The two African-American men who were arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks last month, accused of loitering even though they said they were just waiting for a friend before ordering, have reached a financial settlement with the city.
They will receive $1 apiece.
However, the Washington Post reports, the city also agreed “to fund $200,000 for a grant program for high school students aspiring to become entrepreneurs.”
In addition, “Starbucks announced that it had reached an agreement with Nelson and Robinson that will include an undisclosed financial settlement ‘as well as continued listening and dialogue between the parties and specific action and opportunity’.”
Starbucks has said it regrets the incident, and will close all of its company-owned stores in the US during the afternoon of May 29 in order to conduct racial bias education programs for some 175,000 employees.
They will receive $1 apiece.
However, the Washington Post reports, the city also agreed “to fund $200,000 for a grant program for high school students aspiring to become entrepreneurs.”
In addition, “Starbucks announced that it had reached an agreement with Nelson and Robinson that will include an undisclosed financial settlement ‘as well as continued listening and dialogue between the parties and specific action and opportunity’.”
Starbucks has said it regrets the incident, and will close all of its company-owned stores in the US during the afternoon of May 29 in order to conduct racial bias education programs for some 175,000 employees.
- KC's View:
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It seems to me that, though some people accused these two gentlemen of trying to make a point and score a settlement, this suggests that this was not the case. They were accused by a Starbucks employee, in essence, of waiting while black - it was an isolated case, though hardly an isolated perspective in American society.
Is the Starbucks response a solution? Of course not. Is the grant program for high school students a solution? Of course not. But they are attempts to address the situation and create elements that can be part of a national solution.
