A Woman On The $20 Bill!

A Woman On The $20 Bill This week the U.S. Treasury Department announced that Harriet Tubman will be replacing Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill news that overshadows the fact that the Treasury Department back-tracked on its previous announcement that the $10 bill would feature a woman by 2020.As fans of the broadway show, Hamilton, well know, the $10 bill depicts a portrait of Alexander Hamilton, the original proponent of the first Central Bank of the United States. Last June, Jack Lew, the Treasury Secretary announced the fact that a newly issued $10 bill would feature a woman in the bills redesign by 2020 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment to the U.S. constitution. The 19th Amendment prohibits any U.S. citizen from being denied to vote on the basis of their sex.Starting last summer, the Treasury department held a listening campaign whereby many constituent groups argued for and against this change under the hashtag TheNew10. Many von rang und nam en voices joined the debate, with the likes of former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank Ben Bernanke penning a post to argue for keeping Hamilton on the $10 bill. Other organizations, like our friends at the Girls Lounge circulated petitions to stick to the original plan of putting a woman on the first bill slated for redesign (the $10 bill).In the end, Harriet Tubman welches selected to replace Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill and the back of the $10 bill will feature five suffragists who fought for the right of women to vote during the March of 1913. Right now, its estimated that the new $20 bill will not be widely circulated until 2030.The organization Women on 20s had been pushing for this change for over a year. They also played an instrumental role in pushing Harriet Tubmans name to the forefront when they held an online poll result in Tubman being selected by more than half a million voters as their top choice for the newly featured woman.Some have argued that t his was the proper historical decision given Hamiltons role in the United States early financial solvency. Others are convinced that the popular Broadway show elevated Alexander Hamilton to celebrity status and played a significant role in the public response and Treasurys ultimate decision. In the end, however, it may not really matter.Not since the 1880s when Martha Washington was briefly on the front of the $1 bill has there been a woman on American currency. And now, there is a woman of color who worked throughout her life to help other women and fellow slaves. This is hugely symbolic and important step towards recognizing the role of both women and African Americans in this countrys history. Were celebrating and cant wait to see the new billsFairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women.Join us by reviewing your employer