Harriet Tubman Twenty Dollar Bill is Finally on the Horizon

Background of the Harriet Tubman $20 bill

• The Biden administration announced that they will prioritize putting Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, a move that was initiated during the Obama administration before being shelved by former President Trump.
• Human rights activists praised the move, which would have Tubman, a famous abolitionist and key organizer of the Underground Railway, replace Andrew Jackson.
• Jackson, the 7th president of the U.S., was an enslaver and participated in the displacement and genocide of Native American populations.
• The decision was instigated in 2016 by Treasury secretary Jacob Lew, who said of the decision:

"[S]he did fight, for the freedom of slaves and for the right of women to vote. Her incredible story of courage and commitment to equality embodies the ideals of democracy that our nation celebrates, and we will continue to value her legacy by honoring her on our currency."

Who was Harriet Tubman?

• Sometimes known as the "Moses of her people," Tubman was born Araminta "Minty" Ross into an enslaved family in 1820.
• Tubman is best known for being one of the most famous figures, or "conductors," of the Underground Railroad, which helped ferry enslaved people north to freedom. At one point, there was a $40,000 reward for her capture or death.
• She was also a scout, spy, nurse, and soldier for the Union Army during the American Civil War. After the war, Tubman joined Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony in their fight for women’s suffrage.
• Tubman died in 1913 and was buried with military honors at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn, New York.

Trump administration halts the initiative

• The Trump administration opposed the initiative, and his Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin stopped working on the $20 bill.
• Mnuchin stated that updating security features was more urgent and that the replacement of Jackson would have to wait until 2028 and be actioned by a future Treasury secretary.
• Mnuchin's delay outraged Congressional Democrats and triggered an investigation from the Treasury Department’s internal watchdog. No wrongdoing was found on Mnuchin's part.
• Lew's original plan would have seen the Tubman $20 bill unveiled in 2020, on the centennial of the 19th amendment that granted women the right to vote. Preliminary designs were being discussed before Trump took office.
• Trump was a vocal critic of replacing statues and relics of historical figures, regardless of their problematic legacies. Critics consider the transformation of the nation's currency to be an example of cancel culture.

A new bill on the horizon

• On Monday, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, announced that the Treasury Department is trying to speed up the process. Psaki said:

“The Treasury Department is taking steps to resume efforts to put Harriet Tubman on the front of the new $20 notes. It’s important that our money reflect the history and diversity of our country.”

• The Treasury Department has said the bill can be expected in 2030, but critics question the delay.
• Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) said:

"If we can put a helicopter on Mars, we ought to be able to design a $20 bill in less than 20 years."

• John Katko (R-NY) said:

“If they want to get it done sooner, they can. They just need to prioritize it.”

Do you support Tubman replacing Andrew Jackson?

—Emma Kansiz 

(Photo Credit: Flickr/VCU Capital News Service)