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Kwame Brathwaite (b. 1938, New York, d. 2023) revolutionized how Black culture, beauty, and wealth were photographed while capturing some of the greatest icons of the 1960s and 1970s. His influential portraits began in 1956 and spanned decades until his final commission in 2018; his work captured the true essence of a Black community through photography. Taking inspiration from the writings of Marcus Garvey and the teachings of Carlos Cooks, Brathwaite centered economic independence and highlighted the cultural richness in the African American community, creating a space for the celebration of Black beauty in both local and global contexts. Brathwaite assisted in creating the visual overture for the “Black is Beautiful Movement” which took place during the late 50's and early 60’s through the organizations he co-founded: the African Jazz Art Society & Studio (AJASS) (1956) and the Grandassa Models (1962), two organizations set on furthering the Black is Beautiful Movement and the artistic community surrounding it.
