NEED TO GET THEIR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER FIRST |
Perhaps it is time that the US Justice Dept. launch an investigation as to why Starbucks doesn't open stores in black neighborhoods. Let's have that discussion about how blacks continue to be deprived of their economic rights by corporate people like Howard Schultz and Mellody Hobson.
The talk of the Twitterverse Wednesday began with a cup of Starbucks that brewed up a storm on social media.
And it was Chicago’s own Mellody Hobson — a financial whiz who is president of Ariel Investments and an African-American member of the Starbucks board of directors — who may have started the coffee brewing
At issue was a plan by Starbucks chairman and CEO Howard Schultz to start up a conversation about race relations — inspired by the police killings of unarmed black men in Ferguson and New York — an initiative titled “Race Together” in which Starbucks baristas write the phrase on coffee cups to inspire customers to discuss racial relations in a more public forum. #RaceTogether was trending on Twitter on Wednesday.
But what was intended to be a quiet water-cooler discussion in the atmosphere of what has become a “third place” to go during the day — began to backfire on social media, prompting criticism and a dollop of derision.
Even Gwen Ifill, the highly respected African-American PBS “NewsHour” anchor, tweeted Tuesday: “honest to God, if you start to engage me in a race conversation before I’ve had my morning coffee, it will not end well.”
Sneed is told the race initiative may have been Schultz’s brainchild, but it was influenced by a TED conference talk by Hobson in March 2014 in Vancouver on being “color brave.” TED is a forum where speakers are invited to share powerful ideas on almost any topic.
Schultz told shareholders at the company’s annual meeting in Seattle on Wednesday: “Over the last 10 years, we’ve had the benefit – I’ve had the benefit — of having Mellody Hobson on Starbucks’ board. She’s an African-American woman, and she has risen to the heights at the highest level of corporate America. She’s been an adviser and counselor to me on a number of issues, but specifically this issue [of race in America] as I and the company try to navigate through the process of not being a bystander and effectively and respectfully trying to make a difference in the communities we serve.”
Back in 2014, Hobson told the TED gathering: “Race in America makes people completely uncomfortable.”
“I’m asking you to show courage, to be bold,” she added. “I’m asking you not to leave any child behind, not to be colorblind but to be color brave, so every child knows that their future matters and their dreams are possible.”
“She clearly planted the seed,” said a Sneed source — which eventually resulted in a corporate meeting called by Schultz months ago to talk about race relations.
“There was a firestorm at that meeting,” a source said. “There was even crying. Workers who talked about police brutality in their life experiences and how they made sure their children would be protected by going unnoticed.”
On Wednesday, Hobson addressed the Starbucks shareholders meeting: “Race today is still one of the most controversial and uncomfortable issues to discuss in America. Bring it up at the dinner table or the workplace, and the effect is the conversational equivalent of touching the third rail — shock followed by a long silence.
“But we all know the first step in solving a problem is to stop hiding from it. The first step toward action is awareness. So I’m here to talk about what I’ve seen and what I’ve lived, with the hope that we can all feel a little less anxious and a little more bold when it comes to conversations about race.”
Sneed is told Hobson was surprised by the runaway backlash against Race Together, but strongly felt that starting a conversation leads to more empathy and understanding.
Is this coffee controversy a hill of beans, a tempest in a teapot or grounds for a new kind of dialogue on race?
Bravo, Howard. Bravo, Mellody.
Slavery ended 150 years ago. It's time America became a color-blind society.
ReplyDeleteThe only people who benefit from this will be the Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons of the world.
And just when you think the Republican party couldn't get any more mediocre than it already is, Ted Cruz (R) Texas, has decided to throw his hat in the ring. Cruz, best known for reading Dr. Seus during a filibuster is a fracking clown. Please, stop this movement before the collective colon of the Republican party gets clogged.
ReplyDeleteStarbucks trying to capitalize on race.
ReplyDeleteFolks there is seriously a left wing revolution underway in America. They control even large corporations. The media, ABC,CBS,NBC,CNN,MSNBC, Yahoo. Google. most of our college professors, school teachers, CPS (Vice Pres of Chgo Pub Schools is a Socialist). The Democrat Party has been taken over by the far left. Textbooks....Hollywood, ....the list goes on and on....FINALLY we are starting to wake up....and fight Back. If you are too lazy or too afraid..to call someone out for their bias then you are part of the problem. the hour is very very late. there may not be much time left. Am I the only one that sees our media is constantly bombarding us with RACE and GAY RIGHTS....they are obsessed with these two issues to the point of complete tunnel vision. I will not go there anymore. I will also let them know WHY I wont go there....limousine liberal hypocrites....remind them that there are not Starbucks in poor black communities. Hypocrites.
ReplyDeleteBIG GOVERNMENT + BIG BUSINESS is not a "left wing revolution." You cannot possibly be this naive.
DeleteIt is about power. Greed. It ain't got a thing to do with race or anything else. Or limousine liberals.
Well they did give poor deprived local businessman Magic Johnson $5 million dollars to open up a Starbucks on 71st and Stoney Island. It is nice of them to give minorities in need like Magic a helping hand so that he in turn can give back to politicians in need like Rahm.
ReplyDeleteThis foolishness was started 44 years ago in the army because race relations was at an all time low. Fraggings in Nam,, barracks brawls and you name it. The command structure was clueless so they came up with these sort of seminars at the battalion level and after a few years of complete failure they finally figured out the solution and that was to end conscription.You see the conscripts were the problem,becuase many were druggys , gang bangers and untrainable. Fast forward all these years later and leadership still clueless when they proffer these silly conversation schemes. The Clintons tried it as well. Ask the question. What is tantamount to ending conscription
ReplyDeletein the larger society. I suggest ending compulsion in high schools for starters and vigorously enforcing voter fraud laws and requiring voter id's.. Anybody who has walked any hallway in any public high school might get the picture with the former and voter fraud is rampant.Yes Virginia we indicted and prosecuted voter fraud in Little Village a few years ago. Trust me It is still a problem and I suggest in the forthcoming run off citizens beware.
What type of man pays 7 dollars for a double frappe latte whipped cream with a mauve straw?,,,,,,,,,,,,,
ReplyDeleteNationwide investment customers please pull your money out of Ariel investments, send a message.
ReplyDelete