Last week, Starbucks sent out a message to its managers warning them not to wear clothing, accessories, stickers, or anything in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
What We Know:
- June 1st, Starbucks tweeted that they, “stand in solidarity with our Black partners, customers, and communities” and go further by posting another tweet supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.
- The coffee giant notified store managers that Black Lives Matter materials are included in the “political, religious, or personal issue” topics that employees are barred from sporting during work, according to the memo that Buzzfeed posted. These statements are now deemed invalid by banning their employees from wear anything to support ‘BLM’.
- Management expressed in the email to their employees “that wearing clothing and accessories highlighting Black Lives Matter could be misunderstood and potentially incite violence.” 16% of Starbucks executives are people of color and 40% are workers that are people of color.
- Starbucks policy and owners want to end “systemic racism”, but at the same time aim “to create a safe and welcoming” experience for customers. The company received a lot of backlash from customers and employees who feel that it is unfair to allow the workers and company to celebrate pride and LGBTQ+, but not the Black Lives Movement. Since then, they have amended their stance and now support the ‘BLM’ movement.
- Starbucks released the following statement on social media, “We are committed to taking action, learning, and supporting out Black partner, customer and communities.”
Black lives matter. We are committed to being a part of change.
You can find educational resources at https://t.co/xSXwaw2vQA. pic.twitter.com/ZxifsW7oeO
— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) June 4, 2020
Starbucks reversed their stance and are allowing their employees to outwardly support the Black Lives Matter movement through apparel, pins, stickers, etc, and have created a ‘BLM t-shirt for their employees to wear.
Black Lives Matter. We continue to listen to our partners and communities and their desire to stand for justice together. The Starbucks Black Partner Network co-designed t-shirts with this graphic that will soon be sent to 250,000+ store partners. pic.twitter.com/Wexb45RcTE
— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) June 12, 2020
