Close
About
FAQ
Home
Collections
Login
USC Login
Register
0
Selected
Invert selection
Deselect all
Deselect all
Click here to refresh results
Click here to refresh results
USC
/
Digital Library
/
University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses
/
Black money: the history of African-Americans represented on U.S. currency
(USC Thesis Other)
Black money: the history of African-Americans represented on U.S. currency
PDF
Download
Share
Open document
Flip pages
Contact Us
Contact Us
Copy asset link
Request this asset
Transcript (if available)
Content
BLACK MONEY: The History of African-Americans Represented on U.S. Currency By Angelique Perrin A Thesis Presented to the FACULTY OF USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF ARTS (SPECIALIZED JOURNALISM) December 2017 Copyright 2017 Angelique Perrin Acknowledgements Without the Museum of Uncut Funk, I never would have discovered that African-Americans existed on American currency. Special thanks to co-founders Loreen Williamson and Pamela Thomas for the multiple interviews and allowing me access to their treasures. The inspiration behind Black Money is my professors Sasha Anawalt and Mary Murphy. They helped take a nugget of information and transform it into a work of art that can be used to educate the world. Professors Lisa Pecot-Herbert, Peggy Bustamante, and Dan Birman were all invaluable in transforming my written ideas into a multi-media website. Thank you to Professor Michael Parks for his years of patience, encouragement and gently nudging me to pursue my academic dreams. ii Abstract The discovery of Black Money was an accident. While researching the history of African-Americans in cartoons, I discovered The Museum of Uncut Funk and their exhibit highlighting black cartoons of the 70s. The museum also had a traveling exhibit of coins featuring African-Americans. I had never heard of African-Americans on money, neither had my professors and very little was offered on the topic outside of the museum and a two part article on Coinweek.com. Encouraged by my professors, I wrote an article and produced a radio documentary that gave a broad overview of the history and future of African-Americans on U.S. currency. It not only felt incomplete, it was incomplete. Coins are meant to be seen and experienced. It wasn’t enough to discuss the coins. Readers needed to be able to see the coins and understand a bit of history behind the person, place or event represented on the coin. This notion evolved into designing a website for exploration. Black Money takes us into the coin exhibit For the Love of Money which at the time was housed in the Museum of Finance in New York City. The curator shares her stories of collecting coins while we get a view of the coins and the exhibit. More importantly, Black Money is an interactive site that allows the curious to click, learn and explore. iii Table of Contents Acknowledgements ii Abstract iii Black Money Radio Documentary 01 Black Money Article 04 The Discovery of Black Money 05 Black Money Coin Catalog 10 Summary 22 References 23 BLACK MONEY RADIO DOCUMENTARY RADIO TRANSCRIPT Title: Black Money Runtime: 4:20 Fade up on Pink Floyd Money Narrator: In April 2016, the U.S. Treasury announced a new look for our money. <bite 1 news soundbite “We’re back with breaking news and in the past few minutes we have learned that abolitionist Harriet Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson on the face of the 20 dollar bill. > Fade up on Pink Floyd Money Narrator: Little do most people know black faces on money is nothing new at least not on coins. Fade up on the Ojays For the Love of Money The Museum of UnCut Funk is an online collection of art that celebrates and preserves African American culture. “For the Love of Money: Blacks on US Currency” is their newest exhibit and it’s devoted to black money. Pamela Thomas, co-curator of the exhibit, said this about the announcement of the Harriet Tubman. Thomas: I think I was in a state of shock because I couldn’t believe it. 1 Wilkins: I thought that it was amazing. You know, really groundbreaking and really transformative in the sense of a different type of person altogether to be honored on currency. Narrator: Judge Robert Wilkins served on the Presidential commission that planned the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture. Fade up on The Money Song from Cabaret Narrator: But not everyone was happy about this announcement. < from msnbc – “The House Rules Committee quickly stopping a Tea Party congressman’s attempt to keep Harriet Tubman off the 20 dollar bill. Iowa’s Steve King filed an amendment Tuesday blocking Treasury spending for a redesign of the bill. King is quoted as saying it is both racist and sexist.” > Narrator: Judge Wilkins counters. Wilkins: There’s nothing that’s set in stone anywhere that the money had to have any particular person on it or that it can’t change or that it has to stay the same. There’s certainly no reason for anyone to think that Harriet Tubman is not worthy. Narrator: But let’s go back, to when it all started . Charles Morgan is editor of CoinWeek.com, one of the largest coin collecting websites in the U.S. Morgan: The first coin that was publically known that was struck with an African- American likeness was the 1946 Booker T. Washington half-dollar. Now this coin wasn’t made for circulation so it wasn’t a coin that people typically would spend. But it was a coin that was made for a collector and it was sold at a price above the face value of the coin. Fade up on Culture Club Black Money Narrator: Though much of the Black Money is commemorative, it is still legal U.S. currency and must be approved by the government. Loreen Williamson, co-curator of the Museum of Uncut Funk, explains. Williamson: It’s actual legislation, you know, that has to start in the House or the Senate and it’s gotta be approved by 2/3 rds of Congress, 2/3 rds of the Senate and then its legislation that actually gets signed by a sitting President. Narrator: And just what are these coins worth? 2 Williamson: The Marian Anderson gold medallion, the Louis Armstrong gold medallion those have some value to it. But the other ones start to valuable as they get older and they’re harder to find. Marian Anderson is kinda hard to find because it was done in 1978. Morgan: For the longest time the 1997 Jackie Robinson gold uncirculated coin was the most expensive modern commemorative gold coin because it didn’t sell that well. And what happens with coin collectors when something sells really well and is very popular people get disinterested in owning them after a while. It’s the thing that nobody wanted the minute they’re not available anymore then people realize they missed a great opportunity. Narrator: If you’ve never heard or seen any of this black money, don’t feel slighted. Pamela Thomas curator of the museum says even she did know. Thomas: It was the first time I had experienced a black memorabilia show, so I didn’t know what to expect. There was this coin of Booker T. Washington and it brought back all of these memories of living with my grandparents and they collected all of these coins with JFK on them. I couldn’t believe there was someone black on U. S. currency. Fade up on Pink Floyd Money Narrator: Most of the black money is still available via the U.S. Mint or on EBay. The Marian Anderson coin may set you back $900, but when the Tubman bill is released in 2020, black money may be worth its weight in gold. Fade out on Pink Floyd Money 3 BLACK MONEY ARTICLE 4 <end article> THE DISCOVERY OF BLACK MONEY 5 VIDEO TRANSCRIPT Interview with Loreen Williamson Opening of “For the Love of Money” exhibit Location: Museum of American Finance – NY, NY Date: February 22, 2017 Runtime: 41seconds Williamson: It came to be really with just the discovery of Booker T. Washington on the silver half dollar. We had no idea there were black people on money. And then that lead to the discovery of Booker T. Washington/George Washington Carver and then it just kinda grew from there. We spent time trying to research and get our hands on every coin and medal and medallion we could find. And when we thought we had them all we found we didn’t and it just kinda grew to a collection of all of the black people we found that were represented on U.S. currency. AUDIO ROLL OVER AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Booker T. Washington coin Text: Booker T Washington received a commemorative coin in 1946. The first African American to be honored in this way, revenue from his coin was meant to restore his childhood home. Audio: Runtime: 11 seconds It was actually instigated by an African-American entrepreneur who thought that the coin would be so popular in the black community that they would sell out – over a million of these. photo courtesy of the U.S. Mint voice of Charles Morgan Coinweek.com 6 Washington/Carver coin Text: Unsold Washington coins were returned, melted down and turned into the Booker T Washington /George Washington Carver coin also meant to make money for charity. Audio: Runtime: 18 seconds The stated purpose of doing them was to sell money to be able to fund memorials to them. So they’d be able to save Booker T Washington’s boyhood home and George Washington Carver’s home. So they were supposed to be sold and the money used for that charitable purpose. photo courtesy of the U.S. Mint voice of Loreen Williamson co-curator of the Museum of Uncut Funk Little Rock Nine coin Text: The Little Rock Nine coin honors the brave African-American students who fought desegregation. In 1957,they braved protestors and the National Guard to be the first blacks to attend Little Rock Central High. Audio: Runtime: 31seconds You have the Little Rock Desegregation dollar coin which celebrated the 50 th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine. It’s an interesting coin for a couple of reasons. The first one is I think the coin if you see it the faces of the children are not depicted in the coin. It’s their little thinly legged as they’re walking to school. Of course they were escorted by the army and it was a very tense very dangerous situation. Amazingly, everyone of these nine children had successful, influential careers. photo courtesy of the U.S. Mint voice of Charles Morgan Coinweek.com Marian Anderson coin Text: Famed Opera singer Marian Anderson crossed color lines. Though she was unable to use the bathroom at the opera house, internationally she was a superstar. She is slated to be on the back of the $5 bill. Audio: Runtime: 15 seconds The Marian Anderson gold medallion, the Louis Armstrong gold medallion have some value to it. But the others ones start to become valuable as they become older and they’re harder to find. The Marian Anderson is harder to find because it was done in 1978. photo courtesy of the U.S. Mint voice of Loreen Williamson co-curator of the Museum of Uncut Funk 7 Jackie Robinson Text: Jackie Robinson was the first African-American to play major league baseball during a time when many didn't think negroes and whites should play in the same league on the same field. Audio: Runtime: 39seconds For the longest time the 1997 Jackie Robinson “50 th Anniversary of Breaking the Color Barrier” gold uncirculated coin was the most expensive modern commemorative gold coin because it didn’t sell that well. And what happens with coin collectors is this strange thing. When something sells really well and is really popular, they make a lot of them and people say eh and they get disinterested in owning them after a while. It’s the thing that nobody wanted, the minute they aren’t available anymore people realize they missed a great opportunity or if they bought it they realize they got a great coin. photo courtesy of the U.S. Mint voice of Charles Morgan Coinweek.com CELEBRATING MARIAN ANDERSON VIDEO TRANSCRIPT Interview with Loreen Williamson Opening of “For the Love of Money” exhibit Location: Museum of American Finance – NY, NY Date: February 22, 2017 Runtime: 1 minute 15seconds Fade up on Black Money logo <bite 1 news soundbite “Genius draws no color lines. And so it is fitting that Marian Anderson should raise her voice in tribute to the noble Lincoln who mankind will ever honor”> Marian Anderson singing “My Country Tis of Thee” at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial. 8 Williamson: We’re so excited about Harriet Tubman and Marian Anderson who I think is probably the most represented black American on currency because she was the first black person to receive a congressional gold medal, so she was the first black person to be represented on a commemorative bronze medal. She was one of two black Americans in the first to be featured on a commemorative medallion. Marian Anderson has also been featured on a savings bond, which I did not know along with Martin Luther King. And now will be featured on paper currency. So she’s been very well commemorated for her contributions to black history. THE OBAMA COINS VIDEO TRANSCRIPT Interview with Loreen Williamson Opening of “For the Love of Money” exhibit Location: Museum of American Finance – NY, NY Date: February 22, 2017 Runtime: 44 seconds Williamson: Every outgoing President is presented with medals. So they get a medal for each term of their presidency. Since Barak served two terms, he has a first term medal and a second term medal. Beautiful portraits of him on the front of the medal. Really important quotes to him on the back of the medal with his signature and the dates of his inaugurations on the back. We were very happy to add them to the collection. Again, it kinda helps the collection come full circle. Cause I think more than anything, Barak Obama had a real sense of history and an understanding of how those who came before paved the way for him. 9 BLACK MONEY COIN CATALOG Am I Not A Man 1837 Anti-Slavery Token In 1837 and 1838 Am I Not a Man and Am I Not a Woman were released. Anti-slavery coins were made popular in Britain. These tokens supported both the abolishment of slavery and women's rights. Am I Not A Woman 1838 Anti-Slavery Token The Am I Not a Woman and a Sister coin was more popular than the male coin. However, Am I Not a Man and a Brother is so rare collectors believe there are only 4 in existence. Booker T Washington Educator 1946 Silver Half Dollar Booker T Washington received a commemorative coin in 1946. An educator, he was one of the foremost African-American leaders of his time. Born into slavery, Washington went on to found what later became Tuskegee University in 1881. 10 Booker T/Washington Carver Educator and Inventor 1947 Silver Half Dollar Friends in real life, Booker T Washington and George Washington Carver shared a commemorative coin. Carver a prominent scientist and inventor are most famous for developing hundreds of uses for the peanut. His relationship with Booker T Washington began after he received his Masters and was hired to teach agriculture at Tuskegee. Marian Anderson Opera Singer 1978 Bronze Medal Famed Opera singer Marian Anderson crossed color lines. Though she was unable to use the bathroom at the opera house, internationally she was a superstar who will be honored again in 2020. She is slated to be on the back of the $5 bill. Marian Anderson Opera Singer 1980 Gold Medallion One of Marian Anderson's many triumphs was singing at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939. Despite singing for President Roosevelt at the White House, Anderson was denied the right to perform at Constitution Hall. With a push from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, history was made. 11 Joe Louis Boxer 1982 Gold Medallion Known as the Brown Bomber, Joe Louis was reining heavy weight champion from 1937 - 1949. During a time when African-Americans still had to use separate bathrooms, Joe Louis became a national hero after he knocked out German boxer, Max Schmeling in the first round. Louis Armstrong Musician 1982 Gold Medallion A jazz legend, Louis Armstrong made the trumpet cool. A native of New Orleans, some consider him the first African-American artist to cross over into mainstream. His hits include What a Wonderful World, When the Saints Go Marching In and Hello Dolly, which won him a Grammy. Satchmo, as he was called, is in both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame. Roy Wilkins Civil Rights Activist 1984 Bronze Medal Highly revered as a civil rights activist, Roy Wilkins was a leader within the National Association of Color People. During his time with the NAACP, he fought for Brown vs. Board of Education, the Civil Rights act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. He believed in peaceful protest as a means to gain civil rights and was honored with a coin for his lifelong commitment to fighting for peace, justice and equality. 12 Jesse Owens Track and Field athlete 1988 Bronze Medal A 4 time Olympic gold medalist in Track and Field, Jesse Owens broke a U.S. record. In 1936, he was the first in Track and Field to win 4 medals in a single Olympics. This victory would not be duplicated until 1986 with Carl Lewis. Owens success was met with mixed feelings as members of the NAACP were encouraging African-American athletes to boycott the Berlin Summer Olympics. General Colin Powell Secretary of State 1991 Bronze Medal The son of Jamaican immigrants, General Colin Powell rose from the ranks to become a four-star general in the U.S. Army. A 35-year veteran, he was appointed Secretary of State by George W. Bush in 2001. The first African-American ever to hold the office, Powell was also the first and only African-American to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Jackie Robinson Baseball Hall of Fame 1997 $5 Gold Coin Second baseman, Jackie Robinson, was the first African American to play major league baseball. In 1947, he made history when he walked onto the field as a Brooklyn Dodger. It's been 70 years since that historic moment, but the LA Dodgers still honor him with Jackie Robinson day. 13 Jackie Robinson Baseball Hall of Fame 1997 Silver Dollar Jackie Robinson Day is a big deal for the Dodgers. Players for both teams wear Jackie Robinson's number 42. In honor of the 70th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson joining the MLB a statue of Jackie was erected at Dodger Stadium. Bessie Coleman Pilot 1998 Brass Concept Coin An American Aviator, Bessie Coleman has the distinct honor of many firsts. She was the first African American woman and the first Native American woman to hold a pilot's license. She was also the first African American woman to get an international pilot's license. And she was no ordinary pilot; Coleman captured crowds with her figure 8 loops. Bessie Coleman Pilot 1998 Brass Concept Coin The Bessie Coleman commemorative coins were just concept pieces. Not all proposed coins make it through the legislation process and get approved. Both the silver and brass Bessie Coleman coins were presented but failed to get congressional approval. 14 Black Revolutionary War Patriots Historical Moment 1998 Silver Dollar Crispus Attucks' face dons this coin. He was 1 of 5000 African-Americans who fought against the British in the American Revolutionary War. Believed to be the first American killed in the Boston Massacre, Attucks' represents the African-Americans who took up arms to fight for a chance at freedom. Nelson Mandela Leader 1998 Bronze Medal After spending 27 years in prison, Mandela went on to become President of South Africa and bring an end to apartheid. The first black president of the country, he was not only a revolutionary, but also a humanitarian known to promote peace and unity for all. Rosa Parks Civil Rights Activist 1999 Bronze Medal Considered the Mother of the Freedom Movement, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man. This wasn't the first time Parks had defied the bus laws, but this time the climate was ripe for change. Her one act was the genesis for a 13-month bus boycott in Montgomery, which was lead by Martin Luther King Jr. 15 Little Rock Nine Historic Moment 1999 In 1954, Brown v Board of Education called school segregation unconstitutional. Three years later no black student in Arkansas dared attend an all white school until the Little Rock Nine enrolled at Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Despite the law, Arkansas governor sent the National Guard Central High to prevent the 9 students from attending. He claimed it was to protect them from the angry mob. President Eisenhower eventually intervened. New Jersey State Historic Moment 1999 Quarter Considered the first circulated coin to have an African American on it, the New Jersey quarter depicts George Washington crossing the Delaware. Rowing the boat with Washington and his men was a slave. The slave represented the many Blacks who fought in the war. Missouri State Historic Moment 2003 Quarter Also part of the quarter series, the Missouri coin was the second circulated coin to depict a black person. Again this person was a slave. The Missouri quarter shows Lois and Clark on an expedition accompanied by their slave, York. 16 Dr. Dorothy Height Activist 2004 Bronze Medal In her 98 years alive, Dorothy Height went from seeing women and blacks having minimal rights to forging the way for the freedoms we now enjoy. In the 60s, She fought along side Dr. King and the Big Six during civil rights, but was still look upon as just a woman. In the 70s, she helped form the National Women's Political Caucus with Gloria Steinem, Shirley Chisholm and Betty Friedan. Brown v. Board of Education Historical Moment 2004 Bronze Medal In 1954, it was declared unconstitutional to have separate schools for black and white students. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that school segregation violated the 14th Amendment, which provides equal protection under the law. Brown was the parent of a child in Topeka; Kansas who was denied access to a white public school and chose to file a class action suit. Jackie Robinson Baseball Hall of Fame 2005 Bronze Medal For each congressional medal received, there is a commemorative coin that is approved and minted. President Bush presented Jackie Robinson's widow with this award based on his achievements in baseball and his positive influence on the advancement of Civil Rights. 17 Tuskegee Airmen Historic Moment 2007 Bronze Medal An all black group of aviators who served in World War II, they were the Army's first African-American military aviators. Prior to the 40s, blacks were rejected as military pilots. The Tuskegee airmen were all educated at Tuskegee Institute and the term includes not only pilots and bombardiers, but also the supporting staff. Little Rock Central High Desegregation Historic Moment 2007 Silver Dollar Considered a defining moment in Civil Rights History, the Little Rock Nine commemorative coin depicts the legs of the 9 students being escorted by a solider. The coin was released for the 50th Anniversary of school desegregation with proceeds going to fund Little Rock Central High School visitors center. Senator Edward William Brooke III Politician 2008 Bronze Medal In 1962, he became the first African-American to become a state attorney general in any state. A Massachusetts Republican, in 1966, Brooke went on to beat former MA governor Peabody for his first of two terms in the Senate. He was first African-American to serve in the U.S. Senate. 18 Duke Ellington Jazz Musician 2009 DC Quarter Jazz legend Duke Ellington is the first African-American to be featured on a circulated coin alone. Both the Missouri and New Jersey coins feature slaves with their iconic masters. Duke Ellington is featured alone with his piano on the back of the District of Columbia quarter. Montford Point Marines Historic Moment 2011 Bronze Medal When President Roosevelt passed an executive order that read banning discriminatory employment practices by Federal agencies and all unions and companies engaged in war- related work, it opened the door for the first African-Americans to join the U.S. Marines. Currently on Camp Johnson there's a museum to the Montford Point Marines equipped with much of the artillery used in battle. Girl Scouts Historic Moment 2013 Silver Dollar Celebrating 100 years of the girl scout organization, the front of the commemorative coin represents diversity in age and race. The 3 ladies represent Courage, Confidence, Character the core tenets of the organization. 19 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing Historic Moment 2013 Bronze Medal 16th Street Baptist Church had long been a meeting place for local civil rights activist and the meeting place for local marches. On September 15, 1963 it became the catalyst for The Movement that Changed the World. The church was bombed before Sunday school killing 4 little black girls. This bronze commemorative coin depicts the silhouettes of the 4 girls on the front and 16th Street Baptist church on the back. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr./Coretta Scott King Civil Rights Activists 2013 Bronze Medal Considered the first family of the Civil Rights Movement, this bronze coin is inscribed with the words For their service to humanity and has the images of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King on the front. Civil Rights Act of 1964 Historic Moment 2014 Silver Dollar The release of this coin corresponds with the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which banned job discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. First initiated by President Kennedy the Civil Rights Act also outlawed segregation. The debate to pass this legislation is considered one of the longest in the history of Congress. Lyndon B. Johnson urged Congress to pass it as a final tribute to the recently assassinated JFK. 20 Selma to Montgomery March Historic Moment 2015 Bronze Medal The 54-mile march from Selma to Montgomery was one of 3 marches that lead to voting rights for African Americans. This coin depicts protestors walking arm in arm as they try to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Lead by Dr. King, this was a peaceful march, but the protestors were met by armed sheriffs and deputized citizens with a scene so violent it was dubbed Bloody Sunday. Frederick Douglass National Historic Site Abolitionist 2017 Quarter He escaped slavery at age 20 and his writings became a narrative for the slaves of the time. Fredrick Douglass fought against slavery and Jim Crow laws and is considered one of the most important voices of his time. The Fredrick Douglass quarter features him on the back of the quarter writing outside of his D.C home. President Barack Obama President 2017 Presidential Bronze Medal The Mint issues each U.S. President a coin at the end of his or her presidency for each term. There were so many fake Barack Obama coins manufactured during his 8 years in office, the U.S. Mint issued an advisory to consumers that these coins were not produced by the mint, not legal currency, not of any long term value and the manufacturers were in essence defacing money. The official Obama coins are available on the U.S Mint's website starting at $6.95. 21 SUMMARY Thesis Audio: https://soundcloud.com/user-250026693/aperrin-black-money-radio “For the Love of Money: Blacks on US Currency” has a yearlong exhibit on Wall Street at the Museum of American Finance. Clearly, mainstream America has become as intrigued by this discovery as I. Fueling this interest is the US Treasury’s decision to make changes to existing currency. Though the discussion about redesigning money began prior to President Obama, many wondered what a Trump presidency would mean to the plans to implement the new currency. We may have our answer. During my research for this project, treasury.gov was a regular resource. They had created special websites that thoroughly explained the upcoming plans. The sites displayed the pictures they would be using on the bills and the historical significance. All of those websites are gone. When I click on the links, there is a 404 error – page not found. The official press release issued by Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew remains on the site; most of the links for more information lead to a “page not found” message or back to the homepage of the US Treasury site. Are we really surprised? After the treasury announced its plans, Iowa Republican Representative, Steve King, attempted to block the decision by filing an amendment that would cut off funds to redesign the new bills. Perhaps America isn’t quite ready for Black Money. I suppose we will see come 2020. 22 REFERENCES A&E Television Network. “Betty Friedan Biography.com.” Biography.com. https://www.biography.com/people/betty-friedan-9302633(accessed March 12, 2017). A&E Television Network. “Birmingham Church Bombing.” History.com. http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/birmingham-church-bombing (accessed March 17, 2017). A&E Television Network. “Civil Rights Act.” History.com. http://www.history.com/topics/black- history/civil-rights-act (accessed March 03, 2017). A&E Television Network. “Dorothy Height Biography.com.” Biography.com. https://www.biography.com/people/dorothy-height-40743(accessed March 12, 2017). A&E Television Network. “Frederick Douglass.” History.com. http://www.history.com/topics/black- history/frederick-douglass (accessed March 1, 2017). Associated Press Staff. “Coin Recognizes Little Rock Nine and the Quest for Integration.” WashingtonPost.com. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/19/AR2007051901031.html (accessed March 10, 2017). Associated Press Staff. “Coin to Commemorate School Desegregation.” NYDailyNews.com. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/coin-commemorate-school-desegregation-article-1.252733 (accessed March 12, 2017). Associated Press Staff. “Commemorative Coin to Honor Tuskegee Airman site.” WSFA.com http://www.wsfa.com/story/11095545/commemorative-coin-to-honor-tuskegee-airmen-site (accessed March 20, 2017). Associated Press Staff. “D.C. celebrates Duke Ellington quarter release.” NBCNews.com. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/29372556/ns/business-us_business/t/dc-celebrates-duke-ellington-quarter- release/#.WSuHDTPMyRs (accessed October 10, 2016). Berry, Sean. “Montford Point Marines Honored with Memorial.” Marines.mil. http://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/883285/montford-point-marines-honored-with- memorial/ (accessed March 3, 2017). CoinNews Media Group. “Obama “Commemorative Coins” Advisory Issued by US Mint.” Coinnews.net. http://www.coinnews.net/2008/12/02/obama-commemorative-coins-advisory-issued-by-us-mint-4572/ (accessed March 3, 2017). Feeney, Mark. “Edward W. Brooke, who broke down barriers, dies at 95.” BostonGlobe.com. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/01/04/edward-brooke-first-african-american-elected-senate- since-reconstruction-dies/oRou5Pz1NyxIiX1ExZ9w6K/story.html (accessed March 20, 2017). Gilkes, Paul. “Girl Scouts Will Get No Common Surcharges.” Coinworld.com. http://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/2014/01/girl-scouts-will-get-no-commem-surcharges.all.html (accessed March 25, 2017). 23 Huetteman, Emmarie. “Congressman Moves to Block Harriet Tubman’s Placement on $20 Bill.” NYTimes.com. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/22/us/politics/congressman-tries-to-block-harriet- tubman-on-20-dollar-bill.html (accessed October 10, 2016). McBride, Alex. “Landmark Cases – Brown v Board of Education.” PBS.org. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_brown.html (accessed March 15, 2017). Modern Commemoratives. “2017 Little Rock Silver Dollar.” Modern Commemoratives.com http://moderncommemoratives.com/2007-little-rock-silver-dollar/ Morgan, Charles. Interview by author. November 2, 2016. Morgan, Charles, and Hubert Walker. “African-Americans on US Coins: Representation & Discovery(Part 1).” Coinweek.com. http://www.coinweek.com/coins/commemoratives/african-americans-on-us-coins- representation-and-discovery-part-1/ (accessed October 7, 2016). Morgan, Charles, and Hubert Walker. “African-Americans on US Coins: Modern Commemoratives (Part 2).” Coinweek.com. http://www.coinweek.com/coins/commemoratives/african-americans-on-us-coins- modern-commemoratives-part-2/ (accessed October 7, 2016). Museum of American Finance. “For the Love of Money: Blacks on US Currency.” Moaf.org. https://www.moaf.org/exhibits (accessed March 1, 2017). Museum of Uncut Funk. “Black Coins and Medals Collections – Coins.” MuseumOfUncutFunk.com. http://museumofuncutfunk.com/2011/10/04/black-coin-and-medals-collection/(accessed October 1, 2016). Museum of Uncut Funk. “Black Coins and Medals Collections – Medals and Medallions.” MuseumOfUncutFunk.com. http://museumofuncutfunk.com/2011/10/04/black-coins-and-medals- collection-medals-and-medallions/(accessed October 1, 2016). Museum of Uncut Funk. “For the Love of Money: Blacks on US Currency Exhibition.” MuseumOfUncutFunk.com. http://museumofuncutfunk.com/2015/10/24/for-the-love-of-money-blacks-on- u-s-currency-panel-exhibition/(accessed October 1, 2016). National Geographic Society. “1957: Armed Escort for Little Rock Nine.” NationalGeographic.org. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/thisday/sep24/armed-escort-little-rock-nine/ (accessed March 10, 2017). Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. “Little Rock Nine Commemorative.” NGCcoin.com. https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/831/(accessed March 7, 2017). Thomas, Pamela. Interview by author. November 11, 2016. Tuskegee Airman Inc. “Tuskegee Airmen History.” Tuskegeeairmen.org. http://tuskegeeairmen.org (accessed March 12, 2017). United States Department of States. “Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Colin Luther Powell.” History.state.gov. https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/powell-colin-luther (accessed October 10, 2016). United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. “Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” eeoc.gov https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/titlevii.cfm (accessed March 10, 2017). 24 United States Mint. “16 th Street Baptist Church Bombing Victims Bronze Medal 3 Inch.” USMint.gov. https://catalog.usmint.gov/16th-street-baptist-church-bombing-victims-bronze-medal-3-inch-BC1.html (accessed March 10, 2017). United States Mint. “Civil Rights Act of 1964 Silver Dollar.” USMint.gov. https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-medal-programs/commemorative-coins/civil-rights-act-of-1964 (accessed March 5, 2017). United States Mint. “Congressional Gold Medal Honors Jackie Robinson.” USMint.gov. https://www.usmint.gov/news/press-releases/20050302-congressional-gold-medal-honors-jackie-robinson (accessed October 13, 2016). United States Mint. “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King Bronze Medal 3 Inch.” USMint.gov. https://catalog.usmint.gov/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-coretta-scott-king-bronze-medal-3-inch- 912.html (accessed October 12, 2016). United States Mint. “Frederick Douglass National Historic Site 2017 Quarter, 3-Coin Set.” USMint.gov. https://catalog.usmint.gov/frederick-douglass-national-historic-site-2017-quarter-3-coin-set-17AE.html (accessed March 10, 2017). United States Mint. “Montford Point Marines Bronze Medal 3 Inch.” USMint.gov. https://catalog.usmint.gov/montford-point-marines-bronze-medal-3-inch-930.html (accessed March 17, 2017). United States Senate. “Landmark Legislation: The Civil Rights Act of 1964.” Senate.gov. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/CivilRightsAct1964.htm (accessed March 10, 2017). United States Treasury Department. “New $10 bill honors past, looks to future.” Treasury.gov. https://modernmoney.treasury.gov/news/new-10-bill-honors-past-looks-future-opposing-view-usa-today (accessed October 10, 2016). United States Treasury Department. “The big change to the new $10 bill that no one’s talking about.” Treasury.gov. https://modernmoney.treasury.gov/news/big-change-new-10-bill-no-one’s-talking-about- washington-post (accessed October 10, 2016). United States Treasury Department. “The New 10.” MoneyFactory.gov. https://www.thenew10.treasury.gov/new-notes (accessed October 10, 2016). United States Treasury Department. “Treasury Secretary Lew Announces Front of New $20 to Feature Harriet Tubman, Lays Out Plans for New $20, $10 and $5.” Treasury.gov. https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0436.aspx (accessed October 03, 2016). United States Treasury Department. “Whom would you like to see on new $10 bill?” Treasury.gov. https://modernmoney.treasury.gov/news/whom-would-you-see-new-10-bill-miss-usa-finalists-suggest- names-oprah-harriet-tubman (accessed October 03, 2016). Unser, Darren. “Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King Medal.” CoinNews.net http://www.coinnews.net/2014/06/26/martin-luther-king-jr-and-coretta-scott-king-medal/ (accessed October 10, 2016). Wilkins, Robert L. Interview by author. November 20, 2016. Williamson, Loreen. Interview by author. September 15, 2016, October 30, 2016 and February 22, 2017. 25
Abstract (if available)
Abstract
The discovery of Black Money was an accident. While researching the history of African-Americans in cartoons, I discovered The Museum of Uncut Funk and their exhibit highlighting black cartoons of the 70s. The museum also had a traveling exhibit of coins featuring African-Americans. I had never heard of African-Americans on money, neither had my professors and very little was offered on the topic outside of the museum and a two part article on Coinweek.com. ❧ Encouraged by my professors, I wrote an article and produced a radio documentary that gave a broad overview of the history and future of African-Americans on U.S. currency. It not only felt incomplete, it was incomplete. Coins are meant to be seen and experienced. It wasn’t enough to discuss the coins. Readers needed to be able to see the coins and understand a bit of history behind the person, place or event represented on the coin. This notion evolved into designing a website for exploration. ❧ Black Money takes us into the coin exhibit For the Love of Money which at the time was housed in the Museum of Finance in New York City. The curator shares her stories of collecting coins while we get a view of the coins and the exhibit. More importantly, Black Money is an interactive site that allows the curious to click, learn and explore.
Linked assets
University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses
Conceptually similar
PDF
The road to Hopscotch: an exploration of identity with Los Angeles' mobile opera
PDF
‘794,880 minutes’: How do you measure the COVID-19 Broadway shutdown?
PDF
Finding home: the Los Angeles River
PDF
The world according to Eric: media representation of African Americans
PDF
The changing face of arts journalism: an embedding experiment with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
PDF
The evolution of Black women journalists' hair in the news: how the CROWN Act has changed Black hair forever
PDF
The relevant art museum: views on the role of a 21st century museum
PDF
Surviving the pipeline: the truth behind the numbers in south LA’s juvenile criminal justice system
Asset Metadata
Creator
Perrin, Angelique
(author)
Core Title
Black money: the history of African-Americans represented on U.S. currency
School
Annenberg School for Communication
Degree
Master of Arts
Degree Program
Specialized Journalism
Publication Date
09/15/2017
Defense Date
09/14/2017
Publisher
University of Southern California
(original),
University of Southern California. Libraries
(digital)
Tag
Coinweek,commemorative coins,For the love of money,Harriet Tubman 20,Museum of Finance,Museum of Uncut Funk,OAI-PMH Harvest,President Obama coins,U.S Treasury
Language
English
Contributor
Electronically uploaded by the author
(provenance)
Advisor
Pecot-Hebert, Lisa (
committee chair
), Anawalt, Sasha (
committee member
), Bustamante, Peggy (
committee member
)
Creator Email
angelique.perrin@gmail.com,aperrin@usc.edu
Permanent Link (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c40-428962
Unique identifier
UC11265234
Identifier
etd-PerrinAnge-5723.pdf (filename),usctheses-c40-428962 (legacy record id)
Legacy Identifier
etd-PerrinAnge-5723.pdf
Dmrecord
428962
Document Type
Thesis
Rights
Perrin, Angelique
Type
texts
Source
University of Southern California
(contributing entity),
University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses
(collection)
Access Conditions
The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the a...
Repository Name
University of Southern California Digital Library
Repository Location
USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 2810, 3434 South Grand Avenue, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90089-2810, USA
Tags
Coinweek
commemorative coins
For the love of money
Harriet Tubman 20
Museum of Finance
Museum of Uncut Funk
President Obama coins
U.S Treasury