Meghan Markle’s claims of racism reverberate around the world

As Prince Harry and Meghan’s television interview resonates internationally, more than 50 million viewers are grappling with claims of racism and a lack of support from the couple that, according to Meghan, led to suicidal thoughts.

But for many black women around the world, the headlines and discussions on social media were painfully familiar. With conversations on social media questioning whether racism affected the treatment of Meghan by the British press and the royal family, many black women say it is yet another example of a black woman’s experiences with racism being ignored and ignored. deny.

“White supremacy seeks to isolate you, make you feel like no one is listening and no one supports you. It uses it as a tool to keep you in power,” said Gaye Theresa Johnson, associate professor in UCLA’s Department of African American Studies. “So when you are not validated in your feelings or you feel supported, it does real damage.”

Meghan, the daughter of a white father and a black mother, said that when she was pregnant with her son Archie, a member of the royal family expressed “concerns … about how dark his skin might be.” The former TV star also said that she sought mental health help through the palace’s human resources department, but was told there was nothing she could do.

Almost as soon as the Oprah Winfrey interview aired, many were quick to deny Meghan’s accusations of racism. The New York Post ran a column titled “Meghan Markle’s Interview Was Full of Nonsense.” British TV host Piers Morgan quit his job on Good Morning Britain after facing backlash for saying on air that Meghan lied about having suicidal thoughts in what he called a “two-hour trash marathon of our royal family.” .

On Tuesday, Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying that “the whole family is saddened to learn of the degree of challenge that the last few years have had for Harry and Meghan”, but that “some memories may vary.”

Johnson said the doubts and questions raised against Meghan’s claims were emotionally heartbreaking for many black women, who may relate to the trauma of having their personal experiences with racism invalidated by others.

“It is an insult when people are incredulous about the racism that people like Meghan Markle experienced because that disbelief says a lot about what people refuse to see, what is in front of their eyes all the time and that some people have to surf daily, “he said. saying.

“That affects a person and their mental health.”

Dr. Anita Thomas, executive vice president and president of St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota, said that watching Meghan’s interview with Winfrey was emotional.

“It speaks to the burden that many African American women face,” she said. “For black women, it was disturbing to see that even when she had the courage to speak up about her experiences with racism, she did not get the support she needed and, in many ways, her experiences were invalidated.”

Thomas said that enduring such treatment requires “psychological and emotional energy” to navigate. “As a psychologist, I hope people talk about this effect of racism and sexism on psychological functioning,” she said.

Sinai Fleary, founder of British lifestyle publication Reggae and Rasta Jus’ Jah Magazine, said that while she initially saw a lot of support for Meghan, she quickly saw that change on social media.

“They will dismiss, they will ignore what we’ve been saying and what Meghan and Harry have been saying,” Fleary, who lives in London, wrote on Twitter. “This is how the media and certain parts of the public work. The same formula, every time.”

Fleary told The Associated Press that Meghan’s interview brought back her own memories of being racially profiled in stores and seeing white women grab her bags on public transportation when they saw her.

“If such blatant racism like the one Meghan spoke about is immediately denied, will people believe me when I tell them these less overt and everyday examples of racism that I face every day?” she asked.

Fleary said the UK has a long history of firing black women in conversations about racism. “They are never believed,” he said. “It’s always denying and dismissing. It can be so cheeky and people will still say they don’t see it.”

Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, pointed to racist attitudes in the British media as a reason for turning away from royal duties and moving to North America last year, something Harry reiterated in the interview with Winfrey.

When Meghan and Harry started dating, many pointed to the relationship as evidence that Britain is entering a “post-racial” era, but the racism Meghan faced in the British media told another story.

When news of their relationship first broke, publications were quick to refer to Meghan in racist terms, and a tabloid columnist referred to her “exotic” DNA. A Mail Online headline said Meghan was “(almost) straight from Compton,” and a Daily Star headline asked if Harry “would marry gangster royalty.”

Then, when Meghan and Harry announced that they were stepping away from official royal duties last year, people quickly began to question that racism was what kept Meghan away.

Heather McGhee, author of the book “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs All of Us and How We Can Thrive Together,” said the immediate rush by some to deny Meghan’s allegations was upsetting.

And that denial is something black women face every day, she said.

“Very often, black women in conference rooms and offices experience discrimination and have no recourse, in the same way that one of the most powerful black women in the world had no recourse but to drop everything,” McGhee said of Meghan. .

“I hope we realize that there is a much less powerful version of Meghan in her office or school that is being discriminated (against) and has no champions. I hope this encourages more people to stand up for their black co-workers, neighbors. and friends.”

-AP