It was announced earlier this week that Harriet Tubman will be the new face of the $20 bill. I first heard this news sitting in my 9 a.m., half asleep and barely listening. When I realized that wow, this was actually really cool news, the topic was changed and we moved on with our lecture. That was, until after class, when I heard two boys discussing the fact that "having a black woman on a bill is downright un-American." Of course, this comment led to me silently cursing them and rolling my eyes when I walked passed. But their comment got me thinking a lot about what this bill could mean for our country.
Our generation is known for taking things for granted. We've all been told by some relative at some point that back in their day things were different. Of course, we roll our eyes because that's just our nature, but the fact is that they are right. It is honestly amazing that we are going to witness not only a woman but a woman of color on a bill. We will physically touch a bill that will go down in history.
But of course, social media has already taken a toll on this historic moment. If you haven't seen the video of Harriet dunking on Andrew Jackson, go watch it. It's actually pretty satisfying. Although there are many people who are ecstatic and taking to social media to support this decision, there are always those who want to flaunt that they are a "meninst" who believe that white-supremecy isn't a thing.
The boys in my class and these Twitter hounds have both supported the same two arguments. First, they have said that Harriet is a woman. Secondly, those who oppose this change have informed me that she is black. Although I do have eyes and have seen both of these things for myself, I am glad they felt the need to bring these to my attention. I haven't actually heard what her being a black woman has to do with the fact that she shouldn't be on a bill, but who needs logic when you can state the obvious and pretend it discredits an amazing individual who saved thousands of lives?
It is a privilege not only to be a witness to history being made but also to see the growth that this country, as a whole, has undergone in the last century.
