The name of a Hillsborough County road that residents think is offensive has Riverview residents again asking for it to be renamed.
- Some residents would like Uncle Tom Road renamed
- They say it's racially insensitive
- Commissioners are discussing the possibility with neighbors
The road is named "Uncle Tom," and it's thought to be named after a property owner who used to live in the area.
But some residents think the phrase "Uncle Tom" is a racial slur that should not be on a county street sign.
"I think it should be changed," Riverview resident Beverly Richardson said. "I think it should be changed because it's offensive."
"I definitely can understand it to certain people, but I think we've come a long way since slavery," Riverview resident Harry Schnapp said.
Recently, Hillsborough Commissioner Les Miller received a photograph of the controversial street sign from an anonymous source. Miller has asked the county staff to speak with residents about the possibility of a new name for the street.
It isn't the first time commissioners have looked into the name. In 2005, property owners sent a petition with dozens of signatures to stop an effort to change the name of Uncle Tom Road.