Tubman’s Legacy to be Honored or Destroyed

Americans have had a long-lasting debate about Harriet Tubman’s proximal appearance on the $20 bill.

            Harriet Tubman’s proximal appearance on the 20-dollar bill has caused controversy in the U.S. and American feminists have come to question the government’s intentions. Citizens from all around the U.S. have had different opinions about Harriet Tubman’s appearance on the bill, according to seattletimes.com some people are thrilled by the fact that a woman, especially one of color is going to be the face of the bill, but on the other hand other feminists such as Feminista Jones “There’s no place for women – especially women of color – on America’s currency today.” She explained her point by saying that “American capitalism historically has been used to oppress and disenfranchise women and people of color. At various points in our nation’s history, women were forbidden from owning property, married women were forbidden from working, and black women were restricted to jobs as cooks and maids. Even today, economic injustice continues in the form of unequal pay, limiting women’s ability to reach their full economic potential.” Her points are taking from a different perspective that comes from the fact that women are fighting against the United States economy to be able to gain, equal rights, respect and pay especially in women of color or different race. Feminista tried to explain to people that women are not to represent the economy that they are trying to fight against as it will just cloud people’s judgment and leave the economic gap between genders intact.

            Americans have had an endless debate through social media about how Harriet Tubman being chosen to be one of the new faces of the U.S. economy affects her legacy. Many say it is a complete honor but large amounts of people say it is an insult to her legacy. Feminista Jones also expressed her thoughts about this fact in her article, which is now available in Washington Post by saying that “Harriet Tubman did not fight for capitalism, free trade, or competitive markets. She repeatedly put herself in the line of fire to free people who were treated as currency themselves. She risked her life to ensure that enslaved black people would know they were worth more than the blood money that exchanged hands to buy and sell them. I do not believe Tubman, who died impoverished in 1913, would accept the “honor.”

So what do you think is Harriet Tubman the right choice to be the new face of the 20-dollar bill or is it a disgrace to her legacy and an insult to the goals American women are currently trying to achieve in the U.S. economy?