Harry and Meghan doing alright in the US, continuing their universal service

[notanotheroneagain]

Have heard a few comments from panellists and commenters thinking that Harry somehow wants to come back to the UK?

I highly doubt this. I think they are doing more than ok in the US.

A pity a positive thread has been deleted regarding the podcasts, maybe the positive conversation can continue here?

In particularly I wanted to highlight the announcement that they will be recipients for the Robert J Kennedy Human Rights award.

“When The Duke and Duchess accepted our award laureate invitation back in March, we were thrilled. The couple has always stood out for their willingness to speak up and change the narrative on racial justice and mental health around the world,” Kerry Kennedy, president of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, and Robert F. Kennedy's daughter, said in a statement shared today. “They embody the type of moral courage that my father once called the ‘one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change.’”

To be honest I can't say I'm surprised about the why why why on Mumsnet. I haven't done my ancestry thingy but I get why she would donate to Nigeria specifically at this time. I have seen normal people, celebrities etc all black cry and get really emotional when they find out where their ancestors come from. I have seen videos of black people from UK / US / Brazil go to Africa for the first time and really feel something. So Meghan is not wrong in any way here, but it's still fascinating to watch how this will unfold. Some like me have been curious since Tuesday podcast of where the winds will blow in UK so maybe this is it

That’s the thing. Why can’t they just give money without trumpeting to all and sundry?
It's the usual whatever they do it's wrong - if they don't announce they are slaughtered for not helping anyone - when they do announce even that is wrong.

Why can't they announce? - it's always the ones far removed from the situation that have the most to complain about - their donation has no impact at all on those complaining and from what I've seen Nigerian social media has been mostly positive. They seem to appreciate it which at the end of the day is what matters - So tired of this faux concern on other's behalf just to get a dig.

Why not donate the money when the floods started causing devastation and the death toll was rising in August?

In fairness we don't know that they didn't, but then we don't know either whether any money came directly from Archewell, or via some kind of partnership like the one with VING which enabled them to help women's projects

It's interesting though to see it said that Meghan donated, when actually I thought Archewell was in both H&M's names - another example perhaps of folk picking narratives to suit

This. It's amazing really

It’s a good and moral thing to give to those who need - of course it is!

But when your ‘employer’ publicises it at a time when they’re pushing your work for them FOR PROFIT….I mean. COME ON.

Going and giving back to your people is a big thing. It can be very overwhelming for diasporas, especially when they don’t know where they come from. So yes, I do find this distasteful. I’d say the same if, I don’t know, Kanye found out he was part Cameroonian and used Adidas or GAP to announce he’s giving flood relief money.

I think we'd know they didn't because Save the Children made the announcement about the donation today. Unless the donation was made in August and STC were told to hang fire til the day of the podcast? Would a charity do that? Unlikely.

STC announced it was from Archewell.

Tbh if I found out I was part Malawian/ Sudanese / Ghanaian, I hope those that know me done judge me if I donate to any of those countries in anyway I can. Glad Nigerians welcome her . I still donate now to charities based in Africa small ones. But damn I don't know what I would do if I really traced my path. Meghan the human decided to do this and it's appreciated to those who matter.

I agree. It’s simply pathetic and very desperate.

Fair point about the timing, Marsha; I was trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, but while as said the recipients will doubtless be grateful, it does begin to look like an announcement to bolster the podcast

In which case I can see the point of those who object, especially since using someone else's agony for publicity is usually roundly slammed on here

Tbh if I found out I was part Malawian/ Sudanese / Ghanaian, I hope those that know me done judge me if I donate to any of those countries in anyway I can. Glad Nigerians welcome her .

First of all, i believe Archewell has made donations around the world to different causes. I don't believe they only donated to Nigeria because MM is half Nigerian. I think that's very unfair to imply.

I think it's great Archewell donated because ultimately it's money going to a good cause. And as I've said, why not announce it? That in itself can encourage more money to be given. No shade on either of them over that.

But a poster said she'd made the donation now because there had only been a bit of a flooding problem up til now, implying its just a coincidence that the donation aligned with the podcast about her heritage. That's not true. The floods have been ongoing since summer causing hundreds of deaths. Why not donate earlier? I mean, they don't have to donate at all, but why leave it to the date of her podcast?
And if I've made a mistake and they did, in fact, donate earlier, why did they coordinate with Save the Children and Spotify to make the announcement on the day of the podcast?

"But when your ‘employer’ publicises it at a time when they’re pushing your work for them FOR PROFIT….I mean. COME ON."

My question is, why did Spotify decide to announce it? That is a them decision and may or may not have anything to do with Meghan forcing them to.

We do not know if Meghan asked them to announce it OR if Spotify decided to announce it to coincide with the STC announcement.

Remember, her podcast was delayed for weeks, so maybe this is a mere coincidence. People are ASSuming without all the facts needed to make an accurate judgement.

I get what you are saying but to me it doesn't matter. Like you say they have donated to charities all over the world. Each time they donate their donations are dissected on here and elsewhere in sections of the British media. So if this one time Meghan donated to a cause because she is 43% Nigerian I personally don't see an issue. It's a big deal for her whether she knew months ago or not, loved that Ziwe was very welcoming and nice to her about it.

Im always fascinated by mumsnet reaction to Meghan and her donations in contrast with the announcements with working royals who are beloved .What she donates, where she donates does not in any way affect anyone here, why the nit picking?

Having worked for a charity for many years and being reliant on donations, I'm very keen on charitable giving. You will never have seen me question any money being given and I've always given credit for doing that. I feel no different here. Money is going where it's needed and money attracts money. That's why it's important it's announced.

But to time it in such a way as to draw attention to her podcast is icky. To have Save the Children announce it on the day of her podcast whilst Spotify link the two actions feels like she's manipulating charity. I don't like that. But maybe it's because I'm British. Maybe that's how foundations operate in the US? It just leaves a bad taste to me which is a shame because I think most of us could have made the connection without them using a 2 by 4 to clobber us over the head with.

It’s far more likely that the reason it coincided with the latest podcast was to maximise publicity for the disaster. It was obvious that the podcast would generate headlines, as it does each week, so what better opportunity to use the revelation of the duchess’ genealogy to bring attention to (and maintain coverage of) the natural disaster in Nigeria? This, in turn, would encourage further donations and put political pressure on other nations to provide assistance. Having worked in international development I know how difficult it is for charities to secure long-term coverage of disasters in the national media so they are always looking for different angles/stories to pitch to journalists in order to get that much needed coverage. This is one such example.

Especially in the US. I have no idea what it is like for blacks in the UK, but in the US, many black people have no idea where they came from or even what their family names are! Because records were not kept and many slaves brought here were given "white" sounding names and last names. Some were given the last names of their owners.

Many black people in the US think they may be from one country due to family stories and then find out after a DNA test they had it all wrong. So again, this is another attempt to bash Meghan for something other black in the US can relate to.

should have read "other black people in the US"

It’s far more likely that the reason it coincided with the latest podcast was to maximise publicity for the disaster.

Why not maximise it in September when the death toll was rising? Then they could have had jimmied an extra month of donations. If that was a great strategy, why didn't she switch round the order of the podcasts and broadcast her heritage and donation earlier?

Nobody is bashing Meghan for having Nigerian dna, or saying she has Nigerian dna. Good for her!! And, mother to mother, I’m especially happy she knows her history now that she has children to pass it on to. When you’re young and childless it’s easy to not think about these things. But having children brings these things to the foreground. It probably doesn’t help her that her husband’s ancestry is readily available to all who want it, going back centuries!

Meghan is being bashed for the hypocrisy for saying she’s giving altruistically, for insulting people‘s intelligence by making out it’s all benevolent munificence when actually it’s self-serving enrichment under the guise of altruism (sooo much worse than being straight up about building up riches). British people do NOT respond well to that.

The Nigerian floods floods are still ongoing. Whole streets are now even today covered with water, so no she is not too late with her donations. Didn't King Charles just send a message on Friday or a few days ago saying how he and his wife are deeply saddened by the floods?. Meghan's donation like many other practical help that will come is very welcome.

For one thing the story would not have received much coverage in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death. Also, I believe the podcast was paused during the period of national mourning.

"British people do NOT respond well to that."

Thank goodness she is in the US then. I think the British people would do well to remind themselves that she is no longer trying to appeal to the British public. If I were in her shoes, I wouldn't give a rats ass what the British people think.

Although being in the US and working within US based terms and norms doesn't seem to stop British people from making a judgement about any little thing she does. I wonder how many people could just say "wow, those Americans do things differently than we do here" and then understand that things are done differently here.

You should research the stores in the US who ask for change at the register and then make donations to the stated charity with a small portion of the funds they receive. Oh, they make it sound like great causes, and they are, but there is no way to tell how much of that money actually gets donated. AND the corporation is able to take a write off on corporate taxes for making said donation and they haven't put up a single penny.

Things just work differently in the US. Who knew?

The Nigerian floods floods are still ongoing. Whole streets are now even today covered with water, so no she is not too late with her donations. Didn't King Charles just send a message on Friday or a few days ago saying how he and his wife are deeply saddened by the floods?. Meghan's donation like many other practical help that will come is very welcome.

No, of course she's not too late. Charitable money is never too late for an ongoing problem like Nigerias. Again, I think it's admirable money has been given.

It's the timing with the Save the Children and Spotifys announcements that is icky to me. Not that they've given money.

I just went back and checked. Meghan paused the podcast the week of September 11th and resumed October 4th.

Another example of she cant win.

She announces it during the national morning period and she is a monster. She waits to announce it in October, she is a monster.

She doesn't announce the donation, she is a monster for not using Arcehwell for the intended purposes. She does announce it she is seeking attention and using her foundation for personal gain.

I see hypocrisy here, but it isn't Meghan.

Please note that the vast majority of British people are not preoccupied with the ins and outs of Meghan’s life. There are also many who like or sympathise with her. Therefore, please don’t judge us on the words and actions of a very small group of individuals.

For one thing the story would not have received much coverage in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death. Also, I believe the podcast was paused during the period of national mourning.

I don't understand. The floods caused hundreds of deaths in August before the queen died on 8th Sept. The queen's funeral was 19th Sept. If it felt that it would have been spotlight stealing to donate during that 11 day period, I understand. But they could have donated any time from then til now. They didn't have to donate at all and it's great they did, but why is it necessary to tie it in with a podcast at all? They could just have announced her ancestry and the donation in a press release. In fact that would have given the money and got some publicity. And then if people truly believe the podcast would give loads more publicity to the floods, when the podcast was released that's a second lot of publicity.