Marc Hoover
Lately, Harriet Tubman has become a trending Internet topic. Even more interesting is that we are still talking about a woman who died more than 100 years ago. Her name is trending for two reasons. One, she will replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill. Second, her former estate in Albany, New York will become the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park.

From what I have read, Americans are fine with the park. However, she hasn’t received a warm reception about replacing Andrew Jackson, a former president. Current GOP candidate Donald Trump has opposed Harriet Tubman’s likeness on the $20 bill. He agrees that she deserves a spot on our currency, just not the $20 bill. Trump said he would prefer her likeness to appear on a $2 bill, which is no longer in print or relevant.

I believe that Harriet Tubman is as an excellent choice. I would be honored to carry any currency with Harriet Tubman’s likeness in my pocket. For any non-history readers that aren’t familiar with Harriet Tubman, I will elaborate. I was fortunate to have studied her history during elementary school in the 1970s. I have always considered her a true American heroine.

Regarding Andrew Jackson, he does have excellent credentials and is worthy of having his likeness on our currency. He served as president from 1829-1837, and was a popular, but controversial president. Jackson once killed a man that slandered his wife, and made several questionable decisions as all president do. He also owned hundreds of slaves that worked on the Hermitage Plantation. I am guessing that somewhere down the road, Andrew Jackson will bump Ben Franklin or someone else. Maybe the government would consider allowing Ben Franklin and Jackson to “co-host” the $100 spot.

Currency is often referred to as “dead presidents.” But not everyone on our currency was a president. For instance, Attorney Salmon P. Chase and Ben Franklin were never president. So Harriet Tubman is in good company with Ben and Salmon.

Here is the story of Harriet Tubman, Jackson’s replacement. If you read this and still don’t think she earned a spot on a $20 bill, we must agree to disagree.

In 1820, Araminta Ross was born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland. Her parents were Harriet Greene and Benjamin Ross. Twenty-four years later, she officially became Harriet Tubman after marrying John Tubman. She chose Harriet as her first name for obvious reasons.

In 1849, Tubman decided to become a free woman. With help from a sympathetic white woman, Harriet fled into a starry night. After her bold escape, she realized her destiny. Had the FBI existed back in the day, Harriet Tubman would have become public enemy number one.

By 1860, she had made many trips into the south to lead slaves into the northern states, which detested slavery. The south retaliated by placing a $40,000 bounty for her capture. If captured, she would have been hanged. Regardless, she didn’t let a waiting rope or a large bounty stop her.

Harriet Tubman led more than 300 slaves to freedom. She even bragged that she “never lost a single passenger.” Other abolitionists called her “Moses.” For anyone not familiar with Moses, he was the Israelite who freed his fellow slaves from Egypt.

On her deathbed, friends and loved ones gathered to say goodbye. She died of pneumonia on March 10, 1913. Her final words to her loved ones were “I go to prepare a place for you.” To deny this great woman a spot on a $20 bill is a true injustice.

Marc is a grandparent and longtime resident of Clermont County. Visit his author page at http://www.lifewithgrandpa.com and blog at www.wisegrandpa.com.