Ruth E. Carter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ruth E. Carter
Carter in March 2018
Born	(1960-04-10) April 10, 1960 (age 65) Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma mater	Hampton University (BA)
Occupation	Costume designer
Years active	1982–present

Ruth E. Carter (born April 10, 1960) is a famous American costume designer who creates the outfits for characters in movies and TV shows. She is well-known for working with directors like Spike Lee, John Singleton, and Ryan Coogler.

Carter has made history with her amazing work. She has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design four times. She won two of those awards for the superhero movies Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).

Her wins were groundbreaking. She was the first African-American to ever win in the Best Costume Design category. She is also the first Black woman to win more than one Oscar in any category. Some of her other popular films include Do the Right Thing (1989), Selma (2014), and Coming 2 America (2021).

Early Life and Learning

Ruth E. Carter was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. She was the youngest of eight children raised by her mother, Mabel Carter.

When she was nine, Carter joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. There, she learned how to sew using her mother's sewing machine. This is where her passion for creating clothes began.

After high school, she went to Hampton University. She studied Theatre Arts and graduated in 1982. This education helped prepare her for a future in costume design.

Career in Costume Design

After college, Carter started her career by working as an intern for different theaters. In 1986, she moved to Los Angeles and met director Spike Lee. He hired her to design costumes for his movie School Daze (1988). This was the start of a long partnership, and she designed for many of his films, including Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X.

Carter also worked with other famous directors. She designed costumes for Steven Spielberg's movie Amistad and for several of John Singleton's films.

Creating the World of Wakanda

One of Carter's most famous projects was the Marvel movie Black Panther. To create the look of the fictional nation of Wakanda, she studied traditional clothing from many different African cultures. She was inspired by the unique styles of the Maasai and Ndebele people.

Her designs for the film were a style called Afrofuturism, which mixes African culture with science fiction and technology. Her incredible work on the film earned her an Oscar for Best Costume Design. This made her the first Black woman to win in that category.

Making History Again

In 2023, Carter won her second Oscar for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. This was a historic moment, making her the first Black woman to win multiple Oscars. During her acceptance speech, she honored her mother, who had recently passed away at the age of 101.

In 2021, Carter's amazing career was recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her work continues to inspire people and has been shown in museum exhibits.

Selected Filmography

Carter has designed costumes for over 50 movies. Here are some of the well-known films she has worked on.

Major Awards

Carter has won many awards for her creative designs. Here are some of her most important wins and nominations.

• 2019: Costume Designers Guild, Career Achievement Award
• 2021: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

See also

In Spanish: Ruth E. Carter para niños