Starbuck\u2019s #RaceTogether initiative, in which baristas are being encouraged to write slogans on the sides of coffee cups with the hopes of sparking dialogue on racial issues with their customers, has been widely mocked. It\u2019s easy enough to see how it might go wrong, and much ink has been spilled outlining all the catastrophic possibilities.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

However, I was curious to see how it might actually unfold in the real world and so I went out to a bunch of Starbuck\u2019s in the Toronto area and tried to engage the staff in conversations about race.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Starbucks<\/p>\n

10 Dundas Street East<\/p>\n

8:30 pm<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Me: Hi.<\/p>\n

Barista: Hi.<\/p>\n

Me: Are you a fan of the TV show Empire?<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Barista: Don\u2019t think I know that one.<\/p>\n

Me: Oh. Well, it has an all black cast. Not a single white person on it. After a few episodes you don\u2019t even notice how weird that is. It says a lot about race, I think, and the gritty world of Hip Hop. Very topical considering Ferguson and everything.<\/p>\n

Barista: You seem very authentically informed.<\/p>\n

Me: Well, I\u2019m a part of Black Twitter, so I feel pretty plugged in.<\/p>\n

Barista: I see. What can I get you?<\/p>\n

Me: Decaf green tea. Grande.<\/p>\n

Barista: I bet you like being white, don\u2019t you?<\/p>\n

Me: I don’t really see race.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Starbucks<\/p>\n

407 Yonge Street<\/p>\n

11:30 am<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Me: Hey, anyone interested in rapping about race?<\/p>\n

Barista: (foams milk)<\/p>\n

Me: (Turning around and facing the customers in the lineup behind me) Anyone?<\/p>\n

Guy with an eye patch: This might not be \u201cpolitically correct\u201d or anything, but I hate the Irish.<\/p>\n

Me: Really, the Irish? But they have Leprechauns!<\/p>\n

Guy with an eye patch: Exactly, Leprechauns are just about the creepiest thing in the world.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Me: What happened, did you lose your eye to a Leprechaun?<\/p>\n

Guy with an eye patch: No, I lost it in a fire. The Irish also cheat at cards, and on their husbands.<\/p>\n

Girl in denim jacket: And I have to add that the Muzzies got no business taking over this country, if they want to live here, they should damn well dress like everyone else, am I right?<\/p>\n

Me: Hey, this is great, now we\u2019re really starting to get into the hard stuff! How about you, (pointing at a woman on her phone) what do you think?<\/p>\n

Woman on her phone: (Gives me the finger)<\/p>\n

Me: (To Barista) People are still very uncomfortable talking about race. It\u2019s a real shame, because as painful as it is, we really have so much to learn from one another. We need to be brave.<\/p>\n

Barista: You do know that the campaign isn\u2019t taking place in Canada, right?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Starbucks<\/p>\n

585 University Avenue<\/p>\n

2:00 pm<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Me: (To Barista) So, who is your favourite black actor or actress? Supermodels count.<\/p>\n

Barista: Why are you asking me this?<\/p>\n

Me: I\u2019m trying to start a dialogue about race. I want to find out about your lived experience. Have you ever written a letter to a black celebrity, and if so, was it a hate letter or a love letter?<\/p>\n

Barista: It\u2019s never occurred to me to write a celebrity a letter.<\/p>\n

Me: Any celebrity, or just black celebrities in particular?<\/p>\n

Barista: Any celebrity.<\/p>\n

Me: Weird. Not even Pam Grier??<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Barista: Look, I got to keep the line moving here, are you going to take that cookie or not?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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