2008 Woodie Awards
We need diversity on our currency
Lakisha Williams
Issue date: 9/30/08 Section: The Roundtable
Why are there no black Americans on our currency? Are we truly indivisible when black individuals have been left out of that honor?
As a contributor to the American economy, I resent this. When currency hits our hands, for some of us, there is never an image of our own race. As ethnically diverse Americans we need to open our eyes and minds to this injustice.
According to the U.S. Treasury Department, it is the Secretary of the Treasury that selects the designs shown on American money. The only caveat is that whoever is depicted must be well-known and dead.
Take a look at the recent changes to currency and coins and you'll see idol images, brighter colors, and other additives, but no black Americans. If George Washington, Abraham Lincoln or Andrew Jackson can appear on paper currency, why not Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, or George Washington Carver? These are very strong and unique individuals who stood up and stood out to help change the course of America. They fought with blood, sweat and tears under hostile situations to help so many people, many of which they never knew.
Can we not give honor to where it is due? It's about time we see a host of other races that have made great contributions to the history of America bestowed with the same honor and privilege.
For all of those who have been partakers of this column, we must be proposers of change; we have no argument if there's not attempt.
kishablack01@yahoo.com
As a contributor to the American economy, I resent this. When currency hits our hands, for some of us, there is never an image of our own race. As ethnically diverse Americans we need to open our eyes and minds to this injustice.
According to the U.S. Treasury Department, it is the Secretary of the Treasury that selects the designs shown on American money. The only caveat is that whoever is depicted must be well-known and dead.
Take a look at the recent changes to currency and coins and you'll see idol images, brighter colors, and other additives, but no black Americans. If George Washington, Abraham Lincoln or Andrew Jackson can appear on paper currency, why not Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, or George Washington Carver? These are very strong and unique individuals who stood up and stood out to help change the course of America. They fought with blood, sweat and tears under hostile situations to help so many people, many of which they never knew.
Can we not give honor to where it is due? It's about time we see a host of other races that have made great contributions to the history of America bestowed with the same honor and privilege.
For all of those who have been partakers of this column, we must be proposers of change; we have no argument if there's not attempt.
kishablack01@yahoo.com
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