By Brenda Panama
One of several designs for the Tubman $20 bill.
The Biden Administration has revived the Obama era idea of replacing Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill with a portrait of American abolitionist and political activist, Harriet Tubman. Most countries honor their most gifted, heroic, or admirable citizens by putting their faces on the national currency. Yet there are still no famous African Americans commemorated on American money.
Harriet Tubman was born a slave during the 19th-century, but escaped her owner and became a conductor of the so-called “underground railroad” that helped slaves run from southern plantations to freedom. Over many years she risked her life to liberate dozens of slaves. Later, during the Civil War, she bravely served her nation as a spy for Union troops against the pro-slavery Confederacy.
In 2016, when President Obama announced his administration intended to redesign the $20 bill, the idea was to replace the image of former soldier, senator, and U.S. President Andrew Jackson, a man known for enslaving people and hurting many native Americans while forcing them from their land. Originally, the redesigned bill was supposed to be released in 2020 to honor the centennial anniversary of the 19th amendment, giving women the right to vote. However, the project was delayed once the Trump administration took office, supposedly due to “counterfeit issues.”
President Trump has loudly criticized replacing Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, and has even shown his resentment by putting a portrait of Andrew Jackson in the Oval office.
As of yet there is no set date for the release of the redesigned twenty, but the Biden administration confirmed that it is working on the replacement.