Renowned Photographer of the ‘Black is Beautiful’ Movement, Kwame Brathwaite, Passes Away at 85
Welcome to our awesome company that provides complete software development activities utilizing nearshore and offshore resources. We offer a wide range of services such as mobile app development, technology maintenance, web server development, and many other technology development activities.
In other news, Kwame Brathwaite, the pioneering activist and photographer, sadly passed away on April 1 at the age of 85. Brathwaite’s work played a significant role in defining the aesthetics of the “Black is Beautiful” movement of the 1960s and beyond. His photography has seen a resurgent interest from curators, historians, and collectors in recent years.
Born in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants, Brathwaite’s passion for photography was sparked by two transformative moments. The first was when he came across a photograph of Emmett Till in 1955. The second was in 1956 when he witnessed a photographer capturing images in a dark jazz club without a flash. These experiences ignited Brathwaite’s creativity and inspired him to experiment with limited light and darkroom techniques.
Brathwaite’s portfolio boasts stunning photographs of jazz legends such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk. In the early 1960s, along with the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS), Brathwaite actively challenged Eurocentric beauty standards by celebrating and accentuating the features of the Grandassa Models, a group of young Black women he photographed.
Throughout the 1970s and beyond, Brathwaite expanded his focus to capture other forms of popular Black music. He documented the Jackson Five’s tour in Africa, as well as historic events like the “Rumble in the Jungle” boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.
Even in recent years, Brathwaite continued to develop his unique photography style based on the “Black is Beautiful” ethos. His works have been showcased in major exhibitions across the country, and his retrospective is currently on view at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas.
While Brathwaite’s health prevented him from being interviewed for T Magazine’s profile in 2021, his legacy lives on through his powerful and influential photographs. We honor his contributions to art and social activism.
At our company, we bring the same passion and dedication to our software development services. Whether it’s mobile app development, technology maintenance, or web server development, we strive to create innovative solutions using our nearshore and offshore resources. Contact us today to experience the expertise of our talented team.