BOSTON—A OneUnited Bank limited edition Visa debit card depicting Harriet Tubman has come under fire online from critics who say the design is in poor taste.
The image in question depicts the revered abolitionist with a serious stare while wearing a red-and-white head wrap, Fox News reported.
“At the center of the controversy are Tubman's arms, which are crossed over her chest with her hands balled into fists. The gesture, to some, resembled the popular salute from Marvel's Black Panther,” Fox News said.
“OneUnited, which calls itself the nation's largest black-owned bank, was quickly accused of using the historical figure to pander to African-American customers, during Black History Month,” Fox News said.
Despite the public backlash, the bank responded on Twitter that the Tubman image was not a reference to Black Panther or its fictional country. The bank said Tubman is shown using the American Sign Language sign for "love," Fox News added.