Re-envisioning US Paper Currency within Technical Communications through Ethical Frameworks

Abstract

US paper currency iconography is archaic and unethical considering yesterday’s history and today’s demographics. Non-representation of minorities on US paper currency obtusely affects the way we perceive language and how we access power culturally and politically, for current cultural contexts of said paper currency overtly omit the marginalized. Paper currency may not initially appear to belong in the TC field, but said topic is literary because it showcases its own narrative. Being that America has a large dichotomy between minority and mainstream groups, it’s important to explain the paper currency phenomenon through grounded scholarship and provide examples of social disturbances and pedagogical heuristic models to enact equitable change for a better rhetorical path to serve the people.