
In 1962, Brathwaite co-founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS), alongside his brother Elombe. He began using his photography and organizing prowess to push back against whitewashed beauty standards, focusing on young Black women whom he would photograph, celebrating their features as part of the "Grandassa Models." The concept led to a fashion show in 1962, with AJASS organizing "Naturally '62" in Harlem until 1992.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite photographed jazz legends such as Miles Davis and John Coltrane, capturing the essence and mood of live performances. In the 1970s, he shifted his focus to other forms of popular Black music, photographing Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, Bob Marley, and many more iconic musicians.
Throughout his life, Brathwaite continued to explore photography with an ethos that celebrated "Black is Beautiful." In 2016, he joined Philip Martin Gallery in Los Angeles, continuing commissions as recently as 2018. His work has garnered increasing interest from curators, historians, and collectors in recent years.
As of his passing, Brathwaite's retrospective exhibition, titled 'Things Well Worth Waiting For,' was currently on display at the Art Institute of Chicago until July 24. Despite struggling with health issues, allowing him to be unable to participate in an interview for a notable piece published by T Magazine in 2021, his legacy lives through the photographs he captured over the years.
Brathwaite's work not only left an indelible mark on photography but also continues to challenge societal norms and foster appreciation of Black beauty. As a result, his passing marks the end of an era for those who have been inspired by his artistry and activism.
he was so ahead of his time with the 'black is beautiful' movement, celebrating black culture and beauty in a way that was so empowering back then. his legacy lives on through the thousands of photos he took and the many artists he worked with - keeps inspiring new generations 
my heart goes out to his family and loved ones 
about Kwame Brathwaite's passing. He was literally a pioneer in capturing the beauty of black people, especially women 
. His work with the 'Black is Beautiful' movement back in the 60s and 70s really helped shift the narrative around what we consider beautiful. I mean, can you even imagine if he wasn't there to take those iconic pics of Nina Simone and Stevie Wonder? 
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It's crazy to think that he won't be around to see how his work continues to evolve and influence new artists. But on the bright side, his photos are going to keep being celebrated and shared for years to come 
just lost another piece of our history 
Kwame Brathwaite's work was more than just pics on a wall, it was a movement 
and we're gonna miss that fire 
anyway his work was super influential and still holds up today love how he celebrated black skin as beautiful it's crazy how some things have changed since then 
but can you believe he lived through the entire civil rights movement?!?! mind blown 
what's even more impressive is that he kept pushing boundaries in photography long after everyone else had moved on