Airbnb Apologizes For Allowing ‘Slave Cabin’ To Be Rented
Airbnb has issued an apology for listing what was once an “1830s slave cabin” on its site as a holiday destination.
The property, located in Greenville, Mississippi, was listed rather distastefully as “The Panther Burn Cottage at Belmont Plantation.” In its former life, it housed over 80 slaves.
The listing itself specifies that the quarters are a slave cabin. However, the insides have been completely modernized and revamped with all the fixings of a modern-day bed and breakfast—taking away all historical and cultural significance of the structure and replacing it with fancy linen and amenities to lure vacationers.
The cabin was called out by a TikToker, who cited that slavery is continuously overlooked in the country is now even being promoted as a fun getaway.
@lawyerwynton #airbnb this is not ok. #history #civilrights #americanhistory
♬ Blade Runner 2049 - Synthwave Goose
Even more appalling was the listing’s 4.97/5 rating and the amount of praise it was receiving from previous guests, many of whom described the place as lovely and having a beautiful sunset.
In an interview with The Washington Post, the owner, Brad Hauser, said that he blames the previous owner for saying that the vacation spot once housed slaves when it was also a doctor’s office. He went on to conclude that he had no intention of renting out the property anymore.
Airbnb has taken steps to remedy the situation by deleting the listing off its platform and issuing a statement via Insider saying apologizing for any grief caused and for not taking action sooner.
[via The Washington Post and The Byte, cover photo 119609785 © Paul Funk | Dreamstime.com]
