If Ruth E. Carter wins an Oscar for best costume design this month, she would become the first African-American to win in the category.
Ruth E. Carter is a black woman blazing a trail as a costume designer in a film industry with not many who look like her. But through her upcoming career achievement award and Oscar nomination for her Afro-futuristic wardrobes in the superhero film « Black Panther, » Carter believes she can « knock down » more doors so others like herself can walk through them. If Carter wins an Oscar for best costume design this month, she would become the first African-American to win in the category. Despite « very stiff competition, » Carter believes she has a good chance going up against Mary Zophres, Alexandra Byrne and three-time Academy Award winner Sandy Powell, who is nominated for « The Favourite » and « Mary Poppins Returns. » »I’m a contender, » said Carter, who already won for « Black Panther’s » costumes at the Critics’ Choice Awards last month and was recently honored at New York Fashion Week. »The designers are extremely talented designers, but I’m glad that I’m giving them a run for their money, » she added. « That’s how I feel…. I feel empowered. I feel invigorated. I feel masterful. »Carter, 58, will also be honored Tuesday for her illustrious career at the 21st annual Costume Designers Guild Awards. »She is one of my favorite people, » said Danai Gurira, who starred in « Black Panther » as Okoye, one of kingdom of Wakanda’s elite warriors. « I’ve adored her from the minute I met her. She deserves all the honors in what she’s done and accomplished in her astounding work of beautiful integrity. »In three decades, Carter has been behind-the-scenes in some of Hollywood’s biggest films. She’s garnered Oscar nominations for her work in Spike Lee’s « Malcolm X » and Steven Spielberg’s « Amistad, » and received praise for her period ensembles in other projects such as Lee Daniels’ « The Butler, » Ava DuVernay’s « Selma » and the reboot of « ROOTS.
