RACISM + SOCIAL MEDIA
Those Hateful Attacks on Meghan Markle Were by Design
Coordinated efforts led to a long-term, systemic attack on the Duchess of Sussex
Meghan Markle’s racial identity has remained front and center on both sides of the pond for a while now. The British monarchy just couldn’t seem to embrace a biracial, American woman into their ranks. The stress and pressure of living in that racist environment led Markle and Prince Harry to spill the beans in their interview with Oprah last spring.
Together, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex exposed the bullying they experienced within the royal family, some of whom expressed concerns about Markle’s skin color and openly wondered things like this: “how dark their baby’s skin tone would be.” Unofficially, but obviously, the one-drop rule played a role in British society’s perception of Markle and any babies she could bring into the royal family.
Discussions about race, class, and complexion caused a Grand Canyon-sized rift between the young couple and the royals. Markle expressed mental health concerns at one point, saying she “just didn’t want to be alive anymore.” The couple’s candid interview with Oprah blew the roof off Britain’s attempts to mythologize anti-Black racism as solely an American problem.
