Kwame Brathwaite (b. Brooklyn, NY, 1938) combined his love of photography with his political vision with the idea to effect social change. Along with his brother Elombe, Brathwaite founded two organizations that were instrumental in realizing his vision: African Jazz-Art Society and Studios, a collective of artists, playwrights, designers, and dancers, in 1956; and Grandassa Models, a modeling group for black women, in 1962. Working with AJASS and Grandassa, Brathwaite organized fashion shows featuring clothing designed by the models themselves, created stunning portraits of jazz luminaries, and captured behind-the-scenes photographs of the black arts community.

Black Is Beautiful features over forty photographs of black women and men with natural hair and clothes that reclaimed their African roots. This is Brathwaite's first-ever major exhibition dedicated to this key figure of the second Harlem Renaissance.

PAC-LA is proud to be a sponsor of Kwame Brathwaite: Black is Beautiful, organized by the Aperture Foundation.

PAC members are invited for a no-host lunch following our tour. You can purchase lunch from the to-go carts there or bring your own. Plenty of free parking. Please arrive promptly.