How a School Project Helped Make Harriet Tubman the New Face of the $20 Bill
“A Woman’s Place is On The Money” —Women On 20s, a nonprofit organization dedicated to putting women on US currency
In 2011, 9-year old Sofia (her parents have kept her last name anonymous to protect their family) was in 3rd grade, and her teachers assigned a research project about famous people.
For Teachers: Check out this mini-project that challenges students to design the new face of the $20 bill, featuring Harriet Tubman.
When it was time for presentations, many of her classmates who had researched men used pictures of money, which prominently featured the face of their research subjects. In contrast, none of the women that were researched were depicted on currency: so she called for change.
Sofia sent a handwritten letter to President Obama, in which she made her case for adding women to US dollars/coins:
Dear Mr. President,
I am Writing to know why there arent any woman on the Dollars/coins for the united states. I think there should be more womon on a Dollar/coin for the united states Because if there were no women there wouldnt be men also there are many women that could Be on Dollars/coins for the united state because of the important things they have done. Please write Back Sofia
She also included a list of 12 names as suggestions—one of which was Harriet Tubman.
To her surprise, President Obama responded to her letter:
Initially last June, the US Treasury announced that it would be re-designing a $10 bill, as it was the next denomination slated for an update in 2020. The decision was met with opposition because of Alexander Hamilton’s legacy as the founder of the nation’s financial system, and the $20 was named as the bill that will bear Tubman’s likeness.
There is still much debate over the fate of the $10 bill, as well as what will happen to Andrew Jackson, the current face of the $20 bill. The Treasury Department hasn’t made any official comments as of yet.
One remarkable aspect of this story is how an engaging class project inspired a third grader to correspond with the leader of the free world and a champion of the movement to put women on US currency. By challenging students like Sofia to think critically about their world, teachers will help them build important leadership skills and inspire them to advocate for the things they care about most.
More for Teachers:
Get this mini-project packet that challenges students to design the new face of the $20 bill, featuring Harriet Tubman:
