BIvy's Profile

Watch out. I said something like this about racial diversity and got an ear full. Anyway, I agree, its nice to see.

Screwdrivers. Ugh. Ruined orange juice for me for years. I don't wanna talk about it.

The octopus shower curtain is from Anthropologie

Yes to Somethings Gotta Give AND the Break Up. Stellar stellar homes.

"But what exactly do you personally have in common with that person besides the color of their skin?"

Seriously? I have many things in common with other black people besides the color of their skin. Skin color is a proxy for a whole constellation of shared cultural history. While it is only a PROXY and thus not exact, I share a general cultural background with black Americans. (We also share similar life experiences since everyone is not as beautifully color blind as you, and as a result we are at times treated differently due to the color of our skin. I'm sure you're familiar with the concept). That feeling of shared experiences in values is pretty relateable to most people.

Do you really think looks are all that binds you to your compatriots? Would you be proud to have a Mexican American president or wouldn't you? Were you particularly happy about Sotomayor or was her appointment the same as Kagan's to you? I was more excited about Sotomayor as a POC, even though I knew Kagan personally as my law school dean. As a woman and a liberal, I was pretty amped about both of them. Obviously even though he is black, Clarence Thomas sucks. Again, race/gender etc are just proxies. But we all operate on these proxies. When Americans win Olympic events are you proud even though you have nothing in common with them except for a passport? (Assuming you're American. Its unclear whether you are Mexican American or still a Mexican citizen but you get the gist). Do you see where I am going with this?

You are basically decrying the whole concept of racial/gender/nationalistic/(insert any personal characteristic) pride. By your logic, a New Yorker can't take pride in a Knicks victory because they weren't personally on the court.

Regardless of whether you accept that concept, you don't get to dictate to me what I care about. It is valid for me to assert that seeing people of different races/genders/sexuality represented in public spaces is important to me. Your "who cares?" is flip and disrespectful. I have not tried to similarly dictate your feelings. What you should be asking is why YOU care that diversity is a value of MINE. How does that negatively affect you in any way? If the races of the homeowners isn't important, why not picture a panoply of backgrounds (as as already been done to some extent)?

Furthermore, nothing I said was prescriptive. I said I "wished" it were more obvious. I did not tell AT that they "should" do anything. I recognize that my values cannot be generalized. I wish you could do the same.

Thanks for the glib salutations.

@dM

Also, you should probably read my posts more carefully before getting all worked up:

I said: "Apartment Therapy doesn't owe me anything."

Also, I just cant resist this:

"I'm also a vegetarian, which is a minority." LOL! Yes, being vegetarian is totally analogous. I'm sure your dietary choices are as big a part of your identity as my race. In fact, I hear right after the war on poverty Dr. King was going to march on behalf of the gluten intolerant. What a man.

Snark aside, that's not to say that you might not find yourself rightly identifying with homeowners/posts that focus on vegetarians/ism. A homeowner might mention that they have a bean plant in their windowsill (in a tasteful planter of course) to help them get enough protein. Then you would be justified in appreciating the inclusion of a vegetarian homeowner. Why do you begrudge me the satisfaction of seeing an apartment with aGladys Knight album that is familiar from my own childhood? I'm sorry I'm not sorry the mention of race is offensive to you.

#iseerace

@strawberry jam. Exactly.

@Museli

That while males are a default in this country is a phenomenon thoroughly discussed in feminist/race/sociological literature. But hey, I guess you are just more evolved than everyone else. Good for you.

http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/why-is-white-male-the-default/

Also, there was no "[A]frican art." There was a prominently displayed record with the Spinners or some other 70s R&B band. Seeing as how music was much more segregated back then, it tipped me off. Of course that doesn't "prove" someone is black. Nor does someone being named O'Neal mean they are Irish. (See Shaq). But its certainly a clue.

Color blindness isn't an asset. You do no one any favors by ignoring that they're black/brown etc. Its not something we want to forget.

Also, privilege alert!: "I'd rather just focus on the design aspect of what this site has to offer"

Good for you. Focus on what you want. I'm asserting something that is important to me. I'm sorry it bothers you to have to look at the world through a racial lens that you don't share. As a minority in America, I couldn't possibly understand how that feels.

Anyway AT, again, no issues with you. This has been blown completely out of proportion by people who are obviously uncomfortable with any kind of critical race discussion.

I wonder how many there actually are. I noticed, for example, that there was some art in the house tour the fifth picture is pulled from which suggested that the home owners are black. I googled and confirmed that at least the husband is. As a black reader, I was proud that one of the best house tours of all time had a black face on it. I just wished it were more obvious.