
America prides itself on its diverse citizens, but this diversity is not well represented in all facets of American culture. American currency distinctly lacks female representation and people of various cultures, but a new campaign to put Harriet Tubman on the twenty-dollar bill could change that.
Women on 20s, a grassroots campaign, started as an online poll to replace President Andrew Jackson on the twenty-dollar bill by 2020—this would commemorate the women’s suffrage movement of the 1920s. There were two rounds of voting. The first round ended with four finalists: Wilma Mankiller (Chief of the Cherokee Nation), Eleanor Roosevelt (human/civil rights advocate), Rosa Parks (civil rights activist), and Harriet Tubman. In the end, 600,000 people voted, and Harriet Tubman won with over 118,000 votes, winning over 33 percent of the vote.
Harriet Tubman has become a well-known historical figure for her role as the “conductor” of the Underground Railroad, the network of free African Americans and Northern abolitionists that helped slaves from the South escape to the North. Tubman served as a scout, nurse, and spy for the Union during the Civil War. She was also apart of an armed raid that freed 700 South Carolinian slaves. With her daring spirit, strength, and fortitude, it’s no surprise that the public selected her.
With their nominee decided, the campaign delivered the petition to the White House. However, it’s up to the Secretary of the Treasury to make the change. If you would like to support the campaign, visit the Women on 20s website or use the tag #DearMrPresident to spread the word.
Mindful Bonus: If the campaign is a success, what other Mindful women in American history would you like to see on American currency?