The new $20 bill will depict Harriet Tubman, a victim of slavery and physical abuse by a slave owner. Given that she risked her own life to assist others in gaining freedom, it is tough to quibble with this choice (for one thing, I don’t want to be lumped in with the mediocrities criticizing greatness as portrayed starting at 6:30 in this video). Add in the fact that the $10 bill will feature an assortment of women who were victimized by disenfranchisement, however, and it gets potentially more interesting. These heroines are celebrated not only for their victim status, of course, but victimhood was a prerequisite for overcoming victimhood, which is what they are (presumably) being celebrated for.
Is this confirmation that the U.S. is now a “victimhood culture” (see Atlantic Magazine)? French currency, prior to the Euro, depicted high achievers (including Marie Curie) who were not obviously victims at any point. So did German banknotes, which included three different women. Italian lira featured great artists, scientists, and thinkers (Maria Montessori, for example; a woman, but not known as a victim). South Korean notes, one of which includes a woman, feature primarily “scholars” and artists/writers. Japanese notes feature primarily writers, scientists, etc. China is now all-Mao all-the-time.
I wonder if Dave Pelzer will find his way onto our currency…
[Separately, the TIME article on the new bill is interesting for its disclosure that it may take our government 10 years to design and print the first of the new $20 bills to circulate. By 2026, when the bills do find their way out into the world, will paper currency still be a common thing for anyone to carry?]
Related:
Weren’t the founding fathers victims of oppression?
I thought that was our jam.
Mao is both victim and winner! Double-plus-good!
I agree with Colin.
The point you could have made is that other countries honor scientists, artists, etc. while we Americans only honor people involved in politics. When I was a teenager I had a British one pound note that featured Isaac Newton, which I though was pretty cool.
I think that your point could be made about the founding fathers who appear on notes and coins – Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, etc. They felt that they were treated unreasonably by the British Empire, so they started a revolution and overcame their victimhood.
Andrew Jackson had pretty a pretty shitty childhood too.
By 2026 there will still be a need for untraceable transactions, and given that many politicians (who make the rules) do business using untraceables, I say yes, we shall have cash.
Sam
Makes more sense to have women on U.S. dollars because they can get U.S. dollars for being women: street prostitution, child support, alimony.
Here’s an even better example:
The US Mint is issuing a commemorative silver dollar honoring the 100th anniversary of the National Park system.
The obverse highlights a geyser, and a buffalo.
The reverse? A Latina Folklorico dancer, highlighting the multicultural experience available within the National Park system.
This is what happens when the bureaucracy is staffed with SJWs, and they get an opportunity to design coins and currency that DO NOT have public scrutiny.
http://catalog.usmint.gov/100th-anniversary-of-the-national-park-service-2016-proof-silver-dollar-16CC.html
I’m an interloper from Google, but:
1. Grit. Where you see victimhood, others see individual perseverance in the face of collective judgement.
2. Europe probably has the right idea with using abstractions like architecture to sidestep this entire debate.
@Steve
Hilarious! Coming up next, NASA silver dollar. On the front, the ISS, and on the back a transgender toilet on the space station.