California Rep. Barbara Lee celebrated historic Inauguration Day by wearing a pearl necklace that once belonged to the trailblazing congresswoman Shirley Chisholm.
Lee posted a photo on Twitter ahead of the ceremony that showed her wearing the pearl necklace and a face mask. The California Democrat noted that the pearls were gifted to her by Chisholm’s goddaughter.
“On this historic day, I’m wearing Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s pearls, given to me by her goddaughter, who said that her godmother ‘would not want it any other way,’” Lee wrote.
“Because of Shirley Chisholm, I am,” added the lawmaker, who was recently elected to her 12th term in Congress.
And looking ahead to the swearing-in of Vice President Kamala Harris, she wrote, “Because of Shirley Chisholm, Vice President Harris is.”
