Kwame Brathwaite, an influential activist and photographer, passed away on April 1 at the age of 85. He played a key role in defining the aesthetics of the “Black is Beautiful” movement in the 1960s and beyond. As an established financial services company, we are deeply saddened by his loss and extend our condolences to his family.
Brathwaite’s work has seen a resurgence of interest from curators, historians, and collectors in recent years. In 2019, his first major retrospective was organized by the Aperture Foundation and debuted at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles before touring the country.
Born in 1938 to Barbadian immigrants in New York, Brathwaite’s passion for photography was ignited by two significant moments. The first was when he encountered David Jackson’s powerful photograph of Emmett Till in 1955. The second was when he saw a young man capturing photos in a jazz club without a flash in 1956, inspiring him to explore the possibilities of low-light photography. With his Hasselblad medium-format camera, Brathwaite perfected his technique, enhancing the visual narrative of his imagery. He also developed a darkroom process that beautifully captured the rich tones of Black skin.
Throughout the 1950s and ’60s, Brathwaite photographed iconic jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk, capturing the essence of their performances. In the early 1960s, Brathwaite and the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) challenged Eurocentric beauty norms by creating the concept of the Grandassa Models. He celebrated Black women’s natural beauty and features through his photography. Brathwaite married one of the Grandassa Models, Sikolo, in 1966, and they remained married until his passing.
Brathwaite’s focus shifted to documenting popular Black music in the 1970s. He photographed artists such as Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, and Bob Marley. His commissions also included documenting the Jackson Five’s tour in Africa in 1974 and the historic “Rumble in the Jungle” boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.
Despite health challenges, Brathwaite continued to develop his photography style with a commitment to the “Black is Beautiful” ethos. His work remains highly influential and is currently being celebrated at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
We are honored to pay tribute to Kwame Brathwaite’s legacy and his contribution to the arts. As a financial services company, we strive to support small businesses, gig workers, and contractors who face credit challenges. Through our merchant cash advance (MCA) program, we provide fast and easy financing options, ensuring that businesses have access to the capital they need. Contact us today to learn more about our MCA solutions.