Harriet Tubman
1820–1913
In 2020, Harriet Tubman will make history as the first woman on major U.S. currency. Tubman, a former slave, will be replacing Andrew Jackson, a known slaveholder, highlighting a shift towards recognizing progressive individuals who fought to make the country more inclusive, not those who represent a fractured past. An abolitionist and Union spy, Tubman escaped from a plantation in 1849. She did not, however, stay in the relative safety of the North; she returned to the South on numerous occasions, becoming the most famous “conductor” of the Underground Railroad and freeing hundreds of slaves in the process. The new bills will be unveiled in honor of the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which established women’s suffrage.
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” —Harriet Tubman
Cloudy Thurstag is a Berlin-based art lover turned illustrator and art director.
This feature originally appeared in the Money issue.