General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The Starbucks thing... [View all]catbyte
(34,600 posts)waiting on a friend to discuss a real estate deal. I also wonder if they'd been wearing their business attire rather than casual dress, whether the cops would've been called. This reeks of racial profiling, and that indicates there's a problem. Here's an interesting take on it from a PR executive:
Starbucks' racial blunder shows it's too invested in the 'yoga-pants' set and must diversify culture, PR exec says
Starbucks shares opened lower early Monday, moving down slightly as most stocks rose, as news and social media shot images around the country of dozens of protesters at the Rittenhouse Square-area store where two African American men were detained by city police Thursday evening after store staff complained they hadnt ordered and wouldnt leave.
The coffee chains stock had slipped last week after analysts warned the company will have a tough time growing sales as fast as it had projected.
The CEO making a trip to Philadelphia is certainly a first move in the right direction. said Donald J. Tibbs, professor of criminal law and procedure at Drexel Universitys Kline Law School. Its very difficult to see this incident at the Starbucks as anything other than a racial profiling scenario. People meet at the Starbucks all the time. They wait for other people to arrive. In that moment, they make a purchase. I have done that on numerous occasions. Ive been given the key to use the bathroom while I am waiting.
The incident occurred in a wealthy, largely white neighborhood, Tibbs added. The gentlemen who were handcuffed dont fit that demographic they are black, they are male, the way they are dressed.
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http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-phillydeals/wall-street-starbucks-stock-philly-racial-embarrassment-wharton-drexel-20180416.html