Black is Beautiful | The Kwame Brathwaite Story

BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL:
THE KWAME BRATHWAITE STORY

GENRE: Documentary
YEAR: 2025
RUN TIME: 98 minutes

Everyone knows the phrase “Black is Beautiful,” but few know of the man who helped popularize it. Little known Harlem based photographer – freedom fighter and activist – Kwame Brathwaite took 500,000 photos across his 70-year career, always devoted to celebrating the joy and beauty of African American life. This feature documentary tells the story of Kwame and the “Black is Beautiful” movement.

Filmmakers & Contributors

DIRECTED BY
Yemi Bamiro

CO-WRITTEN BY
Otto Burnham & Yemi Bamiro

PRODUCED BY
Joanna Boateng, Lizzie Gillett, Ian Bonhôte, Andrew Calof

FEATURING
Kwame S. Brathwaite, Robynn Brathwaite, Sikolo Brathwaite, and
Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, Gabrielle Union, Jesse Williams, Tyler Mitchell

Filmmakers & Contributors

DIRECTED BY
Yemi Bamiro

CO-WRITTEN BY
Otto Burnham & Yemi Bamiro

PRODUCED BY
Joanna Boateng, Lizzie Gillett, Ian Bonhôte, Andrew Calof

FEATURING
Kwame S. Brathwaite, Robynn Brathwaite, Sikolo Brathwaite, and
Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, Gabrielle Union, Jesse Williams, Tyler Mitchell

Synopsis

Starting from Harlem in the 1950’s and working until his death in 2023, Kwame Brathwaite took half a million photos including many of “regular” people on the street but also thousands of intimate and unexpected photos of stars including Stevie Wonder, Muhammad Ali, Marvin Gaye, Roberta Flack, Nina Simone, and the Jackson Five.

At a time when this was deemed radical, Kwame’s photos of black communities and people focused on beauty and joy instead of trauma and conflict. Kwame also pioneered grassroots fashion shows that celebrated natural black beauty, heralding a new dawn across the globe.

Photographer to the greats, collaborator in African liberation movements and archivist of Harlem culture, Kwame Brathwaite’s impact on Black culture is undeniable but he was largely forgotten by history until his son uncovered his vast archive of photos. This documentary covers the incredible surge in popularity of Kwame’s work since 2020 including being embraced by Rihanna and Beyonce. Alicia Keys, Jesse Williams, Gabrielle Union, and Tyler Mitchell speak emotionally and personally about discovering and championing Kwame’s work in this documentary which finally gives Kwame Brathwaite (called “the soul” of the Black is Beautiful movement) his shine.

BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL: THE KWAME BRATHWAITE STORY dares to present an uplifting, cinematic and bold story rooted in blackness that will leave audiences feeling energised and inspired.