When Roslyn Spence decided to attend the Democratic National Convention, she knew she wanted to wear something special. The 61-year-old from Los Angeles commissioned a design from an artist on Instagram ( @teighlormadeco ), choosing a blue blazer with white stars on the lapels. On the back, she included phrases that connect her with Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.
There’s “You Know,” part of a chant at Howard University, where both Spence and Harris attended and joined Alpha Kappa Alpha, the country’s oldest Black sorority. In a large, cursive font, there’s also the popular campaign slogan, “We’re not going back.” “I wanted that message on there because we can’t go back,” Spence said this week, also wearing a red, white and blue necklace.
“I know what my parents had to do to make it with my brothers and sisters — I’m the youngest of six kids — and ...
it’s important that we not go backward.” As the cameras panned through the audience at the convention in the United Center, the names of Harris and her vice presidential candidate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, were emblazoned on shirts, hats and buttons.
And, of course, there was lots of blue — but some thought extra long and hard about their fashion choices. Truly, “clothing matters” according to one political science professor, who said it’s a tool politicians use to gain support from potential voters and to communicate with their supporters. “One of the things tha.