Hollywood seemed unanimously exuberant Wednesday at the announcement that Harriet Tubman would replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill.
Many African-American celebrities were unsurprisingly excited about the news. Among the many famous faces tweeting their support for the move were “Orange is the New Black” star Uzo Aduba, “Selma” director Ava DuVernay and “Scandal” creator Shonda Rhimes.
We got a $20 Freedom Mama Without the Drama of messing with the $10 Founding Father Without a Father. #hamilnerd @Lin_Manuel
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) April 20, 2016
“And I prayed to God to make me strong. And able to fight. And that’s what I’ve always prayed for ever since.” #HarrietTubman 1865
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) April 20, 2016
— Butterfly (@Butterfly90210) April 20, 2016
Other celebrities expressing their solidarity with a Tubman $20 bill included Oscar winners Patricia Parquette and Susan Sarandon, actress Chloe Grace Moretz, and comedian Billy Eichner.
Celebrities aren’t the only public figures extolling the virtues of placing Tubman on the $20 bill.
TUBMAN, BABY!!!!!
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) April 20, 2016
What an amazing day to hear that Harriet Tubman is the face of 20 dollar bills now. It’s about time
— Chloë Grace Moretz (@ChloeGMoretz) April 20, 2016
Great news! #WomenOn20s https://t.co/46WFz1e8yJ
— Susan Sarandon (@SusanSarandon) April 20, 2016
U.S. to keep Hamilton on front of $10 bill, put portrait of Harriet Tubman on $20 bill https://t.co/7QMGY9Donx
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) April 20, 2016
Edward Snowden, the former government contractor who leaked classified NSA information in 2013, tweeted about the parallels between his life and Tubman’s.
Outlaw. Fugitive. Hero. #HarrietTubman https://t.co/AJsVLmSC65
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) April 20, 2016
Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were both also in agreement about the change.
I cannot think of an American hero more deserving of this honor than Harriet Tubman. https://t.co/GL64NPrOL1
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 20, 2016
A woman, a leader, and a freedom fighter. I can’t think of a better choice for the $20 bill than Harriet Tubman: https://t.co/YcsZC4ZrKg -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 20, 2016
The Treasury had been debating about whether to shake up the $10 bill, and one idea was to replace Alexander Hamilton with a woman. It instead opted not only to swap Jackson for Tubman on the $20 bill, but also to revamp the $5 bill by printing notes with civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., famed opera singer Marian Anderson and first lady Eleanor Roosevelt on the back.
Treasury’s decision to keep Hamilton on the $10 bill may be due to the success of Broadway’s “Hamilton,” a hip-hop musical about the former treasury secretary’s life.
The musical’s creator and star, Lin-Manuel Miranda, met with Treasury Secretary Jack Lew in March.
I talked to @USTreasury about this on Monday. Sec. Lew told me “you’re going to be very happy.” #wegetthejobdone https://t.co/ZkLFuSmz8M
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) March 16, 2016
