As many of you have probably heard, the United States Treasury Department announced on Wednesday June 17th that it will be putting a woman on the ten dollar bill beginning in 2020 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment.
The announcement was met with great enthusiasm, and many are saying that it represents the United States' desire for gender equality. Although the chosen woman will have to share the ten dollar bill with Alexander Hamilton, one of America's founding fathers, her presence marks serious progress. High five ladies!
Now the question on everyone's brain is: Who will the lucky lady be? Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew will make the final decision about which female will be featured on the new bill, but he stated that he will also be taking the public's opinions into consideration. Lew said that he wants to use this opportunity to celebrate "a champion of our inclusive democracy," and the people have compiled a list of strong, intelligent women who meet that criteria. The only two rules are that the person must be deceased and that they fit Lew's theme of American democracy. Here are the front-runners:
Harriet Tubman
So far, Harriet Tubman has proven to be the most popular choice among the people. For those of you who weren't paying attention in History class *cough cough Bueller*, Tubman was an African-American abolitionist during the Civil War who was born a slave. Why was she so great? Well, I'll tell you: She showed great bravery not only by escaping slavery herself, but by risking her life to make thirteen more trips to rescue over seventy other slaves! Tubman is the epitome of a hero, and the United States would be lucky to have her on its new ten dollar bill. If Harriet is chosen, she will be the first person of color to ever be featured on U.S. currency. You go, Harriet Tubman!
Eleanor Roosevelt
Another front-runner for the ten dollar bill -- and my personal favorite -- is Ms. Eleanor Roosevelt. Eleanor is often described as being very outspoken and independent. As the longest serving First Lady, she used her position to tackle problems she felt passionate about, like racial inequality. She was never afraid to defend what she believed in, which is probably why she was the first First Lady to hold her own press conferences, speak at a national convention, and occasionally publicly disagree with her husband's policies. This "First Lady of the World," as President Truman called her, will always be remembered for her work as a politician, diplomat, and human rights activists. Not to mention, you've probably heard her famous quote, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." BOOM.
Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony was basically the American OF (original feminist). She played a crucial role in the woman suffrage movement, which is what this bill is partly meant to commemorate *wink wink*. She was also an advocate for racial equality, and served as the New York Agent for the American Anti-Slavery Society. Additionally, Anthony and her gal pal Elizabeth Cady Stanton founded the Women's Loyal National League and the National Woman Suffrage Association. She was so passionate about women's suffrage that she was even arrested in 1972 for voting in her hometown. Talk about a rebel. Without this lady, who knows when women would have been granted the right to vote. I believe I speak on behalf of all us ladies when I say, "Thank you, Susan."
Rosa Parks
Last, but certainly not least, we have Rosa Parks. Parks is an American icon most notably known for her refusal to give up her seat on the bus to a white passenger after the white section was filled. The Montgomery Bus Boycott that followed Parks's defiance was an important part of the Civil Rights Movement. At the time of the incident, she was the secretary of the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP. Parks went on to work with many other important civil rights leaders including Edgar Nixon and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The United States Congress has referred to Parks as "the first lady of civil rights," and I couldn't think of a more fitting name.
