( CNN ) Starbucks charges more than $ 5 for a large ( `` venti '' in Starbucks speak ) Caramel Frappuccino , yet no one bats an eye . But when the CEO of Starbucks announced a plan he hoped would ease racial tensions , the response was immediate outrage ! This latest controversy started Monday when Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz unveiled a new initiative in which Starbucks baristas would write the words `` Race Together '' on coffee cups to help spark a dialogue on race . Schultz even took out full-page ads in The New York Times and USA Today touting this effort . Twitter immediately lit up with a flurry of angry tweets -- apparently from people who have consumed far too much caffeine . Surprisingly , though , the backlash came from all sides . One self-described conservative tweeted this : . A person who noted her support of progressive causes in her Twitter profile tweeted : . Even people in the middle expressed scorn with tweets such as : . I , on the other hand , applaud Schultz 's efforts , at least in theory . As Schultz correctly stated when discussing the genesis for `` Race Together , '' `` If we just keep going about our business ... and ignoring this ( racial issue ) , then I think we are , in a sense , part of the problem . '' Sure , I also see some logistical problems with the `` get your iced Mocha Frappuccino with a shot of racial tolerance '' approach . First , I live in New York City , where New Yorkers barely have the patience to wait for a cup of plain old coffee to be poured let alone stand in line longer while people engage in a nuanced discourse on race . I can envision awkward situations where the baristas ask a customer , `` So how do you want your coffee ? '' to which the customer responds , `` Black . '' For some reason saying `` black '' in the context of this program could feel uncomfortable . Next thing you know , Starbucks will have to coin politically correct terms for `` black '' coffee . And as a practical matter , only 40 % of Starbucks employees are minorities . Consequently , in most Starbucks , the conversation about racial tolerance will between be between two white people . But let 's put those issues aside . The swift and angry backlash against Schultz 's idea proves once again that not only do n't we live in a post-racial America , we live in a hyper-racial one . In fact , a recent CNN/ORC poll found 40 % of Americans believe racial relations have become worse during the six years Barack Obama has been in the White House . It 's strikingly obvious that if we are going to improve this situation , we need to have a candid and brutally honest discussion about the underlying factors contributing to racism , the lack of empathy for people of other races , etc . And that 's simply what Starbucks ' `` Race Together '' stated goal is : `` to stimulate conversation , compassion and positive action regarding race in America . '' Starbucks ' senior vice president of communications , Corey duBrowa , deleted his Twitter account Monday after `` feeling personally attacked in a cascade of negativity '' and being `` overwhelmed by the volume and tenor of the discussion '' in response to `` Race Together . '' But duBrowa was back on Twitter on Tuesday night . Why ? Because he truly believed in `` the power of meaningful , civil , thoughtful , respectful open conversation . '' DuBrowa 's reaction may just be a teachable moment on discussing race . It 's truly not an easy topic to broach . The initial response by some , like duBrowa , may be to shut down when racial discussions become uncomfortable . But then , hopefully like duBrowa did later , the conversation can be rejoined within a framework that 's respectful to all involved . But to be blunt , one of the biggest obstacles in even starting this conversation is that most white Americans do n't want to discuss race , as polls have confirmed . For example , after the grand jury in Ferguson , Missouri , did n't indict police Officer Darren Wilson in the killing of teenager Michael Brown , a poll found that 80 % of blacks felt that the shooting raised important issues about race that needed to be discussed . How many white people agreed ? Only 37 % . And personally I have seen some white friends become defensive when race issues are raised . Why ? Because many view it as an accusation that they are somehow racist ( or at least complicit in racism ) as opposed to a starting point for a productive conversation . The question is how can we begin that talk about race that our nation desperately needs to have ? True , the line at Starbucks might not be the best place . But it has to start somewhere if we are going to close the racial gap that many , including myself , feel is growing .
Response mostly negative after Starbucks launches initiative to talk about race relations . Dean Obeidallah : Starbucks might not be best place , but how do we start a talk about race ?