Kwame Brathwaite, a 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 to Barbadian immigrants in New York in 1938, Brathwaite's life was marked by his unwavering commitment to celebrating Black identity and beauty.
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 experience sparked his passion for capturing the world through his lens, and he eventually co-founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) with his brother Elombe. It was through AJASS that Brathwaite began to use photography as a tool to push back against whitewashed beauty standards.
In 1962, AJASS organized "Naturally '62," a fashion show featuring young Black women who would become known as the Grandassa Models. Brathwaite's photographs of these models showcased their natural beauty and helped to redefine traditional notions of beauty in the Black community. He married one of his subjects, Sikolo, in 1966, and they remained together until his passing.
Throughout the 1970s and beyond, Brathwaite continued to explore various forms of popular Black music, photographing artists such as Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley. His work also took him to Africa, where he documented the Jackson Five's tour and the historic "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match.
Despite his health struggles in recent years, Brathwaite remained committed to his craft until the end. A retrospective of his work traveled to several institutions, including the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, where it remains on view through July 24. His legacy as a photographer and activist continues to inspire new generations.
As one of the pioneers of the "Black is Beautiful" movement, Brathwaite's contributions to photography and Black identity cannot be overstated. His work serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of celebrating our differences and promoting self-love and acceptance.
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 experience sparked his passion for capturing the world through his lens, and he eventually co-founded the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) with his brother Elombe. It was through AJASS that Brathwaite began to use photography as a tool to push back against whitewashed beauty standards.
In 1962, AJASS organized "Naturally '62," a fashion show featuring young Black women who would become known as the Grandassa Models. Brathwaite's photographs of these models showcased their natural beauty and helped to redefine traditional notions of beauty in the Black community. He married one of his subjects, Sikolo, in 1966, and they remained together until his passing.
Throughout the 1970s and beyond, Brathwaite continued to explore various forms of popular Black music, photographing artists such as Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Marley. His work also took him to Africa, where he documented the Jackson Five's tour and the historic "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match.
Despite his health struggles in recent years, Brathwaite remained committed to his craft until the end. A retrospective of his work traveled to several institutions, including the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, where it remains on view through July 24. His legacy as a photographer and activist continues to inspire new generations.
As one of the pioneers of the "Black is Beautiful" movement, Brathwaite's contributions to photography and Black identity cannot be overstated. His work serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of celebrating our differences and promoting self-love and acceptance.
Kwame Brathwaite was more than just a photographer, he was a movement 
his pictures of those grandassa models were so iconic back in the day they paved the way for us to see beauty in our own skin 
what's crazy is that it's been 50 years since 'naturally 62' and his work is still inspiring new gen 
i'm gonna go listen to some Nina Simone now 
... really think we're still having this convo in 2025 
... should've been more than just passing "Naturally '62" by ... Brathwaite's work was a reflection of his time but the impact is still felt today 
passing away at 85 
his photography was more than just pics it was a statement 
a tool to challenge whitewashed beauty standards 
and celebrate black identity and beauty in all its forms 
I'm still in awe of his work with the Grandassa Models 
those 1962 pics are everything 
and his collabs with Nina Simone and Stevie Wonder were pure magic 
rest in peace, Kwame Brathwaite 
. It's so beautiful to see how his work continues to inspire new generations to celebrate their identity and beauty 
. R.I.P Kwame, you'll be deeply missed 
he was still grindin' till the end, even with health issues 
it's crazy to think about how much impact his photography had on the "Black is Beautiful" movement back in the day 
those grandassa models were a game changer for redefining beauty standards... and who can forget his pics of nina simone? 
bob marley too! ajass was more than just a studio, it was a movement 
️ anyway, RIP kwame. he'll be deeply missed by the photography community 
. I mean, I guess it's good that he lived long enough to see his legacy continue, but let's be real, he was probably just a shell of himself by the end 
. And can you believe they're still holding retrospective exhibitions like 5 years after his passing? That's just a fancy way of saying "we need something to do with all this old stuff" 
. Anyway, I'm sure it's nice that people are celebrating his life and work, but let's not forget the real issue here: how many more pioneers like him got lost in the shuffle? 
, especially back in the day when people were still stuck on these super narrow ideas of what beauty looks like. But he showed us that we're beautiful just as we are 
. I'm so grateful for his legacy and the impact he had on so many young people's lives. It's crazy to think about how much has changed since then, but some things will always remain the same - our worth and beauty are what make us who we are 
. He was like a legend, you know? The way he used his photography to spread that message of Black beauty and identity is still so powerful today 
. I mean, who else could make us see ourselves in a different light? His work with the Grandassa Models back in '62 was game-changing – it's amazing how far we've come since then 
. Anyways, rest in peace Kwame 
. I'm not gonna lie, I grew up seeing this stuff and being like "yeah, this is who we are" you know? It's wild that he got to see the impact of his work all these years later too 