Hasta La Creative!

Starbucks employees will no longer write “Race Together” on customers’ cups, ending the first stage of the company’s controversial effort to spur a discussion on U.S. race relations.

The coffee chain is now moving ahead with the next phase of the program, CEO Howard Schultz said in an open letter to workers on Sunday. That includes employee forums, dialogue with police and community leaders, and a commitment to expanding stores to urban communities, he said. The “Race Together” cup messages, which were criticized as ham-fisted on social media, ended on Sunday — as was originally planned, Mr. Schultz said.

“While there has been criticism of the initiative — and I know this hasn’t been easy for any of you — let me assure you that we didn’t expect universal praise,” he said.

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