MLK's Daughter Says Meghan Markle Interview Proves Royalty Not a Shield From Racism
Bernice King, the youngest daughter of Black civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., is one of many people who have reacted to the bombshell interview of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, stating not even royalty are protected from the "devastation and despair of racism."
One of the biggest revelations from the interview with Oprah Winfrey, which aired Sunday night on CBS News, was the claim that Meghan and Harry's son Archie had been denied the title of prince because there were concerns within the Royal Family about "about how dark his skin might be when he's born."
"That was relayed to me from Harry, those were conversations that family had with him," Meghan, who is biracial, said.
Asked by Winfrey whether there were fears that the child would be "too brown," Meghan replied: "If that is the assumption you are making, that is a pretty safe one."
When pressed who inside the Royal Family were having "several conversations" about this, Meghan refused, adding: "I think that would be very damaging to them."
Prince Harry also said that he is "never going to share" which members of the Royal Family expressed their concerns surrounding the potential skin tone of his son.
Responding to the claims from Meghan, one of a number which arose from the highly anticipated interview, King tweeted: "Royalty is not a shield from the devastation and despair of racism."
In another post, she wrote: "We can know racism exists in an institution and still hurt for someone who was hurt by it."
King, who was five when her father was assassinated, added in a longer tweet: "Racism is a traumatizing threat to the mental, physical, and economic well-being of millions and millions of people.
"It's not a difference of opinion. It's not an illusion of the 'woke.' It is a pervasive evil. Let's de-colonize our minds."
Elsewhere in the interview, the duke said that none of his relatives came out in support of Meghan following the racism she faced in the media.
"No one from my family ever said anything over those three years. That hurts," Harry said.
"But I also am acutely aware of where my family stand, and how scared they are of the tabloids turning on them."
Meghan also described how she had thoughts of killing herself because of the unrelenting tabloid press coverage she received during her relationship with Harry.
The duchess added she also had thoughts of self-harm and suicide while pregnant with her first child.
"I realize that it was all happening because I was breathing," she told Winfrey. "I was really ashamed to say it at the time and ashamed to admit it to Harry because I know how much loss he suffered, I knew that if I didn't say it.
"I just didn't want to be alive anymore. That was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought. I remember how he just cradled me."
If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.
