Starbucks Designs Black Lives Matter T-Shirts: ‘It’s Not a Moment, It’s a Movement’

Starbucks has pledged to produce 250,000 Black Lives Matter corporate T-shirts.

Lately, this leading coffee chain conglomerate has been fueling widespread outrage; this time with it’s lukewarm stance on Black Lives Matter. A heated debate has been brewing regarding the leading coffee chain’s passive role in the Black Lives Matter movement. With great power and influence comes great responsibility, and until now, Starbucks has been negating its duty to utilize its enormous platform and publicly condemn racism.  

In response to this corporation’s passivity, many Black Lives Matter allies encouraged their peers to boycott the brand.

Starbucks Cancelled? 10 Black-Owned Coffee Brands To Support Instead: https://t.co/eLmeJxHZUA pic.twitter.com/dt9RS9NR5d

— OfficialBlackWallSt (@OBWSapp) June 13, 2020

Starbucks responded to this outrage by announcing they would create their own Black Lives Matter shirts.

Starbucks is creating its own Black Lives Matter shirt for employees to wear if they choose. https://t.co/aKhVmPHJzx

— ABC News (@ABC) June 13, 2020

Initially, Starbucks banned its baristas from wearing Black Lives Matter paraphernalia. After weathering immense public backlash, the company released a memo claiming that its seemingly neutral stance stemmed from a fear that such political touting could be “misunderstood and potentially incite violence.” However, after public outrage, the company immediately shifted its stance and encouraged employees to show support and wear Black Lives Matter apparel.

This is no longer the case. To show our support in our stores, our Black Partner Network is co-creating and sending shirts for our partners (employees) to acknowledge this movement & demonstrate our support for Black partners, customers and communities, if they choose to do so.

— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) June 15, 2020

Starbucks attempted to mitigate the damage and reassure customers that it champions Black Lives Matter.

This historic movement is a catalyst for change. Right now, it’s telling us many things need to be addressed. Our store dress code now allows the use of Black Lives Matter pins/t-shirts and we will be sending t-shirts to our partners in the US and Canada.

— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) June 15, 2020

 In response to public outrage, Starbucks pledged to donate $1 million to various Black Lives Matter organizations, which for this $28.2 billion company isn’t a ton, but it’s a start. In addition to its donation, Starbucks announced that it planned to produce approximately 250,000 Black Lives Matter corporate t-shirts, featuring racial equity slogans. These corporate T-shirts are intended to be worn by employees at various store locations and sold online to customers (with proceeds going towards Black Lives Matter organizations). 

Black Lives Matter. We continue to listen to our partners and communities and their desire to stand for justice together. The Starbucks Black Partner Network co-designed t-shirts with this graphic that will soon be sent to 250,000+ store partners. pic.twitter.com/Wexb45RcTE

— Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) June 12, 2020

This leading coffee chain has found itself in some serious hot water; long-time customers are reassessing their allegiance to Starbucks; ethical consumers are reluctant or unwilling to be affiliated with a company that refuses to condemn racism. We are closely watching Starbucks’ actions. Only time will tell if this sudden surge of activism is authentic and if Starbucks will stand with Black Lives Matter, and condemn racism in the long-run. We are hoping that they will.