Ruth E Carter, the costume designer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, has made history as the first black woman to win two Academy Awards. Carter won her first Oscar in 2019 for her work on the original Black Panther movie and has been nominated four times throughout her career.
In her acceptance speech, Carter, 62, dedicated her win to her late mother, Mabel Carter, and Chadwick Boseman, the star of the Black Panther franchise who passed away in 2020. She expressed her gratitude to the Academy for recognizing the strength of the black woman portrayed in the film, stating, “she endures, she loves, she overcomes, she is every woman in this film. She is my mother.”
Carter’s creative team played a significant role in bringing her vision to life. She acknowledged their contributions in her speech: “Together, we are reshaping how culture is represented. I share this with many dedicated artists whose hands and hearts helped manifest the costumes of Wakanda.”
Carter has been working in the film industry for over 30 years, designing costumes for over 40 films, including Ava DuVernay’s Selma and Black Panther. The latter featured her futuristic designs for the fictional African nation of Wakanda. She was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. She studied costume design at Hampton University before moving to Los Angeles, where she met director, Spike Lee.
With her groundbreaking achievements, Ruth E Carter has not only made history but continues to inspire countless people to pursue their dreams and break down barriers in the world of film and beyond.
