Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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low key racism? (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Ship_Safe
so for the new pineapple drink my boss is having the partners dress up in “Hawaiian get up” (as he put it) and greet guest by saying “aloha” the whole store is “Hawaiian themed” (as he put it again) and wants all the partners to participate or they are “no fun” and “will be judged lovingly” for not participating. i’m not working today (luckily) cause there’s no way i’m doing that. am i over reacting or this is incredibly inappropriate for a drink that isn’t even Hawaiian or native islander based? it’s just a pineapple drink???
Purgatory-Maybe 48 points 1y ago
As someone who is part native hawaiian, that’s really gross :( Maybe it might be understandable if you were located in Hawai’i and there was a huge Hawai’i themed launch, but ehh that doesn’t feel good. Especially when the drink is just a tropical drink, not specific to Hawai’i like you said!
yungfroggie 36 points 1y ago
we are definitely way past the whole using hawaiian culture as a party theme shit. call him out tbh
ladysingtheblues 16 points 1y ago
Lol we just went about work as usual
PauseAccording20 11 points 1y ago
Nah they could have done a beach, vacation, or tropical theme but explicitly calling it Hawaiian theme is definitely at the LEAST cultural appropriation and as a society we are past this point .
MrMattimo 3 points 1y ago
I mean, the big celebration is the launch of a pineapple product, a fruit ***almost*** exclusive to Hawaii. It's not really appropriating to wear a Hawaiian shirt, especially since that's an item Hawaiians literally give out to visitors. Now coconut bras, hair tied up with reed twine and thatch flip flops would be appropriating.
gingergal-n-dog 8 points 1y ago
Idk about racism but awfully tone deaf, especially if the partners aren't into the theme. Plus aren't Hawaiian shirts and grass skirts out of dress code??
MrMattimo 1 points 1y ago
Kinda sorta. We wore Hawaiian shirts yesterday but had color correct shirts under them. The grass skirts are definitely a violation but I imagine they'd be fine if you're on a 3-4hr planted in one position like DTO or Cafe reg.
Tvdrone16 5 points 1y ago
It's not racist or appropriating culture, people are insanely sensitive over plastic flowers on a string. But the real issue is your manager with the "judged lovingly". You don't have to participate if you don't want to. It's work, not a fashion show.
fuwaldah 3 points 1y ago
I don't know. I want to say no, it's not racist, but I'm also a white person so I shouldn't comment. I don't think you need to do anything that will make you feel uncomfortable however.
Maybe say it feels like cultural appropriation instead of outright racism.
Maybe say it feels like cultural appropriation instead of outright racism.
Ship_Safe [OP] 13 points 1y ago
yeah cultural appropriation is probably the word i shoulda used. still extremely inappropriate for a drink that’s just a pineapple drink
Imaginary-Fix-2469 2 points 1y ago
I mean you sound like youre fun at parties
madisonla 2 points 1y ago
Wooof. Hell nah that doesn’t feel right
Starbucks_IVF_MAMA -17 points 1y ago
Making a mountain out of self molehill. Sm was trying to raise morale, if you are that bothered say something.
femalehomosapien18 14 points 1y ago
Let me guess, you’re not Hawaiian saying this
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