Black Art History: Kwame Brathwaite

Kwame Brathwaite, a pioneering photographer and activist, played a crucial role in the cultural and political movements of the late 1950s and 1960s, using his art to celebrate and affirm Black identity. His work was instrumental in popularizing the slogan "Black Is Beautiful," a rallying cry that encouraged African Americans to embrace their natural beauty, heritage, and self-worth in the face of systemic racism and Eurocentric beauty standards.

Brathwaite was a key figure in what is often referred to as the Second Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement that built upon the artistic and intellectual achievements of the early 20th-century Harlem Renaissance. Alongside his brother Elombe Brath, he co-founded the African Jazz-Art Society & Studios (AJASS), a collective that fused music, fashion, and activism to promote Black pride and political consciousness.

One of his most significant contributions was his photography of the Grandassa Models, a group of Black women who defied mainstream beauty ideals by wearing natural hairstyles and Afrocentric fashion. Through striking portraits and powerful imagery, Brathwaite’s lens captured the essence of self-determination, dignity, and resistance, reinforcing the movement’s message that Black beauty was worthy of celebration.

This exhibition—the first ever dedicated exclusively to Brathwaite’s remarkable career—showcases his iconic images, offering a window into a transformative era of Black cultural history. Through his photographs, viewers can witness the vibrancy of Harlem’s artistic scene, the emergence of the natural hair movement, and the enduring impact of visual storytelling in the fight for racial justice.