Don't short change Harrriet Tubman's legacy for a $20 bill
buzzz worthy. . .
Secretary of the Tresury Jack Lew has announced Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson on the 20 dollar bill. Tubman freed slaves, working with oter abolionist acorss several states. The founders of the women on 20s campaign who introduced the idea said they wanted to place a woman's face "exclusively"on currency to include women American history by 2020, the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage (or the right to vote). On May 12, 2015, Women On 20s presented a petition to President Obama and the Treasury Department informing them of the results of an election they held and asking them to use their authority to make this change in time to have a new bill in circulation before the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in 2020. Lew compromised on the request deciding to place Ms. Tubman on the fornt f the $20 and a smaller picture of Jackson on the back with the treasury building. This response does not answer the request, but even further the symboligic gesture reduces Tubman's legacy.
Would Harriett Tubman want her face of the $20 bill? Settling for recognition is not a cause de celeb. The commemorative gestrue is admirable, but it trivializes the magnitude of historic racism and sexism that Tubman faced and fought agaisnt. the Tubman could relate to the double jeopardy of having rights denied as a black and woman. It is doubtful that she would appreciate her image being placed on money as it may beguile progress.
Acknowledging the historic contributions of a Black heroine on the most used paper note is the height of irony. The face of an emancipator plastered on money that was once used to purchase people like they were property (which is essentially chattel slavery), while a a oppressor occupies the back of it would not honor her legacy, but mock it.
Consider not only the historic conditions of being both black and a woman in America, but the current condition. Historically both positions were relegated to a subserviant class. Currently wage equality is at the nucleous of the fight for women'srights. Women would rahter share in earnings an close the wage gap than a symbolic image.
her age being used "hush money." Black women continue to be disenfrancshised as the unemployment rate among Blacks is the highest in the nation. Moreover, the wealth gap between White and Blacks is significant. "Whites Have 12 times the Wealth of Blacks, 10 times that of Hispanics" according to CNN Money. Black women accounts in comparison to White women. It could be argued that the wealth gap between blacks and others was caused by blacks 300 years, the very system she dedicatd her life to uprooting. Were Tubman alive today resolving these types of issues would be her work
Tubman, a champion of equality, resisted America's ecomic system that was built on free slave labor with her every action. Born a slave in Maryland who escaped to Pennsylvania, as the conductor fo teh Underground Railroad she helped free over 300 slaves.
A more appropriate monuement is being buid on Ti=ubamns'
Secretary of the Tresury Jack Lew has announced Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson on the 20 dollar bill. Tubman freed slaves, working with oter abolionist acorss several states. The founders of the women on 20s campaign who introduced the idea said they wanted to place a woman's face "exclusively"on currency to include women American history by 2020, the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage (or the right to vote). On May 12, 2015, Women On 20s presented a petition to President Obama and the Treasury Department informing them of the results of an election they held and asking them to use their authority to make this change in time to have a new bill in circulation before the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in 2020. Lew compromised on the request deciding to place Ms. Tubman on the fornt f the $20 and a smaller picture of Jackson on the back with the treasury building. This response does not answer the request, but even further the symboligic gesture reduces Tubman's legacy.
Would Harriett Tubman want her face of the $20 bill? Settling for recognition is not a cause de celeb. The commemorative gestrue is admirable, but it trivializes the magnitude of historic racism and sexism that Tubman faced and fought agaisnt. the Tubman could relate to the double jeopardy of having rights denied as a black and woman. It is doubtful that she would appreciate her image being placed on money as it may beguile progress.
Acknowledging the historic contributions of a Black heroine on the most used paper note is the height of irony. The face of an emancipator plastered on money that was once used to purchase people like they were property (which is essentially chattel slavery), while a a oppressor occupies the back of it would not honor her legacy, but mock it.
Consider not only the historic conditions of being both black and a woman in America, but the current condition. Historically both positions were relegated to a subserviant class. Currently wage equality is at the nucleous of the fight for women'srights. Women would rahter share in earnings an close the wage gap than a symbolic image.
her age being used "hush money." Black women continue to be disenfrancshised as the unemployment rate among Blacks is the highest in the nation. Moreover, the wealth gap between White and Blacks is significant. "Whites Have 12 times the Wealth of Blacks, 10 times that of Hispanics" according to CNN Money. Black women accounts in comparison to White women. It could be argued that the wealth gap between blacks and others was caused by blacks 300 years, the very system she dedicatd her life to uprooting. Were Tubman alive today resolving these types of issues would be her work
Tubman, a champion of equality, resisted America's ecomic system that was built on free slave labor with her every action. Born a slave in Maryland who escaped to Pennsylvania, as the conductor fo teh Underground Railroad she helped free over 300 slaves.
A more appropriate monuement is being buid on Ti=ubamns'
