AN AFRICAN WOMAN WHO GRACED THE FRONT OF AMERICAN CURRENCY NOTE

After the feat achieved by Barack Obama to become the first black African-American president of  United States, another black woman has also made history for the entire black nation and the world in general by featuring on US Federal Currency.

AN AFRICAN - AMERICAN WOMAN WHO FEATURED ON $20 BILL

The name of the woman is HARRIET TUBMAN who rose to fame by her anti-slavery crusade and her role during the American civil war.

She appeared on the front of $20 bill replacing formal US President  ANDREW JACKSON. She was popularly  known for her role as an activist and her campaign for the voting right of women. It is interesting to note that Harriet helped thousands of slaves to escape to freedom from their owners through an underground rail road while Jackson was known to be a slave owner.

The United States Treasury Department announced that there will be some modifications on  American Currency, the picture of Harriet Tubman will feature at the front of $20 bill replacing formal United State President while changes will also be made to $5 and $10 bill.

Other modifications in $5, $10, $20 bill features the images of women who contributed greatly to the general suffrage of women in United States; Elanor Roosevelt, Marian Anderson and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King for his campaign against racism. US Treasury Secretary Jacob. J. Lew stated that the final redesign will be unveiled in 2020 and will go into circulation as soon as possible but no actual date or time was given for its circulation.

However, there are some criticisms leveled against the Treasury Department, some claimed that featuring her image simply symbolize exploitation of her struggle beyond her grave while some said that it will undermine her legacy and what she fought for.

   BRIEF HISTORY OF HARRIET TUBMAN AND ANDREW JACKSON

HARRIET TUBMAN: Harriet had her early life in a plantation in Maryland, in her early 2o's she escaped to freedom and with her help over a thousand slaves also escaped from their owners through an underground rail. She also served as a spy and scout during the civil war due to her vast knowledge in Geography and Topography of many states in America. Harriet helped to recruit slaves to fight as soldiers during the war but immediately after the war she served as an activist advocating for the voting right of women. She was reported to have died around 1903.

ANDREW JACKSON: He was seen as a hero in the 1812 battle of NEW ORLEANS, he later became the the president of America from 1829 - 1837 but he was severely criticized for his ill treatment against the American Indians and Blacks. He was known for owing and keeping slaves which he badly maltreated most times. Harriet will replace Jackson on the front cover of the new $20 bill.