MASSLIVE (February 22, 2021) – Springfield-born costume designer Ruth E. Carter will cement her place in cinematic history this month when she receives her star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Carter, the first Black person to win an Academy Award for costume design, has created the look for characters in more than 45 movies including Black Panther, Do the Right Thing, and Amistad.

Carter, 60, will be only the second person to receive a star of the Walk of Fame for costume design.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce began the honor in 1955. It will honor Carter during a virtual ceremony on Feb. 25 at 11:30 a.m. on walkoffame.com

After the announcement, Carter tweeted, “I raise my star, thankful for my life, to embrace the people who know my journey and are very proud of me and of my work. And now that history is made I raise my star as I am forever grateful!”

Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno applauded the Hollywood chamber’s decision to honor Carter.

“Ruth continues to make Springfield proud,” Sarno said. “She is memorialized here in Springfield at our Union Station on a mural with other prominent Black historical figures and I know many of us will be watching the virtual ceremony and cheering Ruth on later this month as she continues to make history. Continued success, Ruth, and God bless.”

Carter, a Springfield Technical High School graduate and StageWest apprentice, was elected to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ prestigious board of governors in 2019. That same year, Carter received a career achievement honor from her peers at the 21st annual Costume Designers Guild Awards.