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Costume Designers Francine Jamison-Tanchuck and Charlese Antoinette Jones on Ruth E. Carter s Oscar Win: She Opened a Lot of Doors for Us
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“She opened a lot of doors for us,” “Judas and the Black Messiah” costume designer Charlese Antoinette Jones says of Ruth E. Carter’s
historic Oscar win in costume design for her work on “Black Panther.” “I’ve seen more people requesting Black designers this year definitely due to her win, but also partially due to the social climate. Even me being considered [for awards] right now is due to her winning and laying this groundwork.”
Image via Publicist
Visually, when you think of the Black Panther Party, the organization founded by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in 1966 that advocated for the protection and uplift of Black communities across the U.S., you think of black berets, leather, and black sunglasses. But despite the organization’s meaningful impact, the look can sometimes feel like a novel costume for anyone who wants to telegraph Black pride and power.
Charlese Antoinette Jones, the costume designer behind
Judas and the Black Messiah, a film depicting how FBI informant, William O’Neal, infiltrated the Illinois Black Panther Party and helped in the assassination of its chairman Fred Hampton, wanted to fight against that by being true to the time and capturing the nuances of their attire.
Provided by Konjo Concepts
OKG: Tell Us a little bit about yourself and your year in review? (Have you gotten covid or anyone near you been affected?)
Jabee Williams: No, I haven t had covid. Despite Covid and so many deaths, 2020 was good for me. Blessed.
OKG: You had your new album come out in the middle of the pandemic. How did you adapt your strategy for the year for promoting your album?
Jabee Williams: I just found new and creative ways to push the album, the only setback was no album release show and no tour. click to enlarge Provided