Meghan Markle & Why The World Cannot Let Black Women Live

Meghan Markle returned to the UK to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth

She was poised, fashionable, and exuded grace.

Yet, we remain reminded that the world cannot let a Black woman simply

BE

Some will come and argue that Meghan is biracial, a way she has herself identified

However, she has learned that having any Blackness in her will define how others feel justified in treating her

One is biracial

until one

Dares to achieve something others view as belonging to whiteness

Meghan “dared” to marry someone that many White Britons wanted for themselves

And in this, the fullness of her Blackness took centerstage

Some will try and argue that their disdain for her is rooted in her not being “of royal blood”

Which is also true for Duchess Kate, who in her “commoner” status is closer to achieving queendom than Meghan would ever be — — so their concern would seem to need to lie with her

But Black women everywhere hear a version of this “not worthy” in the questioning of our qualifications at workplaces,

Whispering that we are “diversity hires” — -even though White women have benefitted from such programs more than Black women ever have

And are ironically often the ones questioning the credentials of Black women

Meghan had the “audacity” to speak of her mistreatment by the family in which she married into

Another argument those use to explain their vitriol

The same as Princess Diana — who remains beloved

Because Black women are not permitted to call out the harm that is done to us

We are expected to “take it” and be “glad” we were permitted in the space in the first place

Meghan has been blamed for her husband’s choices

Even as there have been stories about Prince William’s infidelity, but his wife is viewed as the victim

But we know that victimhood is not allowed for Black women

Because Black women consistently are held accountable for all ills of the world

They have either not mothered right

Suffered right

“Held their men down” right

Or sacrificed right

Yet, when success happens, they are not given the credit

Whether Meghan fully acknowledges her Blackness or not

The world glaringly does

As they criticize her dress

Her actions

Her family

….Her

Many will ask why Black women consistently defend Meghan Markle

It is simple

Because we know what it is like to have every action deemed flawed

Undeserving

Problematic

Wrapped in a hatred of our attempts to do nothing other than try to live our full Black lives

Dr. Tyffani is a licensed psychologist who centers the needs of Black Women and Girls in her work. She has watched the attacks on Meghan Markle on social media threads and calls out its anti-Blackness. She encourages you to do the same. Dr. Tyffani is committed to making space for Black women and femmes to live their full Black lives. She is the co-founder of Centering Sisters and co-hosts its podcast. Subscribe to the Centering Sisters podcast on Youtube. Like both the Centering Sisters and the Dr. Tyffani Facebook pages

#MeghanMarkle #BlackWomenLive #CenteringSisters #DrTyffani #PlatinumJubilee

Photo:WireImage