'Starbucks racism' fame led to DEI project. It was canceled
LA TimesFew know the names Michelle Saahene or Melissa DePino. She told audiences she’d always thought of herself “as not racist — one of the good ones” — but it wasn’t until that day in Starbucks that “it just hit me” that racism “never happens to me.” Saahene, who studied health policy in college, spoke of entering corporate healthcare and becoming dismayed at the idea of profiting from helping people — before realizing her purpose was to push white people to speak out against injustice. If you want to see racism dismantled, you have to show up to the conversation.” “The word ‘privilege’ is triggering for white people,” DePino chimed in, telling audiences that Saahene “doesn’t dislike you for your privilege, she just wants it too.” The two had become close. She called DePino “manipulative” and cited “the challenges of working with white women in racial justice,” arguing that “Black people shouldn’t always have to be in therapist or coach mode.” DePino replied: “I thought our personal relationship was so much deeper. “It’s like people just stopped caring, even though the problem — racism — never went away,” Saahene said.
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