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Black Man Gets Told The House Offer Is “Off The Table” Since It’s Cash Only, Proves Them Wrong
Black Man Gets Told The House Offer Is “Off The Table” Since It’s Cash Only, Proves Them Wrong
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Black Man Gets Told The House Offer Is “Off The Table” Since It’s Cash Only, Proves Them Wrong

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“Don’t you ever underestimate a hard-working black man.” Those are the words of Broadway star Robert Hartwell, who bought a house built by slaves back in 1820. The star’s post on social media about the house that he plans to fill with love went viral.

Hartwell also shared how the seller told him that it was a cash-only offer and added, “I’m sure that takes you off the table.” Well, the star proved the seller wrong, said that he feels proud to be a free gay black man, and added that “we are building our own tables.”

Bored Panda has reached out to Hartwell to hear more about his story. Scroll down to see what Hartwell’s gorgeous new house looks like, dear Pandas. And remember to let us know in the comments what you think of the entire situation.

More info: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

RELATED:

    Broadway star Robert Hartwell bought a historic house built by slaves and shared how the seller spoke to him about the purchase

    Image credits: Robert Hartwell

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    Image credits: Robert Hartwell

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    Image credits: Robert Hartwell

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    Image credits: Robert Hartwell

    The Broadway Collective founder’s post got 849k likes, 246k shares, and more than 131k comments on Facebook at the time of writing. Meanwhile, his identical post on Instagram got over 146.5k likes in a day.

    Social media users supported Hartwell and congratulated him on his achievement and for starting a new chapter in his life.

    Among his well-wishers were Hamilton star Ephraim Sykes, Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart, actress Kelli O’Hara, and Mad Men actress Teyonah Parris.

    According to Hartwell, he was overwhelmed with gratitude for all the kind words that his friends and fans shared with him. He also added that he can’t wait to share more about the house renovations in the near future. So if you’re interested in updates, dear Readers, be sure to check out the Broadway star’s Instagram for stories about the house in the near future.

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    Hartwell has appeared in Hello, Dolly!, Motown the Musical, and other productions. He now calls himself an arts education entrepreneur and helps train the next generation of young and aspiring Broadway stars.

    Social media users congratulated Hartwell on starting a new chapter in his life

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    Jonas Grinevičius

    Jonas Grinevičius

    Writer, Senior Writer

    Read more »

    Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

    Read less »
    Jonas Grinevičius

    Jonas Grinevičius

    Writer, Senior Writer

    Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

    Justinas Keturka

    Justinas Keturka

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I'm the Visual Editor at Bored Panda, responsible for ensuring that everything our audience sees is top-notch and well-researched. What I love most about my job? Discovering new things about the world and immersing myself in exceptional photography and art.

    Read less »

    Justinas Keturka

    Justinas Keturka

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I'm the Visual Editor at Bored Panda, responsible for ensuring that everything our audience sees is top-notch and well-researched. What I love most about my job? Discovering new things about the world and immersing myself in exceptional photography and art.

    What do you think ?
    Foxxy (The Original)
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How did the seller know this guy was black seeing as it mentions he called the seller and that is when the seller said that. Unless the seller had heard of him, it was a video call or I am just missing something. It is not like Robert is a stereotypical “black” name like Tyrone.

    Truth Monster
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am guessing timbre of voice or inflection. Some Americanized Black people have a specific inflection and/or dialect called Ebonics. Never heard Hartwell speak, so I don't know if he does. He could have also been using that way of speaking for a negative reaction. he is in theatre, after all. What is more satisfying than to be told you can't have it, than to plonk down the required cash to buy outright?

    Load More Replies...
    Demi Zwaan
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cash only. What does that mean? Do you have to come in with a bag full of hundreds of thousands of dollars? Genuine question, we don’t buy houses with cash here.

    Kenya Rai
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cash nowadays doesn't necessarily refer to printed money anymore. It can also mean a direct deposit. Meaning all money for the house sent to the original owner's account, instead of monthly payments through a bank or something similar.

    Load More Replies...
    Stille20
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is one of those stories that there is a lot of suggestions that race is a major factor, but I don't really think that it is. Like it's trying to put this story in a "relevant" context.

    The Bad Photographer
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would have to ask you if think *any* stories you read where race was a major factor - if race was actually a major factor or if the idea makes you so uncomfortable you deny it in most or all cases. The seller's advertized offer said *nothing* about cash only. Cash only is so incredibly rare that it would push MOST people out of the game so the original offer would have mentioned it or the seller would have had their heads handed to them if a prominent white person had expressed interest but had been told "sorry, cash only." When it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

    Load More Replies...
    Don John
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think you would say " cash only" to anyone who enquires , just to make it known instantly so you dont waste each others time...... race or sexuality isnt an issue...... this is a non-story id say.

    Kathy Baylis
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Somehow I feel Robert is going to do his best to research the names of the slaves who were living with the Russell family while his beautiful house was being built, and not only display their names in it (and pictures if he ever finds any!), but also say their names out loud everywhere so they won’t be forgotten. He just seems like the type of good, kind, gentle, thoughtful person who would honor them that way.

    Danimal
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    all these articles on here with supposed racism. that was a tactless comment from the agent before qualifying the buyer, but come on. thats a 500k-1m house all day depending on the area (didn't see location or price). That id going disqualify most buyers, even wealthy ones, from paying CASH. They get their time wasted often by people coming to look who cannot pay cash. shouldn't of said what they said, but doesn't sound very racist.

    ktdidit
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    cool and stuff but what about a tour?? I want to see the inside!!!

    Jerald
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is an awesome story! Bless his heart!

    Truth Monster
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Does this make you a privileged Millennial....as so few are capable of buying a house?

    Kenya Rai
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ofc it does lol, my broke a*s could never afford something like that even I had to work for the next 30 years for it.

    Load More Replies...
    Zoe Murphy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I SAW HIM ON BROADWAY IN THE 2017 CAST OF HELLO DOLLY AS AN ENSEMBLE!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!! O MY GOSH!!!!!

    Load More Comments
    Foxxy (The Original)
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How did the seller know this guy was black seeing as it mentions he called the seller and that is when the seller said that. Unless the seller had heard of him, it was a video call or I am just missing something. It is not like Robert is a stereotypical “black” name like Tyrone.

    Truth Monster
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am guessing timbre of voice or inflection. Some Americanized Black people have a specific inflection and/or dialect called Ebonics. Never heard Hartwell speak, so I don't know if he does. He could have also been using that way of speaking for a negative reaction. he is in theatre, after all. What is more satisfying than to be told you can't have it, than to plonk down the required cash to buy outright?

    Load More Replies...
    Demi Zwaan
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cash only. What does that mean? Do you have to come in with a bag full of hundreds of thousands of dollars? Genuine question, we don’t buy houses with cash here.

    Kenya Rai
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cash nowadays doesn't necessarily refer to printed money anymore. It can also mean a direct deposit. Meaning all money for the house sent to the original owner's account, instead of monthly payments through a bank or something similar.

    Load More Replies...
    Stille20
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is one of those stories that there is a lot of suggestions that race is a major factor, but I don't really think that it is. Like it's trying to put this story in a "relevant" context.

    The Bad Photographer
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would have to ask you if think *any* stories you read where race was a major factor - if race was actually a major factor or if the idea makes you so uncomfortable you deny it in most or all cases. The seller's advertized offer said *nothing* about cash only. Cash only is so incredibly rare that it would push MOST people out of the game so the original offer would have mentioned it or the seller would have had their heads handed to them if a prominent white person had expressed interest but had been told "sorry, cash only." When it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

    Load More Replies...
    Don John
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think you would say " cash only" to anyone who enquires , just to make it known instantly so you dont waste each others time...... race or sexuality isnt an issue...... this is a non-story id say.

    Kathy Baylis
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Somehow I feel Robert is going to do his best to research the names of the slaves who were living with the Russell family while his beautiful house was being built, and not only display their names in it (and pictures if he ever finds any!), but also say their names out loud everywhere so they won’t be forgotten. He just seems like the type of good, kind, gentle, thoughtful person who would honor them that way.

    Danimal
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    all these articles on here with supposed racism. that was a tactless comment from the agent before qualifying the buyer, but come on. thats a 500k-1m house all day depending on the area (didn't see location or price). That id going disqualify most buyers, even wealthy ones, from paying CASH. They get their time wasted often by people coming to look who cannot pay cash. shouldn't of said what they said, but doesn't sound very racist.

    ktdidit
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    cool and stuff but what about a tour?? I want to see the inside!!!

    Jerald
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is an awesome story! Bless his heart!

    Truth Monster
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Does this make you a privileged Millennial....as so few are capable of buying a house?

    Kenya Rai
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ofc it does lol, my broke a*s could never afford something like that even I had to work for the next 30 years for it.

    Load More Replies...
    Zoe Murphy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I SAW HIM ON BROADWAY IN THE 2017 CAST OF HELLO DOLLY AS AN ENSEMBLE!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!! O MY GOSH!!!!!

    Load More Comments
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