The reason I created, and that my Leadership has so well executed, the concept of the Lace on Race Cafe, was that we wanted a place where intimacy and depth could happen and flourish. 

Where our North Star would be honored, and where the ethos of ‘safe-ish’–for me *and* for you–could be something we all could count on. 

This has been, for the most part, quite true. I have been so gratified by the people who have made this a place, not just for dialog, but also for true communion. 

We have been mindful of who we have vetted here. 

But by no means has it been perfect. 

Like in these last days. 

Look, y’all. I gotta, for the sake of seeing you all eye to eye, and in the best possible light, I gotta assume you all are good eggs. That you have read and affirmed the Guidelines and the Pinned Posts (what we call ‘starters’ here at the Bistro), and that you will use your capacity, volition, and agency to fulfill them, in letter, and, crucially, in spirit. 

And, again, for the most part, you have. 

But in the last few days, there have been two people who haven’t, and that has provoked in me some soul searching.  

I haven’t spoken much about the coordinated campaign on Twitter. I just didn’t have the stomach for it. I figured that I would just more or less abandon my Twitter account, and let the bad eggs emit their sulfur. 

But now they are here, in our shared Cafe. Nothing is foolproof. 

You all might remember my saying, in the Guidelines, ‘This is about making a space you and your fellow community members (including Lace herself) are not just willing, but eager to come to and engage with’.

This is less true than it was a few days ago. 

Underneath this post, I am going to re-post the Guidelines, and also some (but by no means all) of the fetid Twitter fodder that they have had a hand in posting. 

To be sure, the Cafe is neither a place to placate nor to fawn to me. It’s not a place where you are compelled or constrained to take anything I have to say whole hog. 

It *is* a place to hone your tools and build your muscles, both in terms of the relational, and also in the realm of applied relational ethics, the basics of which are in the Guidelines and explored deeper into the pinned posts/starter menu. 

Here is the thing–and here I will name Karin Thomas and Jenna Marshall–it’s plain, from their Twitter comments, that they respect neither this space, the Center for Racial Justice, nor myself. Which begs the query: why *are* they here? Other than to continue what they are doing in Twitter. 

This deeply saddens me.

I wonder what they and their compatriots might have done in service to, well, *service*, had they decided not to lock and load. Because I will tell you who they’re *not* acting in service to: those we stand with and for with North Star values; certainly not winning strategies, and most assuredly not with Hesed hearts. 

I have more to say, but I will say it in the comments. Jenna and Karin, I will prime the pump and add some of your Twitter pearls. And then we will pivot from your fetid smell to fragrant Hesed, and remind ourselves why we are here. 

I will also explore what I have been thinking about ensuring that this space stays safe-ish–which, in this present moment, it is not. 

I love you all–and yes, that includes you both, Jenna and Karin! Hesed demands it. 

Hesed also demands holding well, and with resolve. I will do that too.

Let’s talk!