Prince Harry Had A Chance To Unequivocally Condemn Racism Within The Royal Family

Summary

Prince Harry's recent statements on racism within the Royal Family have been seen as a failure to condemn it unequivocally, despite previous implications during the Oprah interview with Meghan, and his current attempts to soften the narrative are viewed as undermining anti-racism efforts and his own credibility.

Abstract

During Oprah Winfrey's interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in March 2021, the couple suggested that a member of the Royal Family had expressed concern over the skin color of their son Archie, which was widely interpreted as a clear instance of racism. However, in subsequent interviews promoting his memoir "Spare," Harry has backtracked, claiming that they never accused the Royal Family of racism and blaming the media for the narrative. Critics argue that Harry and Meghan allowed the perception of the Royal Family's racism to persist without correction, indicating complicity. The article contends that the Royal Family, as historical proponents of white supremacy, embodies systemic racism. Harry's retraction and use of the term "unconscious bias" instead of racism is seen as a disservice to the fight against racism, as it absolves individuals of responsibility and accountability for their actions. This shift in narrative is perceived as a setback for global anti-racism efforts and a betrayal by Prince Harry, who, despite his influence, appears to prioritize family relationships over the advocacy of racial equality.

Opinions

Racism within the Royal Family was strongly inferred during the Oprah interview, though not explicitly stated by Harry and Meghan.
The couple's silence following the interview, amidst media coverage of the Royal Family's racism, is viewed as a tacit endorsement of the narrative.
The Royal Family is portrayed as inherently racist due to its historical role in colonialism and the propagation of white supremacy.
Harry's retraction of the racism accusation is seen as an attempt to protect his father and brother, the King and future King of England, rather than a commitment to anti-racism.
The use of "unconscious bias" as a euphemism for racism is criticized for letting racists off the hook and hindering the responsibility necessary to combat racism.
Harry's actions are believed to undermine the progress made in anti-racism advocacy since the death of George Floyd.
It is suggested that Harry still harbors bigotry and has more to learn about racism, despite Meghan's influence.
The article implies that Harry's large platform could be better utilized to effect meaningful change in the fight against racism.

And he failed miserably

In Oprah’s March 2021 interview with Harry and Meghan, the message was loud and clear.

Someone within the Royal Family had inquired about how dark Archie, their son’s skin color would be. Folks, this is clear and undisputed Racism 101. There is no other interpretation of this. Racism is like being pregnant, you can’t be a little pregnant or a little racist. You are pregnant or racist, point blank.

In his interview on ITV last Sunday to promote his memoir, Spare, Harry however now says that he and Meghan never said that the Royal Family was racist. He argues that it was the press that built that narrative and that the press is responsible for it, not them.

The thing is, the entire world watched that interview with Oprah. Racism was strongly inferred though not explicitly said. But it was for sure, very strongly inferred by the couple.

Furthermore, after the interview when there was extensive media coverage about the Royal Family being racist or harboring racists in their midst, neither Meghan nor Harry came forward to correct that narrative. They were complicit in letting that narrative grow. And let’s be honest here, it’s because they wanted it to.

Why, because they know that indeed the Royal Family is racist. How could they not be? They are the creators and foremost implementers of white supremacy, the genesis of racism.

Explorers like Columbus, Pedro da Cinta, Vasco da Gama, and others went out to find new lands to plunder, new riches to steal, and new bodies to enslave all in the name of their white monarchies, so yes, the Royal Family is by their very nature, inherently racist.

In between the Oprah interview and today, Harry realized that by highlighting there was racism in his family, he had significantly hurt his papa and brother — respectively the king and future king of England.

Harry professes his deep love for them in his memoir and in all the interviews about the book. Even though he has his own family now, King Charles and Prince William are still home to him as he has spent most of his life with them.

It is because of this love for them that he now retracts the accusation of racism, but by doing so, he jeopardizes his credibility most importantly, he misses an opportunity to dismantle racism within his own family, and the territory, Great Britain, over which these monarchs rule.

For his credibility, Harry couldn’t move from accusing them of racism to no racism at all so he resorts to using the softer term, “unconscious bias”, to pander to white comfort while describing the actions of his estranged family.

The problem with that is that it gives the offender, the racist, an easy way out because he/she is led to believe that their racist actions are unconscious and therefore not intentional. It washes them out of their responsibility and ensures they carry no accountability for their actions. This isn’t the way in which we will ever dismantle racism. Individuals need to take responsibility for their actions.

Prince Harry’s act of retraction takes us back in antiracism activism and advocacy at a global level to pre-George Floyd levels. I don’t think that I’m the only one who will say that it feels like a form of betrayal.

Harry affirms that most interracial families overtly or secretly have these same conversations. He is right, many of them do, but it is mainly the racists in these families, like the racists in the Royal Family that have these discussions.

So yes, there are racists in the Royal Family like there are in many families, and he should say things like they are instead of sugar-coating them with “unconscious bias”.

Harry reveals that he was bigoted before he met Meghan, but despite her sensitizing him to racism, he still has a lot to learn. He has a large megaphone and if he really wants to play his role in dismantling racism, he’s going to need to use that platform strategically to effect change.

Thank you for reading my perspective.