Meghan speaks about racism

[DaisyChain31]

I was watching the news a few minutes a go and watched Meghan (Markle, Duchesss of Sussex), speaking about racism.

She has faced a lot of racism but she didn't mention her plight or go into it. It's palpable on Facebook for example. People saying things like she doesn't fit into the royal family, is she white or black, Harry should have married English rose Cressida because she's a better fit etc. All pretty disgusting to be honest. The latest is that her looks are being compared to Cressida's so it's a mix of underhanded racism, sexism and just nastiness really.

Do you think that Meghan deliberately never spoke about what she has faced because she doesn't think she faces the same issues that general citizens of the US and other countries around the world face? Because she is in a privileged position compared or others (security, respected by a lot of non racists etc).

Do you think that this issue, right now, should focus on racism that will lead to brutality which will most likely be experienced by non celebrities or do you think that it should focus on racism against black people over all, even though the racism is sometimes just words from trolls and idiots on social media? Words still hurt but I can see why Meghan would perhaps not want to try and liken herself to George Floyd for example as it's unlikely Meghan would ever find herself in the hands of police to do as they please.

Do you think black celebrities should speak up because their voices often reach further or do you think it might come across as insensitive to the general population of black people because celebrities are much less likely to experience racial police brutality for example?

Do you think that class is playing a major roll in all of this along with racism?

This is a tweet about her baby by a BBC journalist.

Also, there really wasn’t any need to share the picture.

When given the opportunity Meghan never passes up the chance to speak about racial and social injustices. She is not perfect but she does not pretend that because she became a duchess that she’s no longer an ethnic minority woman. Many in her situation would just relish in the privilege and keep their mouths shut.

Bit of a stretch to call Danny Baker a journalist. He’s a radio/ TV presenter and not a good one at that. He lost his job over it. BBC acted swiftly.

Oh that's fine then.

Also, there really wasn’t any need to share the picture

No, certainly not. We wouldn't want to confront readers with the true and unvarnished nature of casual British racism and make white people uncomfortable, would we?

She mentioned a female victim too because let's not forget, it's not just black men that face racism and police brutality, lots of black women do as well.

I know there could be a lengthy debate about how all races face police brutality but the issue right now is that black people face it disproportionately in their settings in the first world (mostly in the US).

If Meghan was white, she wouldn't have faced some of the abuse she has gotten. It would be naive to think otherwise. The press wouldn't have done that horrible picture, people wouldn't be saying she's ruined the English heritage of the royal family (they aren't even all English ffs) and people wouldn't have stupid debates about her skin colour.

She perhaps thought that her, Harry and their child would be treated like Kate and William and their children. Why would she think they wouldn't be? She of course would expect some criticism as all the royals get it but why would she think that the papers would write horrible things about her and post nasty pictures comparing her child to a chimp? Do people not see why she would like to create distance? The royal family are hardly known for being race accepting are they? Look at the whole uproar about Princess Diana getting involved with Dodi Fayed. The royals and their cronies were not very happy about that.

Yawn,thread hidden.

Look at the whole uproar about Princess Diana getting involved with Dodi Fayed. The royals and their cronies were not very happy about that.

Yes, and they were absolutely beside themselves with the prospect of her having his baby.

@480Widdio good, see ya 👋

If she spoke about her experience she would of been accused about making it about her and actually she was right not do

There isn’t a “good” way for royalty or the 1% to give an opinion on this subject, but a graduation speech to a private school is more than a bit tone deaf.

She should have separated the two things out, and maybe kept her remarks confidential instead of releasing the full footage.

Look at the whole uproar about Princess Diana getting involved with Dodi Fayed. The royals and their cronies were not very happy about that
Well actually it was Diana's mother who was most cruel about it. I won't repeat what she said.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Al-Fayed
Dodi's father isn't exactly an angel

I've been a dyed-in-the-wool republican since my teens. Other than in political terms, the over-privileged Windsors are not people to who I give a great deal of thought, and given that they are so cossetted and over-protected it's never occurred to me to be supportive of any one of them.

But even I think Meghan has been put through quite enough. Yes, she got some things wrong and no, her behaviour hasn't always been perfect. But the same distinction can apply to every other member of that generation of her in-laws who are given a free pass for precisely the same behaviour. In many cases I see her as superior to most of the bone-idle, perpetually-holidaying members of that same generation. She puts them to shame. She's articulate and can string a sentence together. She got off her backside and made her own career in a particularly cut-throat profession. She has - shock horror - a vagina and a point of view. IMO, she's worth three of a certain particularly insipid in-law whose measure of 'dignity, loyalty, duty and being a "lady"' is to be like a wax mannequin and keep schtum, follow along a deferential 3 steps in her husband's wake while wearing a pretty dress (and tights) and doing as little work as humanly possible.

If that is the country's misogynistic expectation of a senior female representative then unfortunately the UK has a lot to learn. It's also to this sexist, upper class, white, over-privileged family's detriment that they were not able to make the biracial, American, actress woman and their son stay within the crippling confines of that environment. And that says as much about their failings as it does about hers.

Interesting that her husband's uncle is a prime exemplar of Caucasian, upper-class, masculine privilege. The harm he's done, together with a lifetime habit of leaching off other privileged people, pales into complete insignificance compared with any of the accusations levelled at Meghan. Yet his (far graver) misdemeanours have attracted a fraction of the column inches and bitter criticism levelled at his nephew's wife.

No one has to look too hard or too far for the reason.

Meghan is a great example of how you can have privilege (in her case, she is hugely wealthy, very powerful, very conventionally beautiful and quite light skinned) and still be a victim of racism.

Lots of people claim that white privilege isn’t real because they are white and don’t themselves feel privileged, and I can see why some might feel that compared to someone like Meghan they are not remotely privileged. But it doesn’t change the fact that they still have white privilege because the reason they face difficulties in their lives are not down to the colour of their skin. Whereas Meghan’s other forms of privilege are not able to protect her from racism.

I think as a very privileged person of colour Meghan has done exactly the right thing by shining a light on the issue without focusing on her own experiences (for all that these have been horrific).

Nice to be lectured to by a Duchess on privilege...

@LydiaDusbyn, what exactly does that mean? You are not actually insinuating that because she's rich and professionally successful, that she's not allowed a voice on black issues that have and will always directly affect her?

But even I think Meghan has been put through quite enough. Yes, she got some things wrong and no, her behaviour hasn't always been perfect.......IMO, she's worth three of a certain particularly insipid in-law whose measure of 'dignity, loyalty, duty and being a "lady"' is to be like a wax mannequin and keep schtum, follow along a deferential 3 steps in her husband's wake while wearing a pretty dress (and tights) and doing as little work as humanly possible.

You’re just pitting women against each other there MarieIVan, which is hardly an improvement on whatever it is that you’re objecting to.

@LydiaDusbyn and what privilege is that exactly? Do share exactly what you think her privilege is....because she has still been a victim of racism regardless of her financial and societal position

Nice to be lectured to by a Duchess on privilege...

You do know she wasn’t always a duchess?
You do know she has experienced racism?

[quote cyclingmad]@LydiaDusbyn and what privilege is that exactly? Do share exactly what you think her privilege is....because she has still been a victim of racism regardless of her financial and societal position[/quote]
You’re seriously asking what privilege a Royal Duchess & Princess of the United Kingdom has?

You need to reverse your understanding of intersectionality if that’s your understanding of how it works.

MM doesn’t somehow surrender all of her other advantages and achievements because she’s a WoC.

I liked her speech a lot and thought it was quite nice of her to address the graduating class from her old high school.

I think black celebrities should speak out and share their own experiences of racism too as they often have diverse fan bases and can reach more people.

I think the word "victim" has finally been rendered meaningless. I look forward to her being called a "survivor" of the Royal Family after she ditches Harry.

@ArriettyJones I'm not to make assumptions about what someone else thinks privilege might be...that's why I asked because that poster might have said something different to what others think.

I threw those examples in to find out if that's where that poster was going

So calm down

[quote cyclingmad]@ArriettyJones I'm not to make assumptions about what someone else thinks privilege might be...that's why I asked because that poster might have said something different to what others think.

I threw those examples in to find out if that's where that poster was going

So calm down[/quote]
I’d have to get het up first, and I can’t be bothered to expend the energy on such nonsense.

There are inspirational people out there giving genuinely impressive takes on the US situation. Why would we all sit around pretending not to know the nature of Markle’s privilege or feigning belief that she has a hot take on police brutality?

Silliness. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Do you think black celebrities should speak up because their voices often reach further or do you think it might come across as insensitive to the general population of black people because celebrities are much less likely to experience racial police brutality for example?

I think it is often forgotten that many black celebrities (and non-black celebrities) worked their way up to being celebrities and accumulating the wealth they have. They worked their way up while dealing with racism. They don’t automatically forget their upbringings and experiences just because they have money, their experiences with racism also don’t end because they have money. Serena Williams, one of the most well-known tennis players in the world, married to the co-founder of Reddit experiences racism after the birth of her first child when a nurse refused to believe her and she had to get another doctor. Serena knew her medical conditions and what was needed yet was ignored. Studies show that black women get subpar treatment regardless of education and wealth compared to other races.

Look at the many instances where black people have been questioned or threatened because they don’t seem to “belong” to certain areas. In other words, they can’t afford such things because of their skin colour.

I also think the question above is a bit strange in itself, asking a community of mostly white people if they think the general population of black people will find her comments insensitive. How would they know? Their handful of black friends do not speak for all black people.

Also, many black people have seen how black celebrities are treated and we’ve also seen how Meghan has been treated in the U.K. I have my own experiences of racism living in both the US and the U.K. She also has talked about what her life was like growing up as a bi-racial child and the overt racism she saw her mother endure (some by her own father’s family). Why would her experiences be insensitive or not valid because of her status when racism still effects her regardless?

I think the fact she didn't touch upon her own experience shows that she does not think she suffers like any other non wealthy black person. She seems fully aware that she will not experience racism in a different way to black people living non affluent lives. The fact is though, she does put up with racism.

The thread clearly says 'do you think class plays a part in racism'. If you think it does, just say that