In a recent CNN article, the writer talks about the historic nature of the Obamas moving into the White House—a building that once had slaves at work within, as well as a home that housed slave-holding presidents.
It comes as no surprise that some of these presidents—whether the lived in the White House or not—were slave owners. After all, it was not illegal or even considered immoral in their day. And we know their names: Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, and Grant to name a few.
These men have more than that in common though. You see, these men are part of our daily lives (more or less) to this day. Each one has been honored—immortalized—on our currency. We may not see much of mr Grant in these hard, economic times, but surely George Washington makes his way into our hands in the form of a quarter or a dollar bill on a fairly regular basis. Thomas Jefferson is on the $2 bill, and Andrew Jackson is on the $20.
The honor was bestowed upon these men while Civil Rights were still being fought for in this country… before Rosa Parks, before Martin, and before Obama. In the enlightened days of the 21st Century, don’t you think it’s time that we choose new faces for our currency? Faces untainted by the blood, sweat, and tears of enslaved peoples?
I’m not suggesting we rewrite history—it is what it is and their slave ownership is well-documented. But in the same spirit as many object to Columbus Day, I object to their likenesses being on US currency—a place of honor that all the world sees and knows.
Is it not the last laugh on us that we are using the faces of former owners and masters—some cruel at that—to make our living? To buy and sell goods and services? This is more of an injustice than whether or not “In God We Trust” is on our money!
It’s a new day, America. Face Facts!
MORE:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/02/slaves.white.house/index.html
Part 2: http://trebord.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/face-facts-part-2/
Interesting thoughts, but where would this country be(or even would we be here), without the accomplishments of these great men of history(whether or not they owned slaves)? Since you made the suggestion, who would you like to see on our money?
Jalaw,
I appreciate the perspective, and I mean no disrespect to these men or their other accomplishments—which is why I note that there were no illegalities in their actions in their day.
But as Obama prepares to become our 44th President—43rd if you look at Grover Cleveland (22nd and 24th) as a single individual, and then discounting Carter, Clinton, Bush, and Bush since they are living still—there are 34 others to choose from for paper money. Keep in mind that not everyone on our paper money was a President—Hamilton and Franklin for instance—and that other Presidents were/are on coins but not paper such as Eisenhower and Kennedy. We have only had two women on coins—Sacagawea and Susan B Anthony. The wealth (pun intended) of potential faces is such that the question should be who isn’t on the money.
The Treasury has sought ways to expand the collectible nature of money as seen with the presidential dollar coins and the complimentary first lady series. Clearly, they recognize the value of fresh faces.
There were many great Americans who could be so honored and perhaps the best approach is to not only upgrade the money with anti-counterfeiting colors, strips, and images, but also to periodically change the images that are on it.
A final point is that real people don’t have to be on our money at all. The older dollar coins had the “Walking Liberty” and “Peace” images, and even the Eagle coins today have the personification of Liberty on them.
In the story, it read “Twelve American presidents owned slaves and eight of them, starting with Washington, owned slaves while they lived in the White House.”
Washington NEVER lived in the White House…….
Vepee,
Good catch. My post has been adjusted accordingly, but the point remains.
Thanks.