Key facts
- Sharona Stewart is suing Airbnb and host George Yu Shihfang for alleged racial discrimination.
- Stewart claims the host asked racially based questions and rejected her booking after learning she was Black.
- The listing allegedly described the area as a 'peaceful white neighborhood'.
- Stewart reported the incident and discriminatory language to Airbnb, but her complaint was closed.
- A 2015 study found guests with African-American-sounding names were more likely to have bookings rejected on Airbnb.
Sharona Stewart has filed a federal lawsuit in Georgia against Airbnb host George Yu Shihfang and unnamed property managers, alleging racial discrimination. Stewart claims that after initial cordial messages, Shihfang asked 'racially based questions' and ceased responding once he determined she was a Black woman, ultimately rejecting her reservation request for a six-bedroom property. The lawsuit also alleges that Stewart found language in the listing describing the area as a 'peaceful white neighborhood' and that Airbnb closed her complaint regarding this and the rejected booking without action, allowing the advertisement to remain. Stewart's attorney stated the case aims to challenge racial discrimination on the platform. This incident echoes findings from a 2015 Harvard Business School study, which indicated that guests with African-American-sounding names faced a nearly 10% higher rejection rate for bookings on Airbnb, contributing to prior calls for enhanced safeguards.