Maya Angelou Honored: First Black Woman On U.S. Quarter
Having made a stellar social impact through her poetry, activism, and memoirs, the U.S. honors Maya Angelou by printing her image onto the tail-side of the U.S. quarter, making her the first Black woman to do so.
Maya Angelou is the first woman of many to appear on redesigned U.S. currency as a part of an American Women Quarters Program. This program seeks to honor the legacy of women who have pushed past racial and gender-based boundaries in order to pave the way for diversity and female achievement.
Excited to announce that today, Maya Angelou becomes the first Black woman to appear on a US quarter!
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) January 10, 2022
The phenomenal women who shaped American history have gone unrecognized for too long—especially women of color. Proud to have led this bill to honor their legacies. pic.twitter.com/TYZeEJ8LhX
Janet L. Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury, depicts this program as an opportunity to, “say something about our country– what we value, and how we’ve progressed as a society.”
Twitter users differed in their opinions on the new design. While certain users showcased excitement towards the act, others expressed frustration, claiming the Black community desires reparations and systemic change rather than symbolic and performative acts.
All we asked for was the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, reparations, universal health care, student loan forgiveness & police reform. 🤷🏽♂️
— LarkLnd (@LarkLnd) January 11, 2022
The image, designed by Emily Damstra and Craig A. Campbell, includes Angelou’s uplifted hands, rays of a rising sun, and a flying eagle. The design is said to be a representation of Angelou’s uplifting poetry and abundant inspiration throughout her life.
Angelou’s son, Guy B. Johnson, deems his mother as, “…a warrior for equality, tolerance, and peace.” Angelou’s writing served to be an integral component of the civil rights movement.
Other women to be honored through the program include Dr. Sally Ride, Wilma Mankiller, Nina Otero-Warren, and Anna May Wong.
The quarters featuring Angelou have already begun rolling out and will be in the hands of the U.S. public soon.
