article_snippet: The last day workers will write the messages is on March 22 as the initiative, which was accused of using racial tensions to boost its bottom line, will continue more broadly without the handwritten notes.
article_snippet: the initiative previously encouraged workers to write 'Race
article_snippet: new 'Race Together' campaign . '
article_snippet: This phase of the effort -- writing 'Race Together' (or placing stickers) on cups, which was always just the catalyst for a much broader and longer term conversation -- will be completed as originally planned today, March 22.
article_snippet: Our have a number of planned Race Together activities in the weeks and months to come: more partner open forums, three more special sections co-produced with USA TODAY over the course of the next year, more open dialogue with police and community leaders in cities across our country, a continued focus on jobs and education for our nation's young people plus our commitment to hire 10,000 opportunity youth over the next three years, expanding our store footprint in urban communities across our country, and new partnerships to foster dialogue and empathy and help bridge the racial and ethnic divides within our society that have existed for so many years.
article_snippet: I want to thank those of you who took time this week to share what you were seeing, hearing, feeling and thinking as we rolled out Race Together across our country.
article_snippet: An issue as tough as racial and ethnic inequality requires risk-taking and tough-minded action.
article_snippet: One user tweeted: 'I don't have time to explain 400 years of oppression to you & still make my train.'
article_snippet: Another added: '#RaceTogether is what happens when a 1%-er without any actual anti-racist education or training has a mid-life 'white man's burden' crisis.'
article_snippet: Controversial: The new campaign encourages workers to write 'Race Together' on customer's cups and to strike up conversations about Race.
highlights_snippet: Coffee chain's 'Race Together' campaign, was slammed on social media and was accused of using racial tensions to boost its bottom line .
  