
My husband is a history junkie. His undergrad and graduate degree are both in history. When the news broke this week about Harriet Tubman taking over the twenty dollar bill, of course we had to discuss it! That’s one of our things, debating and discussing hot topics in the news. He sends me daily articles and it keeps me in the loop and on my toes. He’s also been blessed with an opportunity at the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Right up his alley!
His thoughts on the Harriet Tubman topic was intriguing so I wanted to share. Below are his thoughts….
“Interesting enough the iconic figure Harriet Tubman will now grace the face of the updated $20. Some may say we have come a long way, but others may beg to differ. Historians have come forth outlying the irony of placing Tubman on the twenty dollar bill along with former slave owner Andrew Jackson. Jackson who himself owned slaves, and has a etched legacy in American Society. From my perspective this paints a poor picture of the way we should honor this beacon of freedom. Furthermore, isn’t it even more ironic that this ruling is released in the midst of the ongoing presidential debate.
What I find most captivating ill of all the monetary sums in American society, there are still present remnants of the once “peculiar institution” as it was then known. For example, take a look at the back of the five cent piece (the nickel), and you would see Monticello, the home of George Washington. The plantation site that its owner, the 1st President of the United States actively participating in the institution of slavery.
Is this progress? When blacks have the most spending power in this country yet own next to nothing in our own communities. I personally do not think this it is progress, possibly something that is well overdue. Will we see the same thing happen to the $20 dollar bill as we saw with the Susan B. Anthony coin? Only time will tell. –JaMarcus Underwood

Your husbands perspective made me go hummm…so thanks for opening my eyes to a different POV. I’m not sure how I feel about it actually..It feels political honestly..but I just don’t know how to feel yet.
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I agree!! I don’t think the decision was genuine all!
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Interesting to say the least but I’m not jumping for joy. I think we need/deserve much better reparations frfr..like 40 acres..well you know the rest!! The American Indians got theirs we deserve ours too👊🏽
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And still til this day we are not treated fairly. So we have a long way to go✊🏽
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Amen…have s great weekend doll🌹
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It feels political to me. It is definitely a step forward to have somebody like Harriet Tubman on there instead of Andrew Jackson, but if only we could get rid of all those old twenties. 🙂
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It’s always this time of year! It’s a very small step forward to many steps that are past due!
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I don’t think Tubman would be proud to be on the dollars in the banks of the rich, better to create job opportunities for disenfranchised Blacks then to disillusion them with “progress”.
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Well said!!! An African American on money is not going to distract us from the injustices we go through each day.
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