Anti-slavery activist to be the new face on $20 bill

In a historic move, the US is set to put celebrated anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman on a $20 bill in place of former president Andrew Jackson, making her first woman to appear on an American banknote in more than a century

Washington: In a historic move, the US is set to put celebrated anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman on a $20 bill in place of former president Andrew Jackson, making her first woman to appear on an American banknote in more than a century.

Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. Pic/AFP

Tubman, who was born as a slave around 1820 and helped hundreds of others escape from the clutches of slavery, will also be the first African-American to appear on US currency.

Jackson, the nation’s seventh president and a slave owner, will be pushed to the back of the bill. Treasury Secretary Jacob J Lew on Wednesday announced to add women and civil rights leaders to the new $10 and $5 notes.

Lew announced plans for the reverse of the new $10 to feature an image of the historic march for suffrage that ended on the steps of the Treasury Department and honour the leaders of the movement.

“Today, I am excited to announce that for the first time in more than a century, the front of our currency will feature the portrait of a woman — Harriet Tubman on the $20 note,” Lew said.   

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