CHICAGO (AP) – As Prince Harry and Meghan’s TV interview resonates internationally, the more than 50 million viewers struggle with the couple’s allegations of racism and lack of support that, according to her, drove Meghan to thoughts of suicide.
But for many black women worldwide, the news and social media discussions were painfully familiar. While social media conversations question whether racism influences Meghan’s treatment of the British press and royal family, many black women say it’s yet another example of a black woman’s experiences of racism being ignored and denied. word.
“White supremacy wants to isolate you, make you feel that no one is listening and no one is supporting you. It uses it as a tool to stay in power, ‘said Gaye Theresa Johnson, an associate professor in the Department of African American Studies at UCLA. “And if you are not empowered or supported by your feelings, it does real harm.”
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 concern about how dark his skin might be.” The former television star also said she had sought help for mental health from the palace’s human resources department, but was told she could do nothing.
Almost as soon as the interview with Oprah Winfrey aired, Meghan’s allegations of racism were quickly denied. The New York Post publishes a column entitled “Meghan Markle’s interview was full of bullshit.” British television host Piers Morgan has quit his job on ‘Good Morning Britain’ after slamming back because he said on the air Meghan lied about suicidal thoughts in what he called a ‘two-hour rubbish bin’ from our royal family ‘call.
Buckingham Palace released a statement on Tuesday and said that the whole family is sad to learn the full extent of how challenging the past few years have been for Harry and Meghan, but that ‘some memories may differ.’
Johnson said the doubts and interrogation against Meghan’s allegations weakened emotionally for many black women, possibly related to the trauma of invalidating their personal experiences of racism by others.
“It’s an insult if people are unbelieving about the racism that people like Meghan Markle have experienced, because the unbelief speaks volumes of what people refuse to see, what is right in front of their eyes and that some people have to navigate daily,” he said. she said. said.
“It demands a person and his mental health.”
Dr. Anita Thomas, executive vice president and provost at the St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota, said it was emotional to see Meghan’s interview with Winfrey.
“It speaks to the burden that many African-American women face,” she said. “For black women, it was disturbing to see that, even if she had the courage to express her experiences with racism, that she did not get the support she needed, and that her experiences were in many ways invalid. wash.”
Thomas said 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 Reggae and Rasta lifestyle publication Jus’ Jah Magazine, in the UK, said while initially seeing an outpouring of support for Meghan, she quickly saw the change on social media.
“They will get rid of, glow and ignore what we said and what Meghan and Harry said,” Fleary, who lives in London, wrote on Twitter. ‘This is how the media and certain sections of the public work. Same formula, every time. ”
Fleary told The Associated Press that Meghan’s interview brought back her own memories that she was profiled in stores on race and then white women saw them grabbing their bags in public transport when they saw her.
“If racism becomes as blatant as what Meghan talked about is immediately denied, will people believe me if I tell them daily about these less open, daily examples of racism?” she asked.
Fleary said the UK has a long history of firing on black women in talks on racism. “They are never believed,” she said. It has always been denied and dismissed. It can be so blatant and people will still say they do not see it. ”
Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, pointed to the racist attitude of the British media as a reason to relinquish royal duties and move to North America last year, something Harry said in the interview with Winfrey repeated it.
When Meghan and Harry started dating, many people referred to the relationship as proof that Britain had entered a ‘post-racial’ era, but the racism that Meghan faced in the British media told a different story.
When the news first became known about their relationship, publications quickly referred racistly to Meghan, and one columnist from a tabloid newspaper referred to her “exotic” DNA. According to a Mail Online headline, Meghan was ‘(almost) straight from Compton’, and a Daily Star headline asked if Harry would ‘marry a gangster kingdom’.
When Meghan and Harry announced last year that they were stepping down from official royal duties, people quickly began to question that racism had driven Meghan away.
Heather McGhee, author of the book ‘The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together’, said the immediate rush by some people to deny Meghan’s allegations was disturbing.
And the denial is something black women face every day, she said.
“Quite often, black women in conference rooms and offices experience discrimination and have no profession, just as one of the more powerful black women in the world could use nothing but to give up everything,” McGhee said of Meghan.
‘I hope we realize that there is probably a much less powerful version of Meghan at your office or school who is discriminated against and has no champions. I hope it encourages more people to stand up for their black co-workers, neighbors and friends. ”
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Fernando is a member of the race and ethnicity team of The Associated Press. Follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/christinetfern.