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Love • Unity • Change

artwork by @joeyd76 | @blake_jones | @killabunz

Love • Unity • Change

Last week, I shared why we choose to call Chicago home. I shared why it was important for us to put down roots in a city where we can surround ourselves with friends from all backgrounds and all skin colors, and where we can easily support small businesses owned by POC, strong women, and people of the LGBTQ community. I also shared this video of our neighborhood. In preparation for another day gone by, local businesses began boarding their shops. Sheets of plywood became scarce, hardware stores couldn’t meet demands. These plywood sheets were sprayed with the rallying cry: Black lives matter.

And then something (even more) beautiful happened. Those cries of solidarity turned into works of art, as an army of artists around the city pooled their resources, rolled up their sleeves and got to work. Our friend Joey, whose artwork you see above, is one of countless collaborative murals that lines the streets of our Chicago. Those plywood sheets became the canvas. They became the rallying cry of our city!

Love. Unity. Change. Black Lives Matter.

We’ve taken two weeks to process what’s unfolded around us, but this is not a two-week-thing-and-then-back-to-business-as-usual. This is not a one-and-done conversation around the dinner table. We have a lot of work to do, and we’re here for it.

Moving Forward, We Vow To:

… Share, support and promote diversity through this home-loving platform, and make room for voices other than our own.

… Use brand partnerships to uplift others who simply don’t have access to the same tools available to us, whenever possible. We’ve worked closely with our friends and family in similar economic and financial situations as us, but it’s up to us to consider the alternative. We’ll reach out to organizations we’ve worked with in the past that promote change through social justice. If you run or volunteer a local Chicago non-profit that could benefit, please let us know!

… Set up recurring donations once and for all to NAACP Empowerment Programs and The Human Rights Campaign. While we donate often to causes that are near and dear to our hearts (including both of the above), we know we can always do better.

… Continue to vote for the people whose views align with the right side of history. Continue to write letters, emails and texts to our representatives.

… Continue working on ourselves and Lucy to be actively anti-racist.

Why can’t we just teach children to be kind and inclusive?⁣ This is why. ⁣⁣ Anti-racism recognizes that racist beliefs have permeated our culture and created systemic problems. Rather than just talking about it, anti-racism asks that we actively work against it.

@curious.parenting

And for those that have been asking for our recommendations on inclusive childrens’ books, Lucy (who is two-and-a-half) can’t get enough of I am Enough by Grace Byers, and I Just Want to Say Goodnight by Rachel Isadora was a favorite this past winter. Consider supporting Semicolon, Chicago’s only Black woman owned bookstore, which I discovered through you all!

PS: Please be patient with us next week, as all of our brand partners have stood with us to take a pause. We’ve been working to reschedule content, and you may notice more sponsored tags than usual in a given week. We’ll be back on the blog Monday with the first of our many Two Flat Mood Boards!

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  • Caitlin6.12.20 - 6:53 AM

    I love the donations, but I have yet to talk to an LGBTQ+ person who supports the HRC.  There are other organizations doing better work out there.ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.12.20 - 8:20 AM

      Hi Caitlin, respectfully, I’d love to know more behind your statement, as well as other organizations that you have in mind.ReplyCancel

      • Jess6.12.20 - 9:16 AM

        Not Caitlin but within LGBTQ+ community the HRC is known as a quintessentially white and gay male centric organization. The issues they fight for are typically ones that appeal to wealthy white gays (marriage equality, etc.) as opposed to issues that affect trans folx, non-binary folx, queer people of color, or poor queer people (housing, police violence, sex worker rights, etc.). HRC is seen as part of the non-profit industrial complex that is complicit in white supremacy. ReplyCancel

        • Kim6.13.20 - 11:23 AM

          Based on more recent articles, it does appear that they have acknowledged this and are working toward change themselves. I’ll do more research, but we appreciate all the insight! Thank you.ReplyCancel

      • Caitlin6.12.20 - 11:17 AM

        Sorry, that was probably vague and I don’t mean to cause a big debate, I just know that many of my friends no longer support them, and have asked me not to as well.  I know there has been a lot of criticism around diversity inside the organization and sexism, as well as a troubling history on not supporting transgender rights.  A lot of the criticism came out a few years ago, so it’s possible that they’ve gotten better.  (I did just see they elected their first black president, which is great). 
        In the past I’ve given to The Trevor Project, PFLAG, etc, but lately I’ve been looking for more local resources as opposed to national organizations.  Something like the Chicago House, for example.  
        Anything is better than nothing, though, and so I’m sorry for jumping on. I should applaud your efforts instead.  I think your heart is in a good place. ReplyCancel

    • Laura C6.12.20 - 9:22 AM

      Hi, nice to meet you. I’m a lesbian and I support them. I have many LGBTQ+ friends who do, as well. ReplyCancel

  • Susan6.12.20 - 7:37 AM

    I wouldn’t care if ALL of your posts were sponsored. It’s still you, and I always learn a lot. Taking a pause is necessary some timesReplyCancel

  • at home with ashley6.12.20 - 8:32 AM

    Love thisReplyCancel

  • Jana6.12.20 - 8:43 AM

    If you guys are planning to do a Father’s Day gift guide, I would love one that highlights BIPOC makers!ReplyCancel

    • Kim6.12.20 - 8:52 AM

      We may post our guide to our Stories, and yes, we’ve included Black owned makers!ReplyCancel

  • Michelle6.12.20 - 10:11 AM

    Thank you for sharing! Looking forward to seeing new BIPOC voices highlighted on Yellow Brick Home!ReplyCancel

  • Milo6.13.20 - 8:22 AM

    ❤️ ReplyCancel

  • Cindy6.15.20 - 3:01 PM

    I’ve been waiting for this post, and you did not disappoint. I stand with you and will continue to support you and those whose work you highlight.ReplyCancel

  • Tanja6.16.20 - 11:32 PM

    Thank you Kim and Scott for sharing your position and committing to long term change. This needs to be a movement not a moment. ReplyCancel

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