There is no black man featured on the back of the $2 bill, as it is not currently in circulation in the United States. However, in the past, the $2 bill has featured portraits of different historical figures, including Thomas Jefferson, John Trumbull, and Monticello, Jefferson’s home in Virginia.
It’s worth noting that throughout American history, there have been a number of significant black figures who have made important contributions to society and culture. Unfortunately, they have not been widely represented on U.S. currency until recently. In 2020, the U.S. Treasury Department announced plans to redesign the $20 bill to feature a portrait of Harriet Tubman, a prominent abolitionist and political activist.
Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland in the early 1820s and escaped to freedom in 1849. She later became one of the most active conductors on the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses used by slaves to escape to freedom. Tubman risked her life repeatedly to guide enslaved people to safety and helped over 300 slaves escape to freedom during her lifetime.
In addition to her work on the Underground Railroad, Tubman was also a spy for the Union Army during the Civil War and played a key role in the liberation of hundreds of enslaved people. After the war, she continued her activism by advocating for women’s suffrage and serving as a nurse and teacher.
While Tubman is not currently featured on any U.S. currency, she has been honored in other ways. In 1978, she was the first African American woman to be commemorated with a statue in the U.S. Capitol. In 2013, President Barack Obama signed a proclamation designating March as “National Women’s History Month,” with the theme of “Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics,” and included Harriet Tubman as one of the women who inspired innovation and change in America.
Overall, it’s important to recognize the contributions of individuals like Harriet Tubman and to continue working towards greater representation and inclusivity in American society and culture. While there is no black man featured on the back of any U.S. currency, the U.S. Treasury Department’s decision to redesign the $20 bill to feature Harriet Tubman is a step in the right direction towards celebrating the achievements of black Americans and recognizing their important place in American history.