My two cents on Harriet Tubman's $20 bill

The U.S. Treasury made the announcement last week: The $20 bill will feature a new face. Former slave and Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman will grace the front of the bill, replacing Andrew Jackson, our nation's seventh president, after whom Jackson, Missouri, is named, and pushing him to the back of the bus, um, bill.

The final design will be unveiled in 2020 to coincide with the anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which established women's suffrage, its vision originating from a group called Women on 20s, who campaigned for more than a year to have a woman replace Jackson, a slavery defender who owned hundreds of slaves himself, with a brutal record regarding Native Americans.

A statement from the group reads, "Secretary Lew's choice of the freed slave and freedom fighter Harriet Tubman to one day feature on the $20 note is an exciting one. ... Not only did she devote her life to racial equality, she fought for women's rights alongside the nation's leading suffragists."

Susan Ades Stone, the group's executive director, said, "We had been looking to this Treasury Secretary to put a woman front and center as soon as possible and powerfully inspire the quest for gender equality going forward. Today's announcement is an important step in moving us closer to that goal. ... This is just as much a victory for the millions of American people, young and old, who cared enough about women and their worth to rally for this historic change."

I, too, am excited about Tubman being honored, but not for the same reasons Women on 20s expressed. I don't view this honor in terms of gender. I don't even view it in terms of race. Female or male, black or white, Tubman is deserving.

My family learned many years ago that we are related to the family of Harriet Tubman, born in Maryland as Araminta Ross. I am both proud and humbled by this family history. Fam or not, however, she is worthy of honor.

History records that after escaping slavery, Tubman made several trips back to the South and led many to freedom, including her own parents and siblings. Reports state she made 19 trips and led 300 people out of bondage, but those numbers have been disputed. What is not disputed is the fact that "Moses," as she was called, made many dangerous trips from North to South and back because she was committed to freedom -- even more than some runaway slaves were. In fact, she carried a pistol and would threaten "passengers" who considered turning back. They would "be free or die."

At a New York suffrage convention in 1896, Tubman said, "I was the conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can't say: I never ran my train off the track, and I never lost a passenger."

I imagine when you have a leader who had secured her own freedom and did not have to return, but chose to go back, you feel inspired to endure the danger and difficulties and risk all in the journey. If not that, I imagine a pistol in your face might be a great source of inspiration to keep it moving!

Tubman's courage, escape, leadership, involvement in the Civil War and burial with military honors bespeak a life of great value.

Some criticize the currency change. Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump called Tubman "fantastic," but said he would like to see Jackson remain on the currency front, rather than be removed for "pure political correctness." Instead, he suggested she be placed on the $2 bill. Dr. Ben Carson, who dropped his bid for the presidency, agreed. U.S. Sen. Lamar Anderson of Tennessee, Andrew Jackson's home state, feels the change "diminish[es] Jackson." Fox News' Greta Van Susteren, who spoke highly of Tubman, called the decision to remove Jackson "stupid."

I totally understand the feeling that this is political correctness and pandering run amok. I get that perhaps it might be better to honor Tubman by creating another currency or coming up with some other honor. I have no problem entertaining those suggestions, and I don't necessarily disagree. But since the powers that be have made their decision, I stand by my assertion that Tubman is worthy of honor.

I'll conclude with this Twitter post by humorist David Burge, aka Iowahawk: "Breaking: Treasury throws founder of the Democratic Party off $20 bill, replaces with gun-toting Republican." Now, isn't that interesting?

Adrienne Ross is an editor, writer, public speaker, online radio show host, former teacher and coach, Southeast Missourian editorial board member, and owner of Adrienne Ross Communications. Reach her at aross@semissourian.com.