“It’s still so incomprehensible for me to think about what life as a slave meant,” I told my wife after reading recent news about famous African-American abolitionist Harriet Tubman. The United States Treasury Department announced on Wednesday that Tubman would become the first African-American to appear on U.S. paper currency. Tubman is known for her escape from slavery as well as her determination to help others use the Underground Railroad.

The change, which results in shifting President Andrew Jackson to the reverse side, marks a landmark moment. A woman has not appeared on paper currency in the United States for over 100 years, with Martha Washington and Pocahontas being the only other women who have held that distinction. Other powerful women have appeared on United States coins, including women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony and Native American explorer Sacagawea.

Of course Tubman’s fight against slavery makes her selection incredibly powerful as our nation continues to grapple with racial injustice. It’s incredible to think how much progress has occurred since Tubman’s time. People were allowed to own other people, except the people they owned were only considered three-fifths of an actual person. During Tubman’s life, she once recounted being lashed five times before breakfast. It’s hard to imagine a true picture of what slavery was back then.

I recently read a story recounting Tubman after fleeing her enslavement where she crossed paths with a former master. How did she disguise herself? She pretended to read, as he surely would have known Tubman to be illiterate.Thankfully we’re past that as a society, but achievement gaps continue to persist between people of color and their white counterparts. In Minnesota, 88 percent of white students graduated on-time last year, where black students graduated at a rate of 68 percent. We should be actively working on removing barriers that exist that are preventing our minority students from finding success.

As I read comments online about Tubman becoming the face of the $20, I was sadly unsurprised at the racism I encountered. One particular comment said, “Tubman should be on the front of the food stamp coupon not the $20 it would be alot more symbolic of her people.” Had this commenter paid attention in school, he might have been able to at least share his ignorant view using correct grammar, “Tubman should be on the front of a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) card, not the $20 bill. It would be a lot more symbolic of her people.”

Comments like that are disheartening, and there were plenty more I could have shared with you. I think it’s also important to note that more white people are receiving SNAP benefits than black people, meaning the poster of that comment would likely be more fitting than Tubman’s face on that card (if such decisions were made based on usage). Of course normally someone’s face is displayed on something because of their lifetime achievements, which would likely exclude the commenter from ever being considered anyway.

Tubman dedicated her life to fighting for liberty. She is an amazing example of one person blazing a path toward freedom, not just for herself, but for an entire race. I’m excited that my mixed-race daughter will grow up with currency in her hands that could reflect what she looks like. I have never imagined my own face on piece of currency, but people like Tubman and now the United States Treasury Department have made it one step closer for her to envision her profile sketched on a future bill. We’re a nation of dreamers, and I hope the announcement of Tubman on the $20 bill will expand the dreams of minority people everywhere.

Of course there are many other worthy women to be placed on our currency, many of whom will be making an appearance soon. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew also shared that additional prominent women suggested by the public will be featured on revised $10 and $5 notes. Most interesting, the Treasury Department’s website also shares a lengthy list of other notable women that the public suggested since they first announced their intent to put a woman on our paper currency. It’s time we start to recognize these incredible leaders more prominently in our nation.

 

Rochester resident Matt Knutson is the communications and events director for United Way of Olmsted County.