Kwame Brathwaite, a pioneering photographer and activist who played a pivotal role in shaping 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 New York City, Brathwaite's life was marked by his unwavering commitment to celebrating Black culture and identity through photography.
Brathwaite's journey into photography began when he encountered a haunting image of Emmett Till in an open casket at the age of 17. This encounter sparked a passion for photography that would drive him to document the lives and experiences of Black people throughout his career. Alongside his brother Elombe, Brathwaite co-founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS), which became a hub for promoting Black artistic expression.
In the early 1960s, AJASS launched the Grandassa Models project, featuring young Black women with unapologetically natural hair. These photographs celebrated the beauty of Blackness and challenged Eurocentric beauty standards that had long marginalized Black people. The success of this project led to an annual fashion show, "Naturally '62," which ran until 1992.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite worked with jazz legends such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk, capturing the essence of their performances through photography. He also photographed influential figures like Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley, cementing his legacy as a documentarian of Black culture.
In the 1970s, Brathwaite shifted his focus to other forms of popular Black music, traveling to Africa with the Jackson Five and documenting the historic "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Commissions continued throughout the decades, including a recent shoot for The New Yorker.
Throughout his life, Brathwaite remained committed to the "Black is Beautiful" ethos, which emphasized the importance of celebrating Black identity and culture. His work continues to inspire new generations of artists and activists, solidifying his place as one of the most influential photographers of our time.
Brathwaite's journey into photography began when he encountered a haunting image of Emmett Till in an open casket at the age of 17. This encounter sparked a passion for photography that would drive him to document the lives and experiences of Black people throughout his career. Alongside his brother Elombe, Brathwaite co-founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS), which became a hub for promoting Black artistic expression.
In the early 1960s, AJASS launched the Grandassa Models project, featuring young Black women with unapologetically natural hair. These photographs celebrated the beauty of Blackness and challenged Eurocentric beauty standards that had long marginalized Black people. The success of this project led to an annual fashion show, "Naturally '62," which ran until 1992.
Throughout his career, Brathwaite worked with jazz legends such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk, capturing the essence of their performances through photography. He also photographed influential figures like Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley, cementing his legacy as a documentarian of Black culture.
In the 1970s, Brathwaite shifted his focus to other forms of popular Black music, traveling to Africa with the Jackson Five and documenting the historic "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Commissions continued throughout the decades, including a recent shoot for The New Yorker.
Throughout his life, Brathwaite remained committed to the "Black is Beautiful" ethos, which emphasized the importance of celebrating Black identity and culture. His work continues to inspire new generations of artists and activists, solidifying his place as one of the most influential photographers of our time.
just found out about Kwame Brathwaite's passing at 85... what a legend! 
I'm still thinking about that haunting image of Emmett Till that sparked his passion for photography... it's crazy to think about how much impact he had on the world, from promoting Black culture to capturing the essence of jazz legends like Miles Davis 
His work is more than just pictures - it's a way of life 
And I love how he never stopped believing in the power of celebrating Black beauty and identity throughout his career 
He may be gone, but his legacy lives on through all the amazing artists and activists he inspired 
He was a true legend in the world of photography & art. His "Black is Beautiful" movement was like a breath of fresh air back in the 60s, celebrating Black culture & identity in ways that were so revolutionary at the time. I mean, can you imagine a world where Black people weren't being told they needed to conform to Eurocentric standards of beauty? 
It's crazy to think about how much of an impact his work had on shaping our understanding of what it means to be Black.
. He truly was a documentarian at heart, capturing the essence of Black culture in ways that were both intimate and powerful. His legacy will live on through his work, inspiring new generations to continue celebrating their identity & culture 
. He was like a true icon in the photography world, you know? His work was more than just pictures - it was about spreading love and acceptance for Black culture. I mean, who else would've dared to show the beauty of unapologetically natural hair back in the day? 
The way he celebrated Black identity through his lens is still giving me life today 
The way they rocked their hair, their style, and their confidence... it's a total mood 
. And working with jazz legends like Miles Davis and Nina Simone? That's just mind-blowing 
.
And that Black is Beautiful movement he was part of was super ahead of its time, showing the world what beauty looks like when you celebrate your roots 
The fact that AJASS launched a whole fashion show just on natural hair back in the 60s was huge 
We need more people doing this kinda work today, making sure we keep honoring our black heritage 
his passion for documenting Black culture & identity is something I've always admired & aspired 2 incorporate into my own art 
he was truly a pioneer & paved the way 4 so many artists & activists who followed in his footsteps 
anyway, let's all take a moment 2 celebrate his life & legacy 
and I'm totally low-key impressed by his life story! I mean, 85 is old, but he's been doing photography for over 60 years? That's insane! 
And those images of Emmett Till... wow, that must've been super traumatic for him. How did he cope with it? 
Also, what's up with all the famous people he photographed? I'm guessing they were all super nice and cool? 
But seriously, his work is so important in celebrating Black culture and identity. We need more of that! 
i remember seeing some of those grandassa models pics in a book back in the day and being blown away by how natural and beautiful they looked 
and his collab with miley davis was on point 
what's even more inspiring is that his legacy lives on, keeping black culture & identity celebrated 