Born a privileged white boy, Michael Gates Gill had everything necessary handed to him. High ranking, well paying jobs were easily attained through his father’s connections and money. Big houses and an Ivy League education were synonymous with his family name. However, in his late fifties, Gill lost his job, got divorced, and was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Dead broke, he was forced to get a job at Starbucks and open his mind to a whole new society. In his memoir, How Starbucks Saved My Life, Michael Gill describes his struggle in learning how to be a member of the working class and embrace a more accepting view of people different than him. He strives to make himself more broad-minded in this new community, but does not necessarily try compel
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In one event, Gill had just finished cleaning the bathroom when a homeless African American man was heading towards the bathroom. Gill “...intercepted him and explained that it was closed for cleaning- a lie I made up.” [79] Crystal, his manager, tells him to never refuse the bathroom to anyone again. Gill at first argues that it is not Starbucks responsibility to provide bathrooms for the homeless. Crystal then explains that “in my store… we are welcoming. Don’t refuse that toilet to anyone, especially someone who really needs some welcome and not another person putting them down.” [80] Gill then understands that he made a mistake, and works to push himself past his old, prejudiced ways. His old self wouldn’t have been able to see the mistake and wouldn’t have made an attempt to find the homeless man and apologize. Similarly, when Gill was trying to close the store, a Guest was still sitting at a table. This Guest had previously been rude to him, and now was blatantly ignoring that fact that it was time to close. “...happy to have a reason to kick him out” [167], Gill approached the man with irritation and told him that the store was closing for the night. Trying to force him to leave only resulted in the Guest pulling out his knife and threatening Gill. Kester, another employee, had to calm the situation, and only then did the Guest leave. Gill realizes that he was still “too proud, and prideful… too quick to take offense. The [Guest] had been wrong, but I had encouraged him in a confrontation.” [173] While Gill had been in the wrong, he now realizes that he is wrong. He wants to move past his old ways and strives to develop a new character for himself. Never in his memoir does Gill try to impose these ideas upon other
In one event, Gill had just finished cleaning the bathroom when a homeless African American man was heading towards the bathroom. Gill “...intercepted him and explained that it was closed for cleaning- a lie I made up.” [79] Crystal, his manager, tells him to never refuse the bathroom to anyone again. Gill at first argues that it is not Starbucks responsibility to provide bathrooms for the homeless. Crystal then explains that “in my store… we are welcoming. Don’t refuse that toilet to anyone, especially someone who really needs some welcome and not another person putting them down.” [80] Gill then understands that he made a mistake, and works to push himself past his old, prejudiced ways. His old self wouldn’t have been able to see the mistake and wouldn’t have made an attempt to find the homeless man and apologize. Similarly, when Gill was trying to close the store, a Guest was still sitting at a table. This Guest had previously been rude to him, and now was blatantly ignoring that fact that it was time to close. “...happy to have a reason to kick him out” [167], Gill approached the man with irritation and told him that the store was closing for the night. Trying to force him to leave only resulted in the Guest pulling out his knife and threatening Gill. Kester, another employee, had to calm the situation, and only then did the Guest leave. Gill realizes that he was still “too proud, and prideful… too quick to take offense. The [Guest] had been wrong, but I had encouraged him in a confrontation.” [173] While Gill had been in the wrong, he now realizes that he is wrong. He wants to move past his old ways and strives to develop a new character for himself. Never in his memoir does Gill try to impose these ideas upon other