I Talked to Meghan and Harry About Systemic Racism. Here’s How It Went.

Surprisingly the Duke and Duchess of Sussex addressed the issues head on

Alicia Wallace
ZORA

--

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrive at an event in London in March 2020.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex meet children as they attend the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 on March 09, 2020 in London, England. Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

This week an edited recording of a conversation between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and four young people was released to media. I — a queer Black feminist woman — was a part of that conversation, choosing to put myself in proximity to significant power, privilege, and influence while exercising my own to highlight the efforts of young people in social justice work and make recommendations on the way forward.

Choosing to be a part of this conversation was complicated. I decided to be there, knowing that there would likely be criticism of a pro-Black, anti-capitalism advocate who is calling for wealth distribution to dare to sit with people whose titles are symbols of a legacy from which we need to be freed. Additionally, the Bahamas, where I live, will soon celebrate its 47th year of independence. We are a sovereign and democratic nation, yet the country remains “loyal to the Queen” who is still the head of state.

The persisting relics of colonization do not sit well with many of us, and we struggle to challenge and uproot them. Often, any mention of Britain or the royal family is cause for argument. It is against this backdrop that I joined a…

--

--

Alicia Wallace
ZORA
Writer for

Women’s human rights defender, research consultant, gender expert, public educator, movement builder, writer. #Caribbean #Bahamas #Equality242 @_AliciaAudrey