#RaceTogether Campaign Lands Starbucks in Hot Water

Starbucks rolled out its "#RaceTogether" campaign this week — which encourages baristas and customers to strike up conversations on race relations in America — and it was met with immense backlash.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said the idea stemmed from a company meeting held in December in which over 400 employees gathered to discuss race relations in light of the police shootings of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, as well as Eric Garner in New York City.

Commenters across the news media and across social media thought the new idea — to bring customers into the mix — was outright strange, and in many cases questioned the company's motives for doing so.

Gathered below is just a small sampling of the online reaction to #RaceTogether.

I get what Starbucks is trying to do, but nah. I'm just in there trying to get a caramel macchiato.

— Koko Bangz (@kokofasho) March 17, 2015

The only thing worse than Starbucks is discussing sensitive cultural topics with strangers at Starbucks.

— Josh Petri (@joshpetri) March 17, 2015

.@Starbucks Pay your workers for enduring this emotional labor. Stop exploiting them for cheap PR. They deserve better. #RaceTogether

— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) March 18, 2015

Before they write #RaceTogether on cups, can Starbucks just spell my name correctly? #SahanMinha #HansonMinaja #SaddamHussain

— Hasan Minhaj (@hasanminhaj) March 17, 2015

#RaceTogether I prefer to discuss the Iran nuclear negotiations with my counter person at McDonald's

— Harold Itzkowitz (@HaroldItz) March 18, 2015

Adding white sugar to my non-@Starbucks coffee with my brown hand. Diversity! #racetogether #shutupandsellcoffee pic.twitter.com/TngxfnJjNn

— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) March 17, 2015

Stopped at Dunkin Donuts this morning, got my coffee and a croissant sandwich and no lecture on my victimhood... so winning! #RaceTogether

— ConservativeBlackMan (@Thomasismyuncle) March 18, 2015

#RaceTogether is an intellectually lazy approach to our real and complicated race issues in this country.

— amber j. phillips (@AmberJPhillips) March 18, 2015

Off to @Starbucks to ask my barista why there are only two stores in Africa. Doing my part to #RaceTogether. pic.twitter.com/COY8xzmPuq

— Yo Gabba Guppy (@iResistAll) March 18, 2015

The new @Starbucks experience. pic.twitter.com/c9MOtFXjj4

— Ben Howe (@BenHowe) March 17, 2015

The only folks happy about Starbucks baristas discussing race with customers are the suits who run it. Feel-good liberalism at its worst.

— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) March 17, 2015

It looks like @Starbucks has united tweeters of all races, colors, creeds, political persuasions in hating its #RaceTogether idea.

— Virginia Postrel (@vpostrel) March 17, 2015

Maybe #Starbucks actually wanted to get people of all races & ethnicities to join hands and make fun of #RaceTogether. Well played.

— Tananarive Due (@TananariveDue) March 17, 2015

Thanks, Siri. #RaceTogether pic.twitter.com/zQ19DWF3lN

— ScottInSC (@ScottInSC) March 18, 2015

Dear Starbucks, thank you for your #RaceTogether campaign. Sincerely, Dunkin' Donuts.

— Dan Proft (@DanProft) March 18, 2015

#RaceTogether I just gave the girl at Dunkin Donuts a tip and thanked her for staying out of my business and not sharing her political views

— Mary Anne (@maryannemercog) March 18, 2015

Let's #RaceTogether to #DunkinDonuts pic.twitter.com/jfyuD1Mqzd

— Bob Modesitt (@Scgator1414) March 18, 2015