Harriet Tubman on the $20 Bill? What a Terrific Idea!

[MineralMan]

If there's one piece of currency that everyone uses, it's the $20. That's what comes out of ATM machines, and it's the most convenient bill to have in your wallet. Not too large, and not too small. Everyone who carries cash uses them all the time.

Even racist assholes have $20 bills in their wallets. Seeing Tubman's very serious countenance on those bills is bound to chafe their narrow butts. She's the symbol of fighting slavery. She's a black woman most children read about in grammar school, when the underground railroad is the topic. She's a wonderful symbol for the most commonly used currency in the United States.

So, if this comes to be, and I hope it does, it will have an unexpected positive effect. It will force racists to hand over a portrait of this wonderful woman in history over to buy whatever it is they're buying. If they carry Franklins instead, they'll get Tubmans in change. There will be no way to avoid seeing her stern face looking back at them.

Let's make this happen! Let's put a real historical hero in everyone's wallet!

[In_The_Wind]

1. It's a truly great choice.

[MineralMan]

4. It's a great choice for many reasons.

The irony of it would make it even better. She is a true hero of the United States, and is widely recognized as exactly that. She's a potent symbol of the end of slavery...almost as powerful as Lincoln for at least one generation. She's a symbol of freedom in a way few others are. She personally helped people to freedom who had none.

This is a great way to remember her. Putting her on the front of the most popular currency in circulation will be a real tribute to her memory.

[Egnever]

2. seems like a perfect reason for it not to happen

I am pretty sure money is not supposed to piss people off no matter how much it might be deserved.

[MineralMan]

5. That would be just one of its effects, though.

It would be honoring a real American hero. If some can't deal with that, too bad.

[Egnever]

7. Which is why it wont happen.

The republicans would love to put st ronnie on the 20 but that wont happen either for the same reason.

Would you say the same if ronnie was put on the 20? "if some can't deal with that...."

[MineralMan]

10. I don't decide whose face is on our currency.

Do you know who does? The Secretary of the Treasury. It would be a big decision, to be sure, but it could happen.

[Egnever]

14. Of course

What makes you believe the Secretary has any intention whatsoever to change the $20 in the first place?

[MineralMan]

15. Who said I believed that he did?

The proposal is out there to do this. Will it happen? Not my decision. I just like the idea very much, for many reasons. Apparently, you don't think much of it.

[Egnever]

17. Nope I don't think much of changing the face of money just to piss people off.

Which was the point of my original response in the thread.

[MineralMan]

18. The reason for changing the face is to honor an American

woman and freedom fighter. That's the reason. That such a thing would piss off a bunch of people who deserve it is just icing on the cake.

Harriet Tubman is an iconic figure in US history. At a turning point in our history, she was a leader and activist. Recognizing a leading abolitionist seems to me to be an ideal reason to replace a major slaveholder on the face of the $20 bill. Why should we be honoring a slaveholder at all. I'd replace all of those on our currency. Each and every one, including Washington.

Recognition of history is an important function of the faces on our currency. That's why the current faces are there. We can do better, frankly than we have.

[Xyzse]

6. True, although I must admit it chafes quite a few people seeing Jackson's countenance on the bill.

So, perhaps we should just scrub people pictures on the bill and just place national monuments or something.

To tell the truth, I have no idea if I am being sarcastic or not on this one....
Must state however that it is tongue in cheek.

[Hekate]

3. I look forward to this!

[Bucky]

8. I predict there's going to be a huge controversy over the portrait they first design

Also Fox News will start praising Andrew Jackson all the damn time

[MineralMan]

9. Oh, yes. A huge controversy.

What I didn't realize is that all it would take is for the Secretary of the Treasury to decide to do it. No act of Congress required. Too cool!

[Gormy Cuss]

11. And educational for FOX news personnel!

Win-win!

[MineralMan]

12. Yes, indeed. I saw that story.

"Who the hell is Harriet Tubman, anyway?" Iconic for the ignorance of Fox News.

[leftofcool]

13. Any historical female would be fine with me but Harriet Tubman, oh yea!

She is perfect and we get Jackson off! I won't even go into a rant about Jackson.

[MineralMan]

16. I agree that she is a perfect replacement for Jackson.

I know one thing: More people know about Harriet Tubman than know anything about Jackson. That's especially true of younger Americans. Harriet Tubman has been in the grade school curriculum for years. Jackson's just a footnote these days.

[dbackjon]

19. Unfortunately most big businesses will only give you $15 for it