Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Freedom Flight: The bold exit of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

 


It all began with a cutesy Instagram picture, which led to an introduction between the man who'd seen the photo and the woman in it. A first date followed, for which he was quite late, and although  perturbed by such tardiness, ended up going so very well that there was immediately a second.  From that electric second date onward, the enamored couple were so inseparable that they agreed to never spend more than two weeks apart from each other, with the man flying from his cushy environs in London, England and the woman taking time from her entrepreneurship, activism, and prime acting gig on the very popular legal soap Suits, filming in Toronto, Canada. 

After many months of this back and forth, the couple, who'd enjoyed a peaceful, private courtship, went public with their romance. Then the storm clouds gathered. The woman became beleaguered with vitriolic messages from her beloved's fellow countrymen, and the British press gleefully and eagerly led the charge, writing articles peppered with hateful messaging, with one publication stating that the woman, who is biracial and originates from Los Angeles, California, as "Straight out of Compton". The concerned and angered man released a bold and public message decrying the racist missives, and months later became engaged to his sweetheart. Months after that, the man and the woman became husband and wife in a wedding attended by the powerful and famous from both sides of the ocean and joyfully witnessed by millions more on TV.  

Following this dream event, the bride and groom settled into their life working in the groom's family business, with the bride later giving birth to their first child, a son. Not too long after this blessed event, the antagonism piled on, particularly from the corridors of power, causing such deep fear and distress in the couple, now parents to a young one, that they felt forced to flee for their safety. 

After this flight, the couple, Harry and Megan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, began their next chapter, welcoming a daughter. After continued onslaught, they intensified their defenses, including an interview with Oprah Winfrey in which they revealed the appalling detail that a member of the Royal family had speculated on the complexion of their yet-unborn son and generally caused a deeply uncomfortable environment for the Duchess.

The Duke and Duchess released a Netflix documentary to speak out in defense of themselves and to ward off against the deeply antagonistic perceptions held by some sectors of the public. Although it's been an on ongoing battle, Harry and Meghan have been pillars of strength and most importantly, opened up much-needed conversations about racism and the long shadow of colonialism and the Monarchy's central role in it. At this pivotal moment of the upcoming coronation of King Charles, which will usher in the next generation of the embattled  House of Windsor, it is certainly worth heeding the saga of the Sussexes and pondering the toll this archaic institution takes on those within it and those in the world at large. 

 


Sunday, January 1, 2023

Cheers to 2023!

 


Hello, Happy New Year my lovely readers! It has been quite a while since I've posted here, but after the turmoil of the global pandemic that I imagine has left all of us somewhat rattled, I'm back with renewed vigor and a stronger sense of purpose and identity than ever before, ready to once again put forth my voice in honor of my beloved biracial community1