{"id":77596,"date":"2024-01-21T11:22:03","date_gmt":"2024-01-21T09:22:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.caffeinedude.com\/?p=77596"},"modified":"2024-01-21T11:22:03","modified_gmt":"2024-01-21T09:22:03","slug":"is-coffee-racist-how-drinking-coffee-perpetuates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.caffeinedude.com\/is-coffee-racist-how-drinking-coffee-perpetuates\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Coffee Racist How Drinking Coffee Perpetuates"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

Coffee is one of the most popular commodities in the world and can also be seen as an embodiment of the power imbalance between different ethnicities. For example, coffee predominantly grows in the Asian, African and Latin American regions, yet it is predominantly consumed by people of European origin. This points to the reality of the changing power dynamics that are in play when it comes to the production and consumption of coffee. The discussion of racism and coffee can be further broken down into three main perspectives – the economic, social and environmental.<\/p>\n

From an economic perspective, the coffee industry is a multi-million dollar industry that is largely dominated by Western companies and governments. In countries like Ethiopia, coffee accounts for 64% of foreign exchange income, yet the farmers in these countries rarely see the full benefit of this income. They are paid significantly lower wages than other coffee producing countries and are usually excluded from any profits made from the sale of their coffee beans. This structural inequality perpetuates the idea of racism, as these farmers are not given the same opportunities as those in other parts of the world.<\/p>\n

From a social perspective, racism in the coffee industry is also evident in the way that different ethnicities are portrayed. Advertisements often depict white people drinking coffee while using phrases like “the perfect cup of coffee” or “the ultimate coffee experience”. These ads fail to recognize the immense hard work and dedication of the farmers, traders and distributors who are behind the production of the coffee. The message is clear – coffee and the experience of consuming it is “better” if it is enjoyed by a white person. <\/p>\n

Finally, from an environmental perspective, racism in the coffee industry is seen on the land that is used to produce the coffee and the resources that are used to produce it. For instance, in countries like Mexico, large amounts of land are being cleared to make way for coffee plantations, resulting in the destruction of traditional farming methods and the displacement of indigenous populations. This further reinforces the power imbalance between white and non-white populations as the land is used for the benefit of only one group. <\/p>\n