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?

MarieIVanArkleStinks

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.

It's all very... odd, isn't it?

People spit all kinds of bile about Meghan, but it all looks like small change compared to what could be said about Andrew.

@PotholeParadise and then you watch the Epstein documentary on netflix and it's even more disgusting

Will, not will not. Also now, in this present time. She wasn't always famous and wealthy

@ArriettyJones, this is only about being black. It doesn't matter what personal circumstances she comes from, she and her maternal side will have started life from a more difficult position purely based on the fact that they are back. Becoming a Duchess didn't change that, in fact it only upped the racism against her. Or should black sportsmen also not speak out against racism either, because they're famous and bank millions therefore obviously have 'privilege' they've forgotten about?

[quote MouthBreathingRage]@ArriettyJones, this is only about being black. It doesn't matter what personal circumstances she comes from, she and her maternal side will have started life from a more difficult position purely based on the fact that they are back. Becoming a Duchess didn't change that, in fact it only upped the racism against her. Or should black sportsmen also not speak out against racism either, because they're famous and bank millions therefore obviously have 'privilege' they've forgotten about?[/quote]
And yet she has passed as white, and worked as white, for most of her career. So what’s the unique perspective she brings?

Her input is just a sideshow.

And yet she has passed as white, and worked as white, for most of her career. So what’s the unique perspective she brings?

Her input is just a sideshow.

Your racism is showing. However she has 'passed' as, she is still biracial and has suffered racism because of that. You have no right to question her input.

Of course she has privilege.

But that doesn't mean she is immune from racism as she herself acknowledges.

It is a willful misunderstanding in the same way a cohort on MN deliberately misunderstands the term "white privilege" and takes it as an insult.

Hardly.

@ArriettyJones I am black and I attended private school, and I’ve experienced racism. I would have loved a person of color to speak at my graduation and acknowledge the different struggles we face.

Class and wealth do not overcome race. Oprah was thrown out of a shop in Paris assumed to be a refugee. Is she too rich to speak about that?

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).

I agree with this. If she had spoken about her own experience of racism, she also would have been criticised for making it all about her. She can't really do anything right in many people's eyes.

There have been a lot of twats on Mumsnet on various threads, commenting with their thinly veiled racism, and they perfectly demonstrate the issues.

And yet she has passed as white, and worked as white, for most of her career.

How so?

Not sure why this thread is on AIBU but there you go.................

Maybe better on News or Chat? Celebs?

[quote missyoumuch]@ArriettyJones I am black and I attended private school, and I’ve experienced racism. I would have loved a person of color to speak at my graduation and acknowledge the different struggles we face.

Class and wealth do not overcome race. Oprah was thrown out of a shop in Paris assumed to be a refugee. Is she too rich to speak about that?[/quote]
Well I am of mixed heritage and partly privately educated and for precisely that reason I would avoid doing what MM has done and avoid doing it to an audience of private school pupils.

So that’s just a difference in personal perspective, I guess. (Plus my prejudice against the royals, maybe.)

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?

Speaking up (whilst being sensitive to your own advantages) can surely only be beneficial.

Irrespective of the content of her speeches, I just find her manner very false and insincere. Whenever she makes any sort of public appearance, she almost also seems to be acting, generally mimicking profundity or sincerity, and her behaviour rarely feels natural.

It's not just being an actress, it's a type of person, I know a couple of people like this, including a family member. It's off-putting.

Private school graduates are likely to be at least economically influential in the future. Who better to hear about it?

I don’t really get your position but if it makes sense to you fine.

I thought her speech was amazing, I was really moved by it.

She was brave to speak out knowing that she'd face a load of criticism and hate just for being her.........I don't get the hate she receives either. Who can criticise a woman for wanting to make sure her son didn't suffer the way his dad has ? And he has suffered greatly despite his position.

Don't blame her for bombing off her batshit family either.

Private school graduates are likely to be at least economically influential in the future. Who better to hear about it?

That’s true.

I think I’m just getting tetchy that all the bizarre angles of this BLM situation are being debated around in circles endlessly.

It would be nice to read some decent conversation about the core issues of police brutality, systematic racism, US society & Trump.

Instead I keep seeing the revolting #AllLivesMatter hashtag, endless nit picky debates about whether racism is the same as racial prejudice, strange British tangents and celebrities trying to climb aboard the virtue cookie train.

It’s pissing me off.

@ArriettyJones are you of black heritage? Either way, you really don't seem to be getting that however rich or famous she is, she still has a right to speak about Black Lives Matter. Her wealth doesn't protect her from racist abuse or change her history.

It's not just being an actress, it's a type of person, I know a couple of people like this, including a family member. It's off-putting.

So because you know family members that speak a way you don’t like, you assume because she sounds the same way to you that she isn’t genuine so what she says is meaningless to you regardless. Ok...

So because you know family members that speak a way you don’t like, you assume because she sounds the same way to you that she isn’t genuine so what she says is meaningless to you regardless. Ok...

She has an insincere, false manner IMO. I'm certainly not alone in that perception.

[quote MouthBreathingRage]@ArriettyJones are you of black heritage? Either way, you really don't seem to be getting that however rich or famous she is, she still has a right to speak about Black Lives Matter. Her wealth doesn't protect her from racist abuse or change her history.[/quote]
I have mixed heritage.

I just don’t find her a good ambassador of any helpful message. Maybe I’m talking about taste and you’re talking about her rights, and that’s why we are disagreeing.

I have mixed heritage.

@ArriettyJones, that's not what I asked and you know it.

Typical MM thread derailing that whenever the racism and obscene hypocrisy and lies are exposed, the MM haters fall back on “well I just don’t like her/think she’s false.”

No one gives a shit that you think she’s fake.

This isn’t the 805,496th Meghan bashing thread, it’s a thread about a biracial women speaking out against racism at a time when huge parts of the world are in turmoil due to systemic and violent racism and racially motivated murders.

Do you really not stop for a second and think, Maybe the middle of Black Lives Matter isn’t the ideal place and time to share the fact I dislike a biracial woman who speaks out about racism?”

I’ll never understand why Meghan bashers act like the world will end if they don’t loudly tell everyone how much they hate Megan about four times a day.

Christ sake, take the day off. An unexpressed opinion won’t kill you.