The U.S. Treasury Department announced Wednesday afternoon that Harriet Tumban, an African-American who helped thousands of slaves to fredom, will replace notorious slaveholder Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill.
This declaration comes as a victory to many civil rights and women’s groups who have criticized the Treasury department in the past. Women’s groups have been especially focused on the issue since Treasury Secretary Jacob Yew backed down on putting a woman on the $10 bill in favor of the currently pictured Alexander Hamilton.
But this is just the beginning of many changes to American money. According to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, both the $5 and the $10 bills will feature prominent women by 2020.
I don’t know about you, but I am so psyched to finally have a woman on our currency, and such an amazing woman at that! I’m even more excited to see who else they pick to be on money… I vote Emma Watson for the $10!