Amid widespread outcry, Starbucks has reversed a controversial decision to ban baristas from wearing Black Lives Matter apparel. The move drew condemnation when news broke of an internal memo at the company. BuzzFeed Media obtained an internal memo that forbade Starbucks baristas from wearing apparel supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.
Critics noted that the move to not allow baristas to wear BLM apparel was bizarre when the company was vocally announcing support for the movement on its own social media. The company insisted, however, that the concern was more to do with protecting outspoken employees from public backlash during this sensitive time.
On Friday, however, the Seattle-based coffee company backpedaled the earlier decision.
“This movement is a catalyst for change, and right now, it’s telling us a lot of things need to be addressed so we can make space to heal,” the company wrote. The announcement also included the news that employees will be shipped branded T-shirts with a design that shows the company’s support for the movement.
Starbucks is the largest coffee chain in the US, and their employees are predominately younger people. The company often faces criticism from the political right for their more progressive stances. Notable outcry over the use of the phrase “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” on holiday-themed cups comes to mind.
However, the company attempts to maintain a socially progressive image. Due to their young workforce and youthful clientele, the company is very receptive towards shifts in public mood. The recent widespread protests over police injustice have quickly shifted the national conversation. Starbucks apparently felt blindsided by the speed with which these attitudes crystalized.
In a statement, the company clarified that it is “critical to support the Black Lives Matter movement as its founders intended and will continue to work closely with community leaders, civil rights leaders, organizations, and our partners to understand the role that Starbucks can play, and to show up in a positive way for our communities.”
What started as a protest movement against the unjust killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police has shifted focus. Now, the protests have morphed into a nationwide “defund the police” movement. While the COVID-19 pandemic has upended many peoples’ lives, the political climate seemed primed for a sudden change. People struggling to make ends meet have been searching online for things like “Humira coupon” and “rebuilding my savings”.
In a surprising turn, polling has shown that a majority of Americans actually side with the protesters. This marks the first time in the Black Lives Matter movement’s history that most of the public finds the protests justified. Many activists are hoping to turn this momentum into real structural change for black people.
