Dear Starbucks, Don’t

Every once in a while I’m both bemused and excited about a current event. It creates that magic moment of surrealist irony that makes me laugh and simultaneously weep for humanity. This week, the event that receives this honor from me is Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz and the now exposed directive to his employees to write “Race Together” on the side of customers’ cups in order to start a dialogue on race relations in this country.

Even though I hate to openly admit the following, I will for the sake of transparency. I like Starbucks. I like its coffee and its food. From a business perspective I think Howard Schultz is a genius and has built an excellent company. Now, what I won’t admit is that I enjoy any of the fru-fru latte’s (I only order those alone or with my wife, who keeps the secret and I always order “no whip”).

There’s really just too much here for me to handle but I can’t help myself. Wouldn’t a conversation about race relations be better spurred by a company who actually established itself in any predominantly black area? Now, I’m no Starbucks location expert, but I’ve seen hundreds of them and I can’t help but point out they’re all in seemingly upscale or at least on-the-rise areas that cater to your average white shopper.

So, I think I see what you’re doing here Starbucks. Like the hippies of old in Ashbury Heights, you have decided you have achieved the penultimate level of enlightenment and from the lofty heights of upscale Seattle neighborhoods you have now come to the conclusion that the way for you to save the world is to initiate race relations discussions in such segregated melting pots as your local coffee shops, which happen to also double as the epicenter of suburban, commercial whiteness. Well played.

I mean, can positive conversations about the plight of the inner-city black community really take place among a majority white, upper middle class customer base? What do you discuss? How you saw someone outside that looked like a Ferguson protestor and you felt so bad you refused eye contact, rolled your window up and sped away, scared they may assault you?

I’m fairly certain the irony contained in a conversation of race relations being had over a cup of $7 coffee with Colbie Caillat playing in the background all while surrounded by modern décor and a host of other all white conversation is just too much for me to bear. How about you just stick to coffee, good snacks and free wi-fi? Can you do that for me, Howard?

If the answer is no, then how about this: Build some nice new Starbucks locations in predominantly low income black communities and hire employees from the area. Actions often speak louder than words, you know. You may have to drop your prices though, because as it stands now your coffee is only available to the yuppie elite.

Let’s all keep in mind that’s it not okay for Hobby Lobby or Chik-Fil-A to have any opinions or beliefs that contradict any liberal beliefs without subjecting themselves to harassment and being lambasted by media. Now, will any mainstream media tell Mr. Shultz to keep his mouth shut and serve coffee? Will anyone else remind him that a white billionaire who serves fancy, expensive coffee to a host of other white people ranging from faux hipsters in skinny jeans and fedoras to designer jeans and Louis Vuitton bags is probably best served by not driving the race relations topic?

I’m fairly certain that since Starbucks coffee is the number one symptom to diagnosing White Girl Syndrome and in providing the foundation for all good “white girl” jokes it would stand to reason that it won’t be gaining momentum anytime soon as the modern day Foundation for Race Relations. You’d have thought that after the brouhaha started by the company’s policy towards second amendment proponents they’d learn to avoid these scenarios. But, when you’ve amassed a net worth of over $2 billion and are commonly recognized as one of the top leadership minds in the business world along with conning coffee lovers all over the United States to pay quadruple the normal price of a cup of coffee then you need something to do with your time, right?

I can’t wait until the next episode when Mr. Schultz becomes the voice of reason on American consumerism…

Ferguson: My Take

None of you really need my thoughts on this but hey, it’s my blog, right? It won’t change anything but maybe, just maybe it will cause thought. We don’t have to agree and that’s okay. So with that said, here’s my opinion. Proceed with caution:

This country is two generations removed from segregation. Seriously, think about that. We all act shocked that a portion of our populace would react to an issue this way. Ever stop to consider that what’s happening stems from a complete lack of trust of the system? The very same system that was used to tell these people they couldn’t vote, use the same restroom or even drink from the same fountain?

What’s happening is wrong. I’m not defending rioting, looting or vandalism, nor excusing it. All I’m saying is this issue is so much deeper.

Do we conveniently forget that predominantly white college students often riot and vandalize after their school wins a big game? Do we forget Black Friday stampedes, predominantly white, that leave people dead and sometimes stores damaged? This isn’t about people just being stupid and barbaric. It’s about angry and scared people who don’t trust the system in place to protect them.

I’m not an apologist. I don’t feel guilty for being white; however, I am real about it. I don’t expect an entire race to recover from nearly 400 years of abuse overnight. Especially when even long after segregation was “ended” systems of oppression still remain in place, no matter how much you want to ignore that reality.

This wasn’t just about Michael Brown. It’s bigger, deeper. It’s about a system that has repeatedly failed a race time and again. Maybe not in this instance, but it has.

With that said, justice may very well have been served. I respect a grand jury that can make that decision and not cave to the pressure. I prefer riots to a system that sacrifices an innocent man to avoid scrutiny. Rioters, looters and the like should be stopped and when possible, prosecuted. I’m not debating any of this because I don’t know, nor do you.

What I do know is if we want a slam dunk strategy to make sure things stay this way then let’s just keep using ignorant labels for each other. All whites are racist and all blacks are thugs. How pathetic is this? We’re better than that. We can all do better.

We can stop being played by the media and by politics (BOTH sides) and start educating ourselves and others. We can accept that we alone won’t change this but we can start the process of change by changing ourselves, our judgements, our thoughtless words and assumptions and trying to see things from someone else’s point of view.

Most importantly, we can put ourselves aside, in order to love others. Because ultimately this is the solution. Love. The kind that casts out fear and breaks chains. The kind that causes us to have real encounters with ourselves and others. The kind that requires action and quite often gets messy. The kind of love Jesus had. That love doesn’t just change those we show it to, it changes us.