Starbucks Baristas To Stop Writing ‘RaceTogether’ On Cups
Click here for reuse options!The world’s biggest coffee chain kicked off a U.S. race relations campaign last week when it published full-page ads in major U.S. newspapers with the words “Shall We Overcome?” at centre page and “RaceTogether” and the Starbucks logo near the bottom.
Employees behind the counter were also given the option of writing “Race Together” on customers’ cups.
The campaign was met with skepticism on social media, with many complaining the company was overstepping it boundaries with a campaign on sensitive cultural topics that had no place in the coffee shop’s lines.
Starbucks said the phase of the campaign that involved messages on drink cups was always scheduled to end Sunday.
“I know this hasn’t been easy for any of you – let me assure you that we didn’t expect universal praise,” Chief Executive Schultz wrote in a letter to staff and released by the company on Sunday. “We leaned in because we believed that starting this dialogue is what matters most.”
Schultz said Starbucks plans more “Race Together” activities, including efforts to expand into urban neighbourhoods, hire 10,000 “opportunity youth” over the next three years, and produce advertising on the campaign with Gannett Co.’s USA Today.
Copyright 2015 Liberaland
12 responses to Starbucks Baristas To Stop Writing ‘RaceTogether’ On Cups
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Red Eye Robot March 22nd, 2015 at 17:15
No doubt the Baristas had trouble answering questions like why does the predominantly white Detroit suburb of Royal Oak (population 58,000) have 4 stores while predominantly black Detroit, (population 760,000) only have 2 stores? Or why does the 19 member management team only have one black person? Why are there no starbucks in Ferguson?
Larry Schmitt March 22nd, 2015 at 17:23
How about a simpler question. How in the hell did somewhat think it was a good idea for coffee shop workers to discuss race with complete strangers? I doubt any customers would think of asking your questions.
Jimmy Fleck March 23rd, 2015 at 10:08
If you think race is the deciding factor on where Starbucks locates their stores instead of the economic viability of the location then you are probably not very good at business.
Red Eye Robot March 23rd, 2015 at 11:58
Shorter Jimmy Fleck: Black people don’t like coffee
Jimmy Fleck March 24th, 2015 at 11:35
Red Eye – I am sure black people love coffee. I just think Starbucks is likely to choose locations where disposable income is higher since they sell rather expensive coffee. I doubt they care about the racial breakdown of an area as much as they care about the average income of an area when choosing to locate a store. That would make sense to me. So regardless of reasons why, the suburbs of Detroit have a much higher average income than the inner city of Detroit. Don’t you think it makes sense for Starbucks to locate more stores closer to the people with money available to purchase their product?
Red Eye Robot March 24th, 2015 at 14:54
Starbucks ain’t selling Caviar and Champagne they sell coffee and baked goods. Starbucks is nothing more than a fast food franchise. If Burger King, McDonalds, Taco Bell, KFC, Arbys, Wendys, Dominos, Subway, Pizza Hut, White Castle etc can make money in their collective hundreds of locations within the 145 square miles of Detroit. Starbucks can too. The soft racism of low expectations by people like you and Starbucks management keeps them out of places like Detroit
arc99 March 24th, 2015 at 15:11
and it is the hard racism from the right wing base of the GOP which guarantees the black vote will continue to exceed 90% Democratic support for the forseeable future.
in any case, Washington DC is 50% black and there are approximately 25 Starbucks outlets just in the city limits, so take your dishonest bullshit and shove it.
Jimmy Fleck March 24th, 2015 at 15:16
Red eye Robot – go and compare the prices of coffee/baked goods at Starbucks and your list of fast food places and let me know how they compare. Their prices are definitely aimed at people with a lot more disposable income than McD’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, etc.
Red Eye Robot March 25th, 2015 at 11:57
Why do you insist on depicting Detroiters as penniless souls who can’t afford a cup of coffee? Is it because they are black? Are you aware there are 70 to 80 similar independently owned business’ already operating in the city? As for how fast food compares. I had lunch at White Castle last week, It cost me $9 Your clownish defense of racist liberals is amusing though, please continue!
William March 22nd, 2015 at 17:39
Good.
Suzanne McFly March 22nd, 2015 at 19:31
As a nation, we do need to engage in the conversation. The fact that it is uncomfortable should shock people. Why wouldn’t a society want to be more aware of who our neighbors are? We won’t demonize those who we have familiarized ourselves with. I think they had a good idea when they wanted to talk about this subject out in the open, but this is not a conversation that can be had in passing, we need to sit and talk in a way that we become familiar with others who we may not associate with on a regular basis.
Snick1946 March 23rd, 2015 at 10:36
This was well intentioned. However like most folks when I go to a public eatery I just want to enjoy my food and be left the hell alone. Somewhere along the line, American retailers have been infected by some idea that their employees need to be required to ‘converse’ with customers beyond taking orders or answering questions. I did my weekly grocery shopping at a supermarket that for a long time was forcing their employees to ‘engage’ customers; on one visit I was approached a dozen times by clerks asking how I was and in some cases trying to talk sports with me, I stopped going there. This thing has no significance beyond that. People just want to be left in peace.