What do Jonathan Majors, Bill Ackman, and Abrazo Holmes have in common? All three have recently co-opted black historical figures and used their names in vain. In the words of Will Smith at the 2022 Academy Awards: Don't put our hero's name in your mouth.
In the latest atrocity, design firm Abrazo Homes named one of its designs for an adobe ranch house outside Albuquerque, New Mexico, after Harriet Tubman. Yes, the woman known as the subway conductor who helped thousands of enslaved black people escape.
“Like Harriet Tubman, an icon of American courage and freedom, this home stands out from the crowd,” the Zillow home listing states. The listing also noted an “'entertainer's' kitchen with a bar top between the kitchen and the great room.”
As the New York Times aptly noted, “The person for whom this design is named has likely never set foot in New Mexico.”
The company appears to have recognized the problem after its layout raised some eyebrows. They removed that listing, but since everything on the internet lives forever, you can view the original post here, courtesy of the Wayback Machine.
“By Monday, the property had received nearly 80,000 page views, more than three times the views of similar properties in the area,” the Daily Mail wrote.
The backlash was immediate, and people were quick to criticize the homebuilder.
One said with a wry smile, “This is why we hire real copywriters.''
Notably, many of Abrazo Homes' floor plans feature names such as The Marion, The Stout, and The IPA.
But Harriet's boldness wasn't limited to her. The company also named another design after Anne Frank, the World War II heroine who hid from the Nazis before being killed in a concentration camp.
The now edited caption reads: “In her diary, Anne Frank spoke about how she saw trees as they changed with the seasons…In her honor, we thought it would be fitting for Anne herself as well.'' “Anne Plan was designed to maximize the enjoyment of the scenery.”
Brian McCarthy, one of the co-founders of Abrazo Homes, told the New York Times, “When we started 14 years ago, we wanted to “recognize our place in history'' by designing floorplans based on influential women. I decided to give it a name.”
“We recognize that the language used in the plan description is insufficient and understands that it may be perceived as insensitive and lacking in awareness,” McCarthy said. He went on to add:[i]It is unfortunate that this oversight undermined our sincere efforts to honor some of history's greatest women. ”
