The Duke of Sussex has not always been a model of racial awareness. But to a broad smile from his wife, who has a black mother and a white father, he spoke out about his own “awakening” to the lack of opportunities for people from BAME communities.
The duke said: “I wasn’t aware of so many of the issues and so many of the problems within the UK and also globally as well. I thought I did but I didn’t.
“You know, when you go into a shop with your children and you only see white dolls, do you even think, ‘That’s weird, there is not a black doll there?’
Read Next
“I use that as just one example of where we as white people don’t always have the awareness of what it must be like for someone else of a different coloured skin, of a black skin, to be in the same situation as we are, where the world that we know has been created by white people for white people.
“It is not about pointing the finger, it is not about blame. I will be the first person to say, again, this is about learning. And about how we can make it better.
“I think it is a really exciting time in British culture and British history, and in world culture. This is a real moment that we should be grasping and actually celebrating. Because no one else has managed to do this before us.”
In 2009 Harry was criticised for his lack of racial awareness after a video emerged of him calling a fellow Sandhurst officer cadet “our little P*** friend”.
The couple were interviewed from their Californian home by the Evening Standard to mark the start of Black History Month. They wrote in a piece: “If you are white and British, the world you see often looks just like you, on TV, in media, in the role models celebrated across our nation. That is not a criticism; it’s reality. Many recognise this, but others are not aware of the effect this has on our own perspective, our own bias, but also the effect it has on young people of colour. For people of colour, and specifically for young black Britons, the importance of representation in all parts of society, of seeing role models that share the same colour skin as them, and seeing and reading stories of success and of hope from those who look like them, is absolutely vital in opening doors of opportunity.”
Asked about the Black Lives Matter protests, the duchess admitted that they had been “inflammatory for a lot of people”. She added: “But when there is just peaceful protest and when there is the intention of just wanting community and just wanting the recognition of equality, then that is a beautiful thing. While it has been challenging for a lot of people certainly having to make this reckoning of historical significance that has got people to the place that they are, that is uncomfortable for people.”
Harry also revealed that they spoke to Ashley Banjo, of the dance group Diversity, after the controversy over their recent Black Lives Matter routine on Britain’s Got Talent. Complaints about the dance were rejected by Ofcom. He said: “We had such a good chat with Ashley. He was really strong, he felt great about it, but at the same time he was concerned because of the reaction … I am very glad Ofcom made the decision that they did but that in itself kind of proves how much this conversation needs to continue.”
Meghan said she was enjoying life as a family of three: “We are doing well. [Archie] is so good. We are very lucky with our little one. He is just so busy, he is all over the place. He keeps us on our toes.” Harry was asked if it was hard being unable to return to Britain to support causes important to him. He said everything had been done by video call. “We have stayed in touch with and supported the organisations,” he said.
The Times
Read Next
Comments
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMitwFodHRwczovL3d3dy50aGVhdXN0cmFsaWFuLmNvbS5hdS93b3JsZC90aGUtdGltZXMvaS10aG91Z2h0LWktdW5kZXJzdG9vZC1idXQtaS1kaWRudC1wcmluY2UtaGFycnktcmV2ZWFscy1oaXMtYXdha2VuaW5nLXRvLXJhY2lhbC1pbmVxdWFsaXR5L25ld3Mtc3RvcnkvZWE3ODgxYzZhNzFhOWQ4NjNmNGU5ZTE4MTFlZDk4YTfSAQA?oc=5
2020-10-02 00:51:00Z
52781094533556
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar