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Performative Profit: How Starbucks Went From Progressive to Pariah in 48-Hours
The standards are higher now
I recently wrote Do Companies Care More About Black Lives or Their Bottom Line? Reflecting on the prevalence of corporate allyship, in what appears to be a turning point for the fight against anti-Black racism. One of the key components I identified was the need for employers’ external actions to be reflected in their internal support of Black employees. Starbucks clearly didn’t get the memo — they did send one though.
What happened?
Responding to a request from store managers and employees to wear pins and t-shirts in support of Black Lives Matter; Starbucks sent a memo to its 250,000 member workforce, prohibiting employees from wearing any symbols or messages in support of the movement.
Just days earlier Starbucks, like many other companies, made a statement in support of Black Lives Matter and committed $1M in support of racial equity initiatives. At the same time, Starbucks was shipping pins, t-shirts, cups, and other merchandise to their stores in Canada the US, brandishing support for LGBTQI2+ communities— in line with Pride month.
