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Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story

The remarkable story of the Harlem photographer, activist and cultural pioneer Kwame Brathwaite, whose work helped define the Black Is Beautiful movement.

Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story – Storyville tells the remarkable story of Kwame Brathwaite, the Harlem photographer, activist and cultural pioneer whose work helped define the iconic Black Is Beautiful movement. Across a career spanning more than six decades, Kwame captured over 500,000 images documenting African American life, creativity and identity, while championing black pride through photography, fashion and grassroots activism.

Featuring exclusive archive material and contributions from family members, artists and cultural figures including Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, Gabrielle Union and Jesse Williams, this documentary explores Brathwaite’s pivotal role in reshaping perceptions of black beauty and culture around the world.

Available now

1 hour, 35 minutes