Film / TV

superhero ruth e carter wins oscar for costume design for black panther

February 25, 2019

A long time coming, Ruth E Carter has made history as the first Black person to win Best Costume Design at the Academy Awards in its 91 years. With over 40 films on her resume, this is not her first Oscar nod, as her latest work on Black Panther joins Spike Lee’s Malxom X (1992) and Steven Spielberg’s Amistad (1997).

As previously reported in our interview with Carter back in December of 2017, her career took off when a friend and fellow alumni of Hampton University introduced her to then future legend and as of last night, Oscar Winner, Spike Lee. She became the head costume designer of School Daze. In her speech, Carter dedicates the award to her 97-year-old mother watching in Massachusetts. Aww!!

Ruth E. Carter and Black Panther production designer Hannah Beachler, are the second and third Black women to win an Oscar in a category other than acting. Wow.

If you’ve seen Black Panther then you understand why Ruth E. Carter won. Every single person who graced Wakanda looked perfect. In her post-win backstage interview at the Oscars, Carter discussed how 3D Printing might have set her apart from the other costume design nominees this year. Carter also tells a reporter what this win means for her:

“I dreamed of this night, and I prayed for the night, honestly. Not only just for being a hardworking costume designer, but what it would mean for young people behind me because this came from grassroots. I started in independent film with Spike Lee and rose through 40 films – 50 films, two Oscar nominations without a win. I dreamed of this night and now I hope that now we won’t necessarily have to wait for another first, we have the first.”

Congratulations Ms. Carter!!!

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