CHICAGO (AP) – As Prince Harry and Meghan’s TV interview reverberates internationally, more than 50 million viewers face with the couple’s allegations of racism and lack of support, which Meghan says led her to suicidal thoughts.
But for many women of color around the world, the headlines and discussions on social media were painfully familiar. With conversations on social media questioning whether racism has affected Meghan’s treatment of the British press and the royal family, many black women say it is yet another example of ignoring and denying a black woman’s experiences with racism.
“White supremacy seeks to isolate you, to make you feel that no one is listening to you and no one is supporting you. He uses it as a tool to maintain power, “said Gaye Theresa Johnson, an associate professor in the Department of African-American Studies at UCLA. “And so, when you’re not validated in your feelings or you feel supported, it hurts for real.”
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 her skin might be. ”. The former TV star also said that she requested mental health help through the palace’s human resources department, but she was told that she could not do anything.
Almost as soon as the interview with Oprah Winfrey aired, many rushed to dismiss Meghan’s accusations of racism. The New York Post published a column entitled “Meghan Markle’s interview was full of bulls.” British television host Piers Morgan left his job at “Good Morning Britain” after reacting because he said on the air that Meghan had lied about suffering suicidal thoughts in what he called “two-hour rubbish”. of our royal family ”.
On Tuesday, Buckingham Palace released a statement saying that “the whole family is saddened to find out how challenging the last years have been for Harry and Meghan,” but that “some memories may vary.”
Johnson said the doubts and questions raised against Meghan’s claims have been emotionally affected for many black women, who may be linked to the trauma of their personal experiences with racism being invalidated by others.
“It’s an insult when people are distrustful of the racism that people like Meghan Markle have 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 sail daily, ”she said. said.
“It affects a person and their mental health.”
Dr. Anita Thomas, Executive Vice President and Provost at St. Catherine of St. Paul, Minnesota, said it was exciting to see Meghan’s interview with Winfrey.
“She talks about the burden that many African-American women face,” she said. “For black women, it was upsetting to see that even when she had the courage to talk about her experiences with racism, she did not receive the support she needed and, in many ways, her experiences were invalidated.”
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, the founder of UK-based Reggae and Rasta Jus’ Jah Magazine, said that while she initially saw an outpouring of support for Meghan, she quickly saw the change on social media.
“They will give up, ignite and ignore what I said and what Meghan and Harry said,” 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 packing in public transportation when they saw her.
“If racism as blatant as what Meghan spoke is immediately denied, will people believe me when I tell them about these less open and daily examples of racism I face every day?” she asked.
Fleary said Britain has a long history of firing black women into racist conversations. “You never believe it,” she said. “It is always denial and rejection. It can be so blatant and people will still say they don’t see it. “
Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, pointed to the racist attitudes of the British press as a reason to move away from royal duties and move to North America last year, something Harry reiterated in an interview with Winfrey.
As Meghan and Harry began dating, many pointed to the relationship as evidence of Britain’s entry into a “post-racial” era, but the racism Meghan faced in the British press told another story.
When the news first appeared about their relationship, the publications quickly referred to Meghan in racist terms, a tabloid columnist referring to her “exotic” DNA. A Mail Online headline said Meghan was “(almost) straight from Compton,” and a Daily Star headline asked if Harry “will marry the gangster royalty.”
Then, when Meghan and Harry announced that they would give up their official royal duties last year, people quickly began to doubt that racism was what drove Meghan away.
Heather McGhee, author of “Our Amount: What It Costs for Everyone’s Racism and How We Can Prosper Together,” said the immediate rush of some to deny Meghan’s accusations was disturbing.
And this denial faces black women every day, she said.
“Very often, black women in conference rooms and offices face discrimination and have no recourse, just as one of the strongest black women in the world has no recourse but to give up everything,” McGhee said. about Meghan.
“I hope we realize that there is a much less powerful version of Meghan probably in your office or school that is discriminated against (against) and has no champions. I hope this encourages more people to stand up for their black colleagues, 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 at https://twitter.com/christinetfern.