Don't Change The Name Of Sir Francis Drake High School

It is actually a jeweled locket. On the front, inner piece is a sardonyx of two profiled figures an African over a white European. It is not to suggest that one is superior to the other, but rather that they are allies, equals, and that they stand together side-by-side. On the inside of the back of the jewel is a portrait of Elizabeth I, and the back piece has an image of the Phoenix.
The locket reflects what Drake was broadly known for and what was widely acknowledged about Drake; that he stood up for equality for all people, including black Africans and Indigenous people.

It is not known exactly when Elizabeth gave the jewel to Sir Francis Drake, some estimates range from the mid-1500s to the 1580s.

Drake is seen wearing the jewel in two portraits painted of him in 1591 and in 1594.

- Source: Up From Slavery: Diego and Francis Drake, John Sugden, Ph.D.

- Source: The Drake Exploration Society

You can find more informational resources about Drake on our "Learn More" page.