Along with 11 million other Brits, last night I got myself a cuppa and settled in to watch The Interview with Harry and Meghan. I wasn’t surprised by much of what they said (partly because we’ve seen it play out these past years and partly because it had been all over the news since airing the day before in the States) and I’m not sure the paper’s claims that it was “explosive” really hold, but it was pretty harrowing to hear their thoughts and experiences.
The most explosive thing, in my opinion, has been public opinion surrounding the interview. From the news to the social media comments sections to an article shared by a prominent Christian organisation and everywhere in between, it was largely brutal, lacking humanity and totally bonkers. Here’s another voice to add to the noise, with my 2 pennies worth.
Harry and Meghan, whatever your (or my) personal opinion is, stood firm in their boundary against racism. As white people, we all to often assign ourselves the role of judging of what racism looks and feels like- we will never experience it so frankly we are not best placed to make that call. It can’t be a case of “agree to disagree” when only one side is really affected by the issue. To experience racism is traumatic, to then go through the ordeal of talking about the trauma and be met with whataboutism and claims of “that’s not racist” must be crushing. It is no surprise that Meghan’s mental health has taken a total battering. Let’s tread carefully, instead of trampling people when they share an experience.
Lots of black and brown people, whose experience of racism mirrors Meghan’s, will see how people are reacting to her speaking out and it will affect them going forward. The same goes for anyone who is suffering from a mental illness. Not being believed is one of the main reasons so many suffer in silence.
What does anyone gain from being open about experiences of racism? I don’t have much in common with Prince Harry (I know, this comes as a great surprise!) but I do share the experience of doing life with someone who’s life has been changed by racism. One of the things I’ve learned through seeing racism up close is this: the “race card” doesn’t exist. I’ll say it again for those in the back- it does not exist. It’s a commonly used phrase by white people to stop someone talking about racism, as if there’s some free-pass that black people get if they show their race card. The reality is no free-pass, no “ding ding ding”, no prize. There are no immediate benefits to speaking out against racism, in fact it almost always comes at a cost to the person speaking out. When a person speaks out about their experiences of racism, they generally have the aim of making the world safer and better for other black and brown people; the bigger picture. I’m grateful for those with that aim, the aim that would make the world a better place for my family.
We don’t have to agree with every choice Harry and Meghan have made, or the Royal family. I don’t know anyone who agrees with every choice I’ve made- there have been a few belters no doubt. We don’t have to care about The Interview either, but we should care about the very real issues highlighted and be aware that how we respond matters.
myafrocelticclan 