On the already glorious day of Wednesday, April 20, it was announced by the Treasury Secretary Jake Lew that American abolitionist and all around amazing historical figure, Harriet Tubman will be replacing the seventh president Andrew Jackson on the $20 dollar bill. While this was exciting news, it was immediately dismissed in my opinion with disappointment when it was mentioned that Jackson would still be on the back of the bill.
Having Jackson on the back just feels like a huge step back and progress wasted. Most importantly, it's a huge insult to Harriet Tubman, a former slave. Jackson was a slave owner. He led many campaigns against the natives during his military career and signed the Indian Removal Act culminating in the Trail of Tears and the mass genocide of the native population. The Cherokees even nicknamed him "Sharp Knife" for his violent ways. Why should a man like that be on back of a bill with an amazing woman who changed the lives of so many slaves and worked to better our society. There is a part of me that feels like it would have been sweet poetic justice to have an indigenous figure replace Jackson instead. But Harriet Tubman is still a great choice. And Tubman deserves to be on a bill of her own, not sharing one with a terrible human being who has committed atrocities towards marginalized groups.
Additionally, Jackson would be rolling in his grave if he knew he was the face of the 20 dollar bill. Jackson hated paper bills, he was all about gold and silver coins. In 1836, he fought a successful battle to kill the Second Bank of the United States, a kind of precursor to our modern Federal Reserve. He hated that there was no constitutional authority that existed amongst the banks and that the Second Bank was manipulating paper money. Why are we putting a man who hated paper bills on our paper bills? Is this a way of spiting Jackson? I much prefer spiting him by having Harriet or an indigenous historical figure (I wish I could name a figure; this says a lot about the American education system in history) completely replace him on the 20.
But also, for people acting like Tubman shouldn't be on the bill for the reason that she didn't find this country or wasn't a politician/political figure or is not as important is just wrong. Tubman like the other men changed American (for the better), she played a role in shaping American. Let us not forget the America that was built on the enslavement of a race and the genocide of another. Tubman is important to American history, slavery is American history. She was born a slave in either 1820 or 1821 until she escaped to Pennsylvania--a free state--in 1849. After gaining her freedom, Harriet would return to slave-owning states like Maryland to help family and non-relatives to escape as well using the Underground Railroad. As one of the conductors of the Underground Railroad, she became well known for never losing a passenger and also nicknamed "Moses" for leading slaves to freedom. She was also a spy and a scout for the North during the Civil War. Tubman led Union forces specifically 150 black Union soldiers in a raid at Combahee Ferry and rescued 750 slaves. Moreover, to add to her awesomeness, she was an active member in the suffragette movement.
There is so much more to learn about this fierce and brave woman who did so much, so please read more about her. I can't wait to see the HBO film about her life starring and being developed by Viola Davis. Also, to get a better understanding of her magnificence, one should watch this great ep of "Drunk History" about Harriet Tubman.
On a final note, I know there are qualms about Harriet Tubman being the face of a system she defied, a system that was built on her labor and so many others just like her. And I do get the arguments but I guess that I would much rather see someone like Harriet Tubman (and other amazing historical POC and women) on the $20 than Jackson (and the others).
