Meghan Markle is officially royalty!! And to say I’m thrilled by it is the understatement of the century. The energy of today was felt all the way across the pond early this morning as my mom and I sat in my living room glued to the TV at 6:50 am.
It was a gorgeous sunny day outside of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. Meghan stunned in her gorgeous Givenchy dress with a classic neckline and jaw-dropping veil. There was the added sparkle of Queen Mary’s diamond and opal-encrusted tiara delicately atop her head.
Markle’s mother walked with the confidence of the queen in her own lime green dress (which matched the color scheme of Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth’s own bold green dress!) And I think Prince Harry melted everyone’s heart when he mouthed the words “you look amazing” to Meghan upon her arrival to the altar.
Yes, the Royal Wedding is exciting but I’m especially emotional because of the representation of a black biracial woman in such a highly esteemed and influential position. This is especially important because for young biracial girls there aren’t many high-profile women speaking to them specifically. Growing up I did have strong black women to look up to, but that didn’t tell my whole story. And yes I did have strong white women that I could learn from, but that didn’t tell my whole story either.
So having a biracial woman, speaking confidently about her biracial identity is so refreshing, and absolutely needed.
“Oh yeah, but Liz there have been biracial people for years! Why is this special now?”
True, but progress in how we identify and representation in mainstream media has been slow. For many years, biracial people were forced to “choose a side” to identify with, which often resulted in the ethnicity that you looked like the most. It wasn’t even until the 2000 census, when US citizens could finally indicate that they represent more than one race.
And do you remember how the Cheerios commercial with the interracial family was so controversial? Some people criticized the brand and even more celebrated them; but this mainstream display of interracial relationships (which yes, have existed for hundreds of years) was so “different and shocking” that it was actually a topic discussed on national news! That was only 5 years ago, this month.
So to go from that “breakthrough” moment to now having an interracial royal wedding on a global stage is nothing short of emotional. Meghan Markle represents our community. And through her relationship, she is speaking volumes about race and humanity without even saying a word.
As a biracial person, you embody this dichotomy of desiring to express your culture – your truth- even as that same group you identify with may not accept you. Meghan even shared her own struggles with this in an essay featured in Elle. Eventually (hopefully) you get to a point where you give no Fs about whether others accept you and you celebrate your identity because you accept you. And being true to yourself is all that matters.
It’s empowering to be able to own: “I’m proud of my culture and I celebrate my culture, but more importantly than my ethnicity is that I’m a human being. Just like you.”
Meghan’s relationship with His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales is making this very statement on a global scale.
Even as the news of their relationship first broke, there was backlash among the British public not simply because she’s American but because she’s a black, biracial American woman. In spite of the sometimes blatant racism, Meghan and Prince Harry stood firm in being true to themselves. Prince Harry gives no apologies for not fitting into the “status quo” and remains authentic in his love for Meghan. Even in their engagement interview it is clear how genuinely in love these two are.
In the interview, they clearly understand Meghan’s race brings something new (both the good and the challenges) into the Royal family. However, they seem to also declare that their love will speak louder and supersede what others have to say about them. And as cheesy or idealistic as that sounds, the event of today definitively displayed that belief.
In fact, I believe in a way, their wedding was a glorious, ceremonious expression of biracial empowerment. Meghan’s pride in her black culture was clearly on display throughout the ceremony; from the preacher to the choir and the closing musician. All black! I was getting teary-eyed by all that #MelaninMagic on display in front of billions globally.
The Soon-to-be Duchess of Sussex was clearly saying “yes, I’m black!” (Which was definitely celebrated by every black person I know through my social media feeds.) Yet, there was a statement even louder than that in today’s event and that was that Meghan and Harry are simply two people deeply in love.
The opening Minister’s reading of scripture was from John 4:16 which states, “God is Love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
And then Bishop Michael Curry took everyone to church with his passionate sermon on discovering the power of love and how it can change the world (which also included quotes by the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, by the way). In summary, “Love God, love your neighbor, and love yourself. And once we all discover the real power of love it will create a new world.”
In all of the pomp and circumstance, even more important than the race of the ministers or performers, was the content of their message and what they believe.
Greater than Prince Harry’s Royal traditions and more important than Meghan’s black pride is the simple fact that they love each other and that should be enough. That is enough.
As I write this in between diaper changes, feedings, and naps for my own biracial baby boy, I have hope. Hope that more people in this world will take a cue from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and learn to live life the same way. So that my son and all people will be proud of who they are as unique individuals but more importantly, proud to love each other as fellow members of the human race.
Thanks, it’s very informative