After I shared my recent reflection on being labeled “intimidating,” a member of the PWO Community offered this response. He affirmed something I already knew, that for many white men, it’s the first time they’ve encountered a Black woman who says “no” without softening it, explaining it, or reshaping herself to protect their comfort.

But what struck him even more was the amount of grace he experiences inside the PWO Community.

And here’s why that matters: