By Jannah Madyun
Oh great, America! What a happy day it was when we heard news of the innovative design for the new $20 bill. Many people jumped to social networks such as Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram to proclaim their excitement, glee and satisfaction.
“I want all my checks in cash when the new Harriet Tubman bill comes out.”
“This is exactly what Tubman would have wanted. America has finally done something right for us!”
“This is so progressive for many African-Americans.”
Oh? Is it really?
While everyone ran amuck, shouting in hilarity, mirth and merriment, I was one of those people sitting down shaking my head at the excessive excitement whilst sipping my tea. I hate to be that person (actually, I really don’t) but this move for Harriet Tubman on the $20 is not all that progressive. Before my fellow millennials start pointing fingers and throwing shade my way, let me explain myself.
The new American $20 bill, which will be redesigned over the next four years, will have African-American abolitionist Harriet Tubman on the front of the bill and former President Andrew Jackson on the back of the bill. USA Today describes the details of the bill: “To make room for Tubman on the front of the $20 bill, Jackson will be moved to the back where he’ll be incorporated into the existing image of the White House. Lew said that image could depict the statue of Jackson riding horseback in Lafayette Square across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House.”
Since the majority of Americans were taught a staunch curriculum surrounding Caucasian American and European history, I’m very sure that many of us are aware of President Andrew Jackson’s contribution to the American story. Not familiar? Perhaps I should jog your memory.
Former president Andrew Jackson was a schmuck. He held a large role in the genocide and removal of American Indians—where he forced tens of thousands of Native Americans to flee from the South. In addition to these horrific facts, Jackson also owned hundreds of slaves and undoubtedly opposed the abolition of slavery. Andrew Jackson was the perfect definition of a privileged, wealthy white supremacist.
To put a man with these credentials on any bill is reason enough to question the sanity of the American government, nevertheless to put him on a bill with former slave Harriet Tubman. Ha! This is mockery at its finest. How could one be happy and elated about this news when the act of putting her in such proximity with Jackson itself seems to mock everything that Tubman stood for?
Harriet Tubman deserves her own bill. More than that, she deserves the same amount of recognition and respect that men like Andrew Jackson get within the school system and American history books. How can we be excited about this move for “progressiveness” when the American government still does not internally give a damn about the progression of African-Americans? Will this stop police from targeting young black men based on their color? Will this stop the widespread inequality among African-Americans in the federal work force? Will this help bring better housing and community resources for minorities in urban environments? What about the young men and women who can’t be elated because the closest they will be to having this $20 bill is seeing it in the hands of a person who can afford to have it?
Until America recognizes that racial problems lie deeper than just slapping Tubman’s face on the front of a $20 bill and expecting us to be happy about it, I refuse to believe that we as black people are “progressing.” Try again, America.