So What Do People Think Of Starbucks 'Talk About Race' Initiative?

Starbucks Corporation SBUX this week launched its #RaceTogether campaign. The company's release stated, "Over the past three months, more than 2,000 Starbucks partners have discussed racial issues at open forums in Oakland, Los Angeles, St. Louis, New York and Chicago... Baristas in cities where the forums were held said they wanted to do something tangible to encourage greater understanding, empathy and compassion toward one another." "It's an emotional issue. But it is so vitally important to the country," CEO Howard Shultz said in a video, noting that the United States is "so much better" than what the current state of race relations portray it to be. Despite the social good the company is looking to bring forth, the initiative has been derided in the Twitterpshere. Here is sampling of what people are saying.

Hey look, Starbucks CEO just came up with the single worst idea in American history! http://t.co/6UjmayubqM pic.twitter.com/BE71hcDxnm

— Downtown Josh Brown (@ReformedBroker) March 17, 2015

The coffee is $4.25, the lecture is free. #Starbucks

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) March 17, 2015

#starbucks #racetogetherMy barista will "engage me" in race conversation? New slogan for dunkin donuts: we don't want to talk @6am either!

— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) March 17, 2015

Welcome to #Starbucks! Please don't ask for your coffee "black." #RaceTogether pic.twitter.com/GuY4TqlWpW

— Peter S. Dee (@PeeteySDee) March 17, 2015

Same folks who hate Chick-Fil-A & Hobby Lobby because of the owners' beliefs are totally cool with Starbucks pouring politics w/ our coffee.

— Razor (@hale_razor) March 17, 2015

When is Slate going to weigh in on why this Starbucks race thing is smart?

— Jay Yarow (@jyarow) March 17, 2015