Earlier this week, Mike Jackson — co-founder of Get Lifted Film Co., Emmy-winning producer, and host of the Why Not Me? podcast — joined me for some 5AM StoryTalk. You can listen to that here if you haven’t already. Today, Mike returns for a bonus episode exclusive to my superstar paid subscribers whose support keeps the lights on here. We’ll be discussing two seminal pieces of art from his life — Kwame Brathwaite’s photographs of the Jackson 5 and Muhammad Ali, both taken on the coast of Africa in 1974.
Brathwaite popularized the term “Black is beautiful” during the Civil Rights Movement, and I assure you by the end of this bonus chat, you’ll understand what he meant by that — and why Mike has embraced that message his whole life.
You can learn more about Brathwaite’s photography here.
In this bonus episode, Mike and I will discuss (amongst other things):
The intersection of the history of the North American slave trade and these two photos of iconic Black Americans on the coast of Africa, contemplating the ocean between them and their country
Mike’s emotional relationship to and interpretation of each of these photos
How Kwame Brathwaite’s work has only been recently rediscovered by Brathwaite’s son
The impact of Brathwaite’s photographs on America culture – but obviously, especially Black American culture
The impact of Brathwaite’s phrase “Black is beautiful” – which he popularized – had on Mike growing up even before Mike knew who Brathwaite was
Thoughts on Brathwaite’s compositions and possible reasons his popularity didn’t extend more deeply into white American culture during the photographer’s lifetime
The influence of Brathwaite on Black American artists today
This bonus episode was released half a year earlier than it became available to all subscribers. To get access to all bonus episodes like this one upon initial release, become a paid subscriber to 5AM StoryTalk at Apple or here at Substack.
Your support provides me the time necessary to write these articles, chase down interviews, and edit the podcast episodes I hope will add even more to your experience here. Thank you!
And don’t forget to listen to the first part of my conversation with Mike!
