Marilyn Strickland has made history by becoming the first person to be sworn into Congress while wearing a traditional Korean hanbok.
The Washington’s 10th Congressional District representative was born in Seoul, South Korea to a Korean mother and African-American father.
Strickland had already made history last year by becoming the first African-American to represent Washington state at a federal level, and the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.
At her swearing-in ceremony, Strickland once again made history by paying tribute to her Korean heritage.
“Today, I was honoured to be sworn into one of the most historically diverse Congresses in history, joining a record number of women, and women of colour, serving in our Democratic Majority,” Strickland tweeted.
“As a woman of both Korean-American and African-American descent, it was deeply personal to wear my #hanbok, which not only symbolises my heritage & honours my mother, but also serves as a larger testament to the importance of diversity in our nation, state, and the People’s House.”
Many have praised Strickland’s choice to sport the traditional dress.
“I cannot express to you how much it means to me to see a hanbok in Congress. Thank you,” one person tweeted.
Another commented, “as a woman of Korean and African American descent as well, this is fantastic! Representation matters!!”
“Picture of Marilyn Strickland being sworn in with her hanbok is enough to make me believe that 2021 will be a gloriously better year,” one person tweeted.
In related news, Chinese and Korean netizens have clashed about which culture started the hanbok.
Today, I was honored to be sworn into one of the most historically diverse Congresses in history, joining a record number of women, and women of color, serving in our Democratic Majority.
— Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (@RepStricklandWA) January 4, 2021
