Why are people wearing pearls on Election Day to support Kamala Harris and Ruth Bader Ginsburg?

With Election Day in full swing in the US, some people have found a creative way to express their political allegiance.

US law prohibits voters from attending polls carrying or wearing items that reference a political candidate.

Despite this, some voters have opted to wear pearls to show their support for a particular candidate, although there’s some dispute over the origin of this sartorial trend.

And, on social media, the hashtags #PearlsForRuth and #PearlsToThePolls reveal a range of voters wearing pearls for quite different reasons.

We look at the history behind this show of support.

Largely, yes. The origin of pearl-wearing goes back to the sorority that Harris was a member of during her time at Howard University: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. (AKA), a historically black institution based in Washington DC.

Upon joining AKA in 1986, Harris became part of the first historically African American Greek-lettered sorority.

Founded in 1908, the collective refer to their founders as the ‘Twenty Pearls’.

Every time a new woman is initiated into the sorority, she receives a badge covered with twenty pearls.

According to the AKA international president, Glenda Glover, pearls represent solidarity among its members. “Pearls represent refinement and wisdom,” she told Vanity Fair. “We train young ladies to be leaders and to make sure they have the wisdom to lead...and that goes hand in hand with the true meaning of what Alpha Kappa Alpha is all about.”

As a member of AKA, Harris is also a member of the ‘Divine Nine’.

The ‘Divine Nine’ is another name for the historically black sororities and fraternities that comprise the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

First founded in the early 20th century, the groups aimed to foster a spirit of solidarity amongst black people subject to racism on majority-white campuses, as well as increasing representation for black people.

Unlike other largely white sororities, members of black groups pledge a lifelong commitment to “public service” and “social action”.

A number of social media posts have also encouraged voters to wear pearls in memory of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the US Supreme Court Judge who died in September this year at the age of 87.

As the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, Justice Ginsburg’s campaigning work for women and the LGBT communities has, for many, cemented her status as a feminist icon.

However, some critics have accused voters of ‘whitewashing’ a show of solidarity with a biracial candidate by appropriating the pearls for a white woman.

One person wrote: “White Women: Before you post your pearls on Nov 3, first understand the meaning behind them. It’s a great gesture and show of support for Kamala. What’s not great is appropriating it to RBG [Ruth Bader Ginsburg]. It’s an AKA thing to show solidarity among her sorority sisters. Respect Black Women.”

They continued: “Ruth Bader Ginsburg was known for her signature collars and fishnet gloves. For her it was an intentional statement to wear something ‘girlie’ and ‘delicate’. Honoring her on Election Day is a beautiful gesture for all women. Let’s please do so without stepping on others.”

One voter said they would be wearing pearls to commemorate “100 years of women having the vote” and celebrating their grandmother who was a suffragette.

Another said they would wear “pearls for Kamala and my RGB [Ruth Bader Ginsburg] shirt, if I’m not decked in black and pentacles.”

Other people are also wearing Converse trainers to express their support for Harris, who is often seen wearing the classic footwear.