Resolution 250957
Recognizing and honors the Exhibition “Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design” at the African American Museum in Philadelphia and Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Ruth E. Carter.
Introduced by
Status timeline
- Oct 30, 2025Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar · CITY COUNCIL
- Oct 30, 2025ADOPTED · CITY COUNCIL
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Documents open on the City of Philadelphia’s legislative site.
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..Title Recognizing and honors the Exhibition "Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design" at the African American Museum in Philadelphia and Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Ruth E. Carter. ..Body WHEREAS, The African American Museum in Philadelphia will proudly host the exhibition Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design, opening on November 1st, 2025. This landmark exhibition honors the life, artistry, and cultural impact of Ruth E. Carter, a trailblazing, two-time Academy Award-winning costume designer whose work has transformed the visual landscape of film, fashion, and Black representation; and WHEREAS, Ruth E. Carter, born in Springfield, Massachusetts, discovered her love for storytelling through costume design at her local Boys and Girls Club, learning to sew on her mother's sewing machine and to interpret simplicity patterns. She refined her craft while studying Theatre Arts at Hampton University, a Historically Black University, and began her career collaborating with visionary filmmakers such as Spike Lee and Steven Spielberg; and WHEREAS, Over the course of four decades, Carter has designed costumes for more than seventy films, including Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, Amistad, Selma, Coming 2 America, and Black Panther. Her designs for Black Panther earned her two historic Academy Awards for Best Costume Design-making her the first Black woman to win in that category in 2019 and again in 2023 for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; and WHEREAS, The exhibition Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design showcases the artistry, research, and cultural narratives behind her work, offering visitors an immersive experience that highlights the ways in which fashion and film can honor heritage, imagine futures, and celebrate Black identity; and WHEREAS, Through this exhibition, the African American Museum in Philadelphia continues its mission of preserving and presenting African American history, culture, and creative expression, while engaging new generations in dialogue about representation, innovation, and storytelling; and RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes and honor the "Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design" Exhibition at the African American Museum in Philadelphia and Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Ruth E. Carter FINALLY RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to the council president's office and the chief clerk's office in sincere gratitude for their accomplishments. ..End