Hey Remember that "Conversation on Race" Starbucks wanted?

[makattak]

From here: http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?topic=47573.0

Response: http://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/jen-kuznicki/why-there-no-starbucks-coffee-house-selma

Summation: No Starbucks to be found in majority black areas.

So, how come you want to talk about race, but not serve black people, Starbucks?

[MillCreek]

Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks, lives in Seattle and gets a lot of media attention.  It is my perception that Howard's main concern is that Starbucks makes money, and I wonder if site locations are chosen mainly with an eye towards economic demographics and discretionary income.  I am certain there are many middle-class and well-off areas with a majority population of minorities, and do they not have Starbucks? 

I can think of a lot of poor white towns in Washington state that do not have a Starbucks, but in the wealthy Eastside area, home of the dot-com millionaires, there are scads.  I suspect Howard is going where the money is.

[cambeul41]

Besides, if you are the wrong ethnicity, and patronize Starbucks, you might get accused of "acting white." 

[Tuco]

Excellent.
Methinks I'll go to Fourbuks for a hand lettered cuppa Joe and axe "Why no Fourbuks in da hood?"

It'd be worth the 3 extra buks

[makattak]

Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks, lives in Seattle and gets a lot of media attention.  It is my perception that Howard's main concern is that Starbucks makes money, and I wonder if site locations are chosen mainly with an eye towards economic demographics and discretionary income.  I am certain there are many middle-class and well-off areas with a majority population of minorities, and do they not have Starbucks? 

I can think of a lot of poor white towns in Washington state that do not have a Starbucks, but in the wealthy Eastside area, home of the dot-com millionaires, there are scads.  I suspect Howard is going where the money is.

Of course economics is the answer.

But you're a racist for pointing that out.

[Perd Hapley]

There is a Starbucks in the Target store a mile from where Michael Brown lived. That's in Jennings, which is 90% black. There are two stand-alone Starbucks stores just a few miles away.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=starbucks+ferguson&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:unofficial&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&ei=lZ4MVcnsIJK0sASzlIHoAQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&output=classic&dg=brw

The one on Lindbergh, just north of I-270 is not in some lily-white part of town. Hazelwood is 30% black. The one at the intersection of 270 and 170 (2 miles from the Ferguson city limits) is in Florissant, which is 27% black. I've seen plenty (27% or more) of black people at both locations. Heck, you can go to the Cabela's, in the mall on the outskirts of Hazelwood, and you won't exactly be lost in a sea of honkeys.


Ya know, Starbucks will be criticized if it's not building stores in poor and/or black neighborhoods, and it will be criticized if it does "gentrify" those neighborhoods. In either case, Starbucks does not offer much in the way of fresh vegetables or fruits, so it is doing nothing to eliminate "food deserts." 

[brimic]

[Ben]

Seems like the Starbucks "conversation" could just as easily be used as a KKK entrance exam.

[Perd Hapley]

Selected responses:

What is a Facebook stream? I actually don't know what that is.

Why would my racial views "evolve," or change in any way from those of my parents? Are you suggesting that my parents are racist, or that I'm racist? I'm sure that my parents' racial views (or lack thereof) are more enlightened than your racial views will ever be, Starbucks.

That's an easy one. America's greatest racial challenge is the Democratic Party.

[Perd Hapley]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/starbucks-ends-race-coffee-cup-campaign-article-1.2158755


So according to the article, they're not ending it, but they're sort of ending it, but not really. I'm not sure I care to plumb the details.

 

[AJ Dual]

Well... all those sociology degrees working behind the counter will finally be put to some use.