Yemi Bamiro, known for his work on many documentary features, including One Man And His Shoes about the Air Jordan sneakers, has just been attached to helm a new project. The film is called Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story.
Wayfarer Studios, Misfits Entertainment, the Creative Coalition, and the Kwame Brathwaite Archive are developing this new documentary.
As the title suggests, the documentary will follow the work of activist and photojournalist Kwame Brathwaite, one of the founders of the “Black Is Beautiful” movement, as he rises to influential positions amidst the second Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement. One of the many things that Brathwaite is well known for is co-creating Grandassa Models, a group of black female models meant to give light to African-American fashion to move away from the more traditional style of the time. As Deadline reports, this paved the way for an immense amount of expression and for plenty of people to embrace their beauty.
His photojournalism work appeared in countless major publications, including The New York Times and National Geographic, among many others. His work could include anyone, from famed boxer Muhammad Ali to the legendary music group The Jackson 5. His work continues to inspire to this day.
Brathwaite’s son, Kwame S. Brathwaite, is working on the film for The Kwame Brathwaite Archive. The process of archiving his father’s photos has taken place over the last few years, and the activist’s son expressed his excitement to be able to share a new look into his father’s work.
Bamiro himself said, “To have the opportunity to shine a light on the life, work, activism, and influence of such a legendary figure is a privilege.”
Bamiro’s other works include Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed The World and Reggae Fever: David Rodigan.
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