Jesse Williams, Alicia Keys, and Swizz Beatz to Produce Documentary “Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story”
A new documentary is set to bring renewed attention to the cultural force behind the phrase “Black is beautiful,” placing photographer Kwame Brathwaite back at the center of a movement that reshaped how Black identity is seen and celebrated.
Actor Jesse Williams, along with Alicia Keys and producer Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean, are executive producing Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story, a film directed by Yemi Bamiro.
The project will chronicle the origins and lasting influence of a movement that began in Harlem during the early 1960s and continues to shape fashion, beauty, and culture today.
How ‘Black Is Beautiful’ Began in Harlem
Long before the Met Gala embraced Black style, before the 2010s natural hair movement uplifted kinks, coils, and curls, before policies like the CROWN Act, and before dark-skinned models like Naomi Campbell became global icons, a movement emerged that boldly declared “Black is beautiful.”
Brathwaite and his brother Elombe Brath launched the bold cultural statement with a fashion show titled “Naturally ’62.”
Held on January 28, 1962, at Harlem’s Purple Manor, the show featured models wearing natural Afros, showcasing darker skin tones and fuller figures in African-inspired clothing. At a time when straightened hair and Eurocentric standards dominated, the presentation was considered revolutionary.
The event, initially intended as a one-time showcase, quickly evolved into an annual celebration of Black aesthetics and pride.
Pushing Back Against Respectability Politics
Despite its now-celebrated legacy, the movement faced resistance in its early days. Brathwaite himself pointed to the lack of representation in mainstream publications, noting the absence of darker-skinned women in outlets like Ebony magazine at the time.
The pushback reflected broader societal pressures that encouraged conformity over cultural authenticity. In response, Brathwaite and his collaborators created their own platforms to highlight Black beauty on their own terms.
“We wanted Black women to take pride in their own selves,” Brathwaite said in a past interview, emphasizing the importance of rejecting imitation and embracing natural identity.
Building a Cultural Ecosystem Through Art
The movement extended far beyond the runway. Brathwaite co-founded the African Jazz-Art Society and Studios, known as AJASS, a collective that brought together artists, musicians, designers, and writers focused on cultural expression and self-determination.
Through AJASS, the group launched the Grandassa Models, whose presence helped normalize natural hair and Afrocentric fashion. Their headquarters near the Apollo Theater became a hub for creative and cultural innovation.
Brathwaite’s photography further amplified the message. His work captured both everyday life and prominent figures, including Grace Jones and Stevie Wonder, documenting a wide spectrum of Black identity. Over time, he amassed an archive of more than 500,000 images.
Lasting Impact on Fashion and Identity
The influence of the “Black Is Beautiful” movement is still visible today, from fashion editorials to major cultural events that celebrate Black style. It also helped popularize the use of the word “Black” as a term of pride during a period when other labels were more commonly used.
Artists and designers continue to draw inspiration from Brathwaite’s visual language, with modern figures like Rihanna referencing elements of his work in contemporary fashion.
Brathwaite himself described the movement as a turning point, not just culturally but economically, encouraging independence and ownership within Black communities.
A Legacy Recognized and Revisited
Before his death in 2023, Brathwaite saw his work receive institutional recognition, including a major exhibition at the Columbia Museum of Art in 2020. The exhibit introduced new audiences to the imagery that helped redefine beauty standards.
The upcoming documentary aims to extend that reach even further, connecting past and present while documenting a movement that continues to influence how Black identity is expressed across generations.
