Why Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Wore Shells To The Inauguration

black woman with cowrie shell headdress
Briona Lamback
January 29, 2025

As early as the 14th century, cowrie shells were used as money along Africa’s western coast. They were used to trade goods, services, and, most tragically, people–our people. But that’s not all. They had an even more powerful use that’s still relevant today.

Cowries have long symbolized prosperity and protection against evil for us. According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, historians “speculate the cowries may have been brought to America as talismans to resist enslavement.” Here’s why that matters right now.

Anti-Blackness is all around us, from politicians to the public, so we need all the protection we can get. That protection can come in all forms, and we each play a crucial role in keeping each other safe.

Vow to speak up when you see one of us being treated poorly, share resources with a community member, or teach a young Black person a new skill. It’s all necessary for our liberation. The cowries also remind us that those who came before us laid the foundation.

We must remember that and take action to build a world that’s for us, by us. Justice Jackson hasn’t spoken about the meaning of her inauguration collar. But we know exactly what she was saying because the cowries said it all. What’s understood doesn’t have to be explained. How will you contribute to protecting our community’s future today?

We have a quick favor to ask:

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