Blood Quantum Earrings

These brilliant earrings come to us by the creative hands of Chickasaw metalsmith Kristen Dorsey.

These Blood Quantum earrings comment on the current system of counting the degree of Indian blood that someone possesses. Race and culture have both been subjects of Dorsey’s jewelry designs in the past. Featuring customizable fractions, you can select your two numbers from the drop down menu below. Select a 3 and a 2 for 1/32. Or a 1 and 1 for "full" and so on. Don't like the government's system of math? Me neither. So do your own math.

Feel free to select numbers of significance to you.

The earrings are enhanced with verticle lazer-cut lines to represent bar codes, and the shape of each earring echos a drop of blood or tear drops, adding further meaning to this political bling.

"Through the adornment I create, I seek to foster intelligent discussions about issues of race and identity in Native America while creating awareness of how specific historical events are often the triggers of our current perceptions of Native identity.” - Kristen Dorsey

The earrings are copper on sterling silver ear wires and measure 2" long by 1.25" wide.