Her research explores the politics of racial uplift as represented in the fashion instruction of African American print media, as well as American fashion, beauty culture and the politics of presentation. Carter-David has written and given numerous talks on hip-hop, culture and clothing, magazine culture and urban style. As a public historian, she has worked with museum curators on projects involving various facets of African American cultural history. She is currently working on a book manuscript, “Issuing the Black Wardrobe: Fashion and Anti-Fashion in Post-Soul Publications.”