Starbucks Campaign Already Inspiring Awkward Conversations About Race

National Public Radio ^ | March 18, 2015 | Kat Chow

[2ndDivisionVet]

"It's also interesting because I'm actually black, but you assumed otherwise," Jay Smooth told Nancy Giles.

Starbucks' campaign to get people talking about race has already birthed a very public, very cringeworthy conversation about race. Jay Smooth, a radio DJ and video blogger, was on MSNBC's All In With Chris Hayes Tuesday night, discussing the coffee company's "Race Together" campaign with fellow guest Nancy Giles, a contributor to CBS Sunday Morning.

As they discussed the efficacy of a campaign like Race Together — with Giles defending it and Smooth pushing back — Hayes played one of Smooth's most popular videos, "How To Tell Someone They Sound Racist."

"It's another interesting, funny thing about race," Giles said, after the clip ran. "There would be some people that feel that you co-opted something like that, and other people might feel like that's his background and that's really cool, too."

(VIDEO-AT-LINK)

Giles playfully needled Smooth for being a white guy imitating a black guy.

Except.

"It's also interesting because I'm actually black, but you assumed otherwise. And this is the sort of awkwardness that we can look forward to at Starbucks across America," Smooth said, dropping the mic. (Metaphorically, of course, since they were all wearing lavaliers.)

All right, folks. We've asked you in the past about your Starbucks names. But what was the most memorable experience you've had where someone has mistaken you for a different race or ethnicity, or you've mistaken someone for being something he is not? Holler at us in the comments.

[Genoa]

Best idea since #askhamas

[skeeter]

It seems like some black folks have a burning need to scold white people.

[molson209]

Does Starbucks have any coffee where you have to say Whipped ?

[DonaldC]

I firmly believe that white people have moved on since the 50s and race is not a problem. I can’t speak for any other ethnicity.

[Genoa]

Do I have to say “straight” instead of “black”? Or is that homophobic? Maybe “unsugared and uncreamed”?

[petercooper]

I will have a Venti Don’t-Loot Mocha Java, please.

[ryan71]

This will end with Starbucks being sued by a minority claiming to have been racially offended. Well, the actual ending will be myself, laughing.

[Hulka]

Knew a white family from South African. Family line dated back well over a 100yrs. They emigrated to the US. Self-identified as “African-American,” because, well, because they were.

When their daughter first selected that ethnic identifier on a school form, the teachers told her “no, you are not.” Daughter resisted and was sent to Vice Principal’s office where she refused his direction. . .parents called and they set the school straight, there were born and raised in South Africa, they were now American citizens and therefore, were now African-Americans.

They won that battle.

[Genoa]

Yep, and I’m native American.

[The_Media_never_lie]

I am itching to go into SB to discuss the rebel flag or affirmative action.

[stephenjohnbanker]

If I were an employee, and Schwartz ordered me to do this, I would look him in the eye, and ask him why he doesn’t hire black people?

He doesn’t.

POS hypocrite.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Science says we all came from Africa, so we should all identify that way, right? That should throw them for a loop. LOL

[tom paine 2]

Or maybe discussing that rat faced bigot Al Sharpton.

[PATRIOT1876]

Ask the Starbuckers who should pay the property owners reparations for their $250 million loss because of the racist thug who started all this violence when he robbed a convenience store and then came after a cop in a violent fashion.

The thug's family?
Eric Holder?
Al Sharpton?
The dimwit's in the media hungry for a race war?

Ask political questions back if the Starbuck folk pester you about race.

I would begin a discussion about the Global Warming Scam if they want to talk politics.

A very good answer posted here yesterday was:

“They have a better deal down at the mission. You get a free cup of coffee after you listen to their sermon.”

[txrefugee]

And you might also ask him to tell you the number of Starbuck’s in ghettos and barrios. I’ve never seen one.

Schulz is a putz.

[texas booster]

My story on race.

I made a good living selling computer equipment in the late 80’s and early 90’s in a call center at an early superstore.

One of my biggest customers was an AA district south of Dallas.

I finally met a coach and tech director in ‘92. Found out that they all thought I was black. To them I look fairly white.

Sales died out within a week.

I am as mixed race as any mongrel in the pound, but just wasn't the “correct” race.

[Buckeye McFrog]

It seems like some black folks have a burning need to scold white people.

Some do have a chip on their shoulder. I used to manage a business in a mostly black part of town. For a time I thought every one of our customers was a raging black racist. But over time I figured out that it was the same two to three dozen idiots who kept coming in all the time.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

ping

[cld51860]

This obsession on race is damaging to the United States. Obozo has set us back 20 years, minimum.