The Washington Post’s Alexandra Petri imagines a conversation about race at Starbucks:
______________________

Starbucks Customer: One flat white, please.

Barista: Name?

Starbucks Customer: A. Terrible Racist. That is my name, but it also describes me. I am a terrible racist.

Barista: (smiling, writes “Race Together” on cup next to impeccably spelled name)

Starbucks Customer: “Race together”? What’s this?

Barista: (smiling more broadly) I’m so glad you asked. We have problems in this country with regard to race and racial inequality.

Starbucks Customer: What? No!

Barista: But I believe we’re better than this, and I believe the country’s better than this. And that’s why there’s need for compassion, and need for empathy, and need for love towards others.

Starbucks Customer: Wow. You’re so right. I never saw that before, but wow. I have a lot of people to apologize to, and I’m going to go pay this forward, you ever bet! I’m telephoning all my uncles immediately to explain why they are wrong!

Barista: Great. Can I help whoever’s next, please?