Black Caucus members applaud
$20 bill tribute to Harriet Tubman
BY LAUREN VICTORIA
BURKE
NNPA NEWS WIRE
CONTRIBUTOR
The U.S. Department
of the Treasury announced
that Harriet Tubman will
be on the $20 bill. Several
members of the
Congressional Black
Caucus spoke to the NNPA
News Wire about the his
toric tribute to Tubman.
One of the most impor
tant heroes in American
history, Harriet Tubman
was an abolitionist and spy
for the Union Army and a
leader of the Underground
Railroad. The "railroad"
was a network of abolition
ists, activists and other
associates created in the
early 1800s and utilized
until shortly before the
Civil War to lead an esti
mated 100,000 Blacks out
of slavery. Tubman was
born into slavery in
Maryland and escaped to
Philadelphia in 1849.
Starting with her rela
tives, she traveled by night
to guide people to northern
free states and into Canada.
She would later become
involved in the women's
suffrage movement.
Tubman died in 1913 in
upstate New York.
"It is so fitting and
appropriate that this
woman, this fighter, this
warrior for freedom be on
the $20 bill," legendary
civil rights leader Rep.
John Lewis (D-Ga.) told
the NNPA News Wire as he
walked off the House floor
after voting on April 20.
"I'm straight out of
Racine, Wisconsin the
place where the runaway
slaves went, so I think she
is a dynamic heroine for all
Americans," said Rep.
Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.).
"Long overdue, long over
due. I am so proud," added
Rep. Barbara Lee (D
Calif.).
Treasury Secretary
Lew also announced
changes to other denomi
nations. The reverse side of
the new $10 bill will fea
ture the historic suffrage
movement and honor
Lucretia Mott, Sojourner
Truth, Susan B. Anthony,
Elizabeth Cady Stanton,
and Alice Paul. Lew also
announced plans for the
reverse of the new $5 bill
to honor Marian Anderson,
Eleanor Roosevelt and
Martin Luther King Jr.
"The fact that this will
be the first person of color
is tremendous and that it
will be a female is even
more noteworthy," Rep.
Bennie Thompson CD
Miss.) told the NNPA
News Wire on April 20, "I
was one of the folks who
went on the letter that start
ed the whole process,"
Thompson added. "I'm
excited about that."
Thompson signed a let
ter dated July 30, 2015 to
Treasury Secretary Jack
Lew asking that a woman
be featured on the $20
instead of the first pro
posed $10 bill. The letter
got the ball rolling in what
would become the decision
to choose Harriet Tubman
for the $20 bill.
Black Caucus member
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D
Md.) joined Republican
Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.)
in 2015 to introduce the
Harriet Tubman Tribute
Act to require the secretary
of the Treasury "to place
Harriet Tubman's likeness
on a Federal Reserve Note
by 2017.
Lauren Victoria Burke
is a political analyst and
contributing writer for
NNPA News Wire.
AP Pt?o?o/Ciroly? Thoaapaoa. FUc
In this Monday, Aug. 31,2015, file photo, a woman
holds a sign supporting Harriet Tubman for the $20
bill during a town hall meeting at the Women's
Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls,
N.Y. A Treasury official said Wednesday, April 20,
that Secretary Jacob Lew has decided to put Harriet
Tubman on the $20 bill, making her the first woman
on VS. paper currency in 100 years.
With more experience, more cardiac treatment options and a full range of cardiac care, we specialize
in helping our patients do more of the things they love. We accept most insurance plans and in most
cases, we can see you within 24 hours of your call. For an appointment, call 888-716-WAKE.
HEART & VASCULAR CENTER | Call 888-716-WAKE
WakeHealth.edu/Heart
tiki.}
XXV Wake Forest*
Baptist Health
A Mission to Care. A Mission to Cure.
More heart experience
More heart treatment options
More family reunions