| Abstract |
"For three decades, Ruth E. Carter has shaped the story of the Black experience on screen -- from the eighties streetwear of Do the Right Thing to the royal regalia of Coming 2 America. Her work on Marvel's Black Panther, bringing to life an African king and celebrating Afrofuturist women warriors, made her the first Black winner of an Oscar in costume design. In 2021, she became the second-ever costume designer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In this definitive book, Carter shares her origins -- recalling a trip to the sporting goods store with Spike Lee to outfit the School Daze cast and a transformative moment stepping inside history on the set of Steven Spielberg's Amistad. She recounts anecdotes from dressing legendary actors: Eddie Murphy, Angela Bassett, Samuel L. Jackson, Halle Berry, and the late Chadwick Boseman. She describes the passion for history that inspired her period pieces -- from Malcolm X to Selma -- and her devotion to highlighting the humanity of the Black experience. Carter's wisdom and stories are paired with extensive visuals, including sketches, mood boards, and film stills. She reveals details of her technical artistry and describes how she blends her vision with those of directors like Ava DuVernay and Ryan Coogler. Fans will even get a glimpse behind the scenes of the Oscar-winning Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The arc of Carter's work traces African Americans from a time of enslavement to a future where they live in their fullest glory. She picks up where the history books leave off and help us visualize a brighter future. She brings heroes and sheroes to life, whether civil rights activists or Wakandan warriors. This book is sure to inspire the next generation of artists and storytellers"--Back cover. |
