#AirbnbWhileBlack highlights the racism in the sharing economy

[SummerMadness]

#AirbnbWhileBlack highlights the racism in the sharing economy

The Airbnb experience can sometimes be deeply challenging for people of color, and they are telling their stories on Twitter as part of a campaign called #AirbnbWhileBlack.

According to a study by Harvard Business Review, people with "African-American sounding names were roughly 16 percent less likely to be accepted [as guests] than their white-sounding counterparts.

Additionally, a separate Harvard Business School study found thatblack hosts received on average 12 percent less money for the rentals.

NPR hosted a Twitter chat centered around the hashtag on Friday in order to discuss the allegations of discrimination by hosts when black people use Airbnb. Potential travelers who use the service backed up the academic findings with their own experiences.

I would post a link to the story, but you know, it's an election year... at least the other links within the story are clean.

 

[Vylo]

#AirbnbWhileBlack highlights the racism in the sharing economy
I would post a link to the story, but you know, it's an election year... at least the other links within the story are clean.

What are the rate of negative reviews on those black renters? If they are breaking the place, that could be a reason.

I've always found people's behavior has a lot more to do with where they come from than their skin color, and black people disproportionately come from inner city areas which breed bad behavior.

I'm willing to bet these results are around 50/50 racism/real demographics.

 

[SummerMadness]

What are the rate of negative reviews on those black renters? If they are breaking the place, that could be a reason.

I've always found people's behavior has a lot more to do with where they come from than their skin color, and black people disproportionately come from inner city areas which breed bad behavior.

I'm willing to bet these results are around 50/50 racism/real demographics.

But the tweets coincide with the study they performed where they demonstrate that black users on airbnb were victims of discrimination. Taking into account the users of airbnb, I wouldn't see a reason for black users to be any worse than white users.

 

[Vylo]

But the tweets coincide with the study they performed where they demonstrate that black users on airbnb were victims of discrimination. Taking into account the users of airbnb, I wouldn't see a reason for black users to be any worse than white users.

Less money, come from worse areas were property destruction is more rampant.

Don't get me wrong, I think racism almost certainly contributes, but I think part of it is demographic difference that are unfavorable to black people due to their social and economic status.

 

[SummerMadness]

Less money, come from worse areas were property destruction is more rampant.

Don't get me wrong, I think racism almost certainly contributes, but I think part of it is demographic difference that are unfavorable to black people due to their social and economic status.

But the study used identical profiles except for names. Changing the name alone would mean that the social and economic profiles are no different. Rather, the issue is the perception. Even if they perceive that African Americans are more likely to commit crimes, that's problematic, as racial prejudice is driving their selection process.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

Interesting. I wonder whether it could be a class issue as well. The link just mentions that the only differing factor used was the renter's name (black names vs white names).

I wonder what the reaction would be if typical low-class white names were used. How would Billy-Bob from Arkansas go at getting a New York loft?

 

[SummerMadness]

Airbnb is for short-term rentals, you're not "getting" a New York loft, you're renting it for several days or a week. However, if there was an effect of class, then black users would be impacted even more negatively. I don't know if this is the point you're making, but the idea that black people of equal class to other users would receive the same treatment as white people of lower economic class demonstrates that racism is still a significant factor.

 

[rambot]

But the tweets coincide with the study they performed where they demonstrate that black users on airbnb were victims of discrimination. Taking into account the users of airbnb, I wouldn't see a reason for black users to be any worse than white users.

Unless they have read the feedback for all guests, I'm not overly keen to say their experience is inherently racist. There are too many factors.
My friends have a place on airbnb. They have rejected people with poor reviews (they don't look at names or skin colour; they want people to stay at their place.....and if they have shown demonstrable trust with others, why not?) and I say good on 'em. If someone has a poor review, well that is the consequence for their poor behavior (assuming the poor review comes from poor behavior). IF you don't like it (shock!) be considerate of other people.

I'm sure there ARE examples of discrimination but I don't think it's a systemic issue yet, really. Or at least, I think more in depth study is required before making blanket statements.

 

[Vylo]

Airbnb is for short-term rentals, you're not "getting" a New York loft, you're renting it for several days or a week. However, if there was an effect of class, then black users would be impacted even more negatively. I don't know if this is the point you're making, but the idea that black people of equal class to other users would receive the same treatment as white people of lower economic class demonstrates that racism is still a significant factor.

I can agree to that. I know people that would never rent to a black person no matter what their social standing. When I try to say the are racist they say "I don't understand". But I do. I've worked soup kitchen's in Trenton. My sister has dealt with crime and police in Newark.

Not every black person is a gangbanger, and not every white person is an upstanding citizen, but it seems too many are willing to draw that line with no other data than skin color needed.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

However, if there was an effect of class, then black users would be impacted even more negatively. I don't know if this is the point you're making, but the idea that black people of equal class to other users would receive the same treatment as white people of lower economic class demonstrates that racism is still a significant factor.

I was curious to know how much of the issue would still be assigned to overt racism versus judgement made on a class basis. How many Airbnb renters are turning down black people because they're black, versus because of perceptions around class based on the name.

If someone used a mainland African name, would they suffer the same fate? How many times would Billy-Bob get turned down versus someone with a "normal" white people's name?

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

I can agree to that. I know people that would never rent to a black person no matter what their social standing. When I try to say the are racist they say "I don't understand".

That's kind of where I was going with my question. How much of this phenomena is people making a class judgement based on a perception that so-called black names are given to lower-class people, versus those racists who just use a name to determine someone's ethnicity and bar them because of it.

 

[SummerMadness]

That's kind of where I was going with my question. How much of this phenomena is people making a class judgement based on a perception that so-called black names are given to lower-class people, versus those racists who just use a name to determine someone's ethnicity and bar them because of it.

As someone that had issues getting places overseas, it is not about class. I just remember that Airbnb requires a picture, which is something I don't like. That's one reason I like Uber and Lyft, there's nothing worse than seeing a taxi driver bypass a fare because of skin color (I've seen it unfold right before my eyes).

 

[Vylo]

As someone that had issues getting places overseas, it is not about class. I just remember that Airbnb requires a picture, which is something I don't like. That's one reason I like Uber and Lyft, there's nothing worse than seeing a taxi driver bypass a fare because of skin color (I've seen it unfold right before my eyes).

I hated the picture thing. I have almost no pictures of myself, so the only one I could find for AirBNB is a picture of me in the skybox of the Willis tower where I like like some kind of coke fiend.

 

[SummerMadness]

I hated the picture thing. I have almost no pictures of myself, so the only one I could find for AirBNB is a picture of me in the skybox of the Willis tower where I like like some kind of coke fiend.

It's supposed to give you the sense of closeness, I think it just makes me think they look different than their picture, like online dating.