Investing in Equity: Starbucks’s Challenges and Responses to Advancing Racial Equity

Authors

  • Nicole A. Ploeger-Lyons University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, USA
  • Jennifer A. Butler University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, USA

Keywords:

Diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizations; racial bias; diversity training; organizational crisis response

Abstract

In April 2018, Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, 23-year-old black male entrepreneurs, had a meeting at a Philadelphia Starbucks store. Shortly after being denied access to the bathroom because they had not purchased anything, they were arrested. Their arrests sparked public outrage. In response, Starbucks closed its 8,000 stores one afternoon so that approximately 175,000 employees could undergo racial bias training. Starbucks has since made many additional efforts to advance racial equity.

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Published

2023-06-22

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2022): Volume 6 (2022)

Section

Articles