Amid Criticism, Starbucks Baristas No Longer Writing 'Race Together' On Cups
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- In a quick about-face, Starbucks has decided its baristas will no longer write "Race Together'' on customers' cups, ending a visible component of the company's diversity and racial inequality campaign that sparked widespread criticism.
Starbucks spokesman Jim Olson said the chain's initiative will continue more broadly without the handwritten messages.
According to a company memo from CEO Howard Schultz, Starbucks will continue to hold discussions, co-produce special sections in USA TODAY and put more stores in minority communities as part of the Race Together initiative.
Schultz said in the memo that the cups were always "just the catalyst'' for a larger conversation.
The campaign, which launched earlier this week, was criticized as opportunistic and inappropriate, in the wake of racially charged events across the country. Others questioned whether Starbucks workers could spark productive conversations about race while serving drinks.
Olson, however, said the phase-out is not a reaction to that backlash.
"Nothing is changing. It's all part of the cadence of the timeline we originally planned," he said.
Schultz's note acknowledged the skeptics as an anticipated part of the outreach.
"While there has been criticism of the initiative -- and I know this hasn't been easy for any of you -- let me assure you that we didn't expect universal praise,'' the memo said.
Schultz said the campaign at its core aims to make sure that "the promise of the American Dream should be available to every person in this country, not just a select few.''
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