The Bleak Results Of Starbucks Wanting Baristas To Discuss Racism With Customers

Starbucks is trying to usher in a plan that opens up conversations about race relations, and, of course, they have a catchy name for it in “Race Together.”

An interesting concept that’s been plastered on the front page of their site and all over social media, the initiative is actually workingin the sense that people are talking about it.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz spoke to USA Today on the matter and seemed really passionate about it. He believes that opening up conversations about race produces a “high degree of empathy.”

Schultz encouraged the Starbucks baristas to engage on the topic if asked about the #RaceTogether hash tag, which could be entertaining. The idea of having a conversation with your local barista on what it was like to grow up in a certain culture, while the line is stalled and customers are trying to get the hell out of there, is pretty comical.

While it sounds like Starbucks is actually just looking to encourage conversations in general, not just from its baristas, it’s a lot more fun to hang on the thought of a barista trying to awkwardly engage with us on such a touchy issue.

Of course, Twitterers immediately chimed in with angry, snarky and generally disapproving comments:

__________

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  __________

__________

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__________

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You got the conversation started, Starbucks. Where to now?

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