Harriet Tubman: First Black Woman to Appear on U.S Currency

The Biden administration has said it will seek to push forward a plan to make anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman the face of a new $20 bill.

A note featuring Ms Tubman, who was born a slave in about 1822, was originally due to be unveiled in 2020.

The US Treasury said she would replace former President Andrew Jackson, a slave owner.

But the effort was delayed under former President Donald Trump, who branded it “pure political correctness”.

Now President Joe Biden has revived the project, with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki telling reporters the Treasury was “exploring ways to speed up” the process.

The move would make Ms Tubman the first African American to appear on a US banknote, and the first woman for more than 100 years.

“It’s important that our notes, our money – if people don’t know what a note is – reflect the history and diversity of our country, and Harriet Tubman’s image gracing the new $20 note would certainly reflect that,” Ms Psaki said on Monday.