NOVEL IDEA BUT PERHAPS NOT THE BEST ONE

Starbucks had announced a policy that would call upon their baristas to discuss race issues with each customer that bought some sort of java or tea at each of the stores and franchises. Time Magazine correspondant Mr. Jabbar pointed out one or two flaws in the policy but I think nobody has weighed in on the potential explosive nature of the vice of discussing race in America. You see, I always hear a voice in my head when people start talking racism needing to be discussed here, asking, what race? White? Black? Asian? Hispanic? People don't have the same view about racism at all. Mr. Jabbar pointed out that:

Schultz is right in understanding that we can’t depend on our leaders to eradicate racism. Schultz sees ending racism as a grass roots campaign that starts with the people and swells until it forces politicians to act like leaders. To achieve this, we need to educate the target audience of those who are open-minded enough to be persuaded by facts. Then we need to keep presenting those facts over and over until awareness is finally achieved. That’s when there will be progress.

Does the barista that doesn't toe the liberal line on race get fired or re-indoctrinated after a long stint in the liberal gulag reeducation camps? What would happen to me? I believe most racism everywhere is founded on stereotypes. What Mr. Jabbar and I agree on is that the facts speak for themselves. A stereotype is given life by the actions of the people one runs into every day. Nobody is going to legislate that out of existence.

The video is probably not suitable for most work environments. It's Chris Rock back in 1996. Things are different now talking about racism. He has a slightly different take on the accepted wisdom of liberal progressives, but watch his audience's reaction throughout. They got it.

Of course if he was still touring with this sketch today, the Department of Justice would have him in jail for pure undistilled racism.