There was a time when the idea of a mixed race TV actor marrying into the British royal family would have raised eyebrows and triggered disapproval. Not so now. The unconventional match between Prince Harry and American TV star Meghan Merkle has engendered breathless delight and anticipation. Here clearly is a nation that approves! At least a lot of it! The match also seems to indicate a modern, inclusive Britain relinquishing regressive racial attitudes of the past! At least relatively so!
Now that is a relentlessly white family – no visible touch of the tar brush there (the tar brush being the colloquialism that indicated mixed race). Meghan Markle, whose father is white and whose mother is African American will be a somewhat unusual addition to the severely restricted colour palette of this image. There are many who believe that this union will be important because of its symbolism; which seems to represent not just a more diverse and inclusive royal family but also a more accepting and inclusive populace. Many feel it is significant that Markle’s maternal ancestors were slaves and that she is now going to be a part of the British royal family.
Research conducted a few years back showed that as many as 30% of the people of Britain tend to be racially prejudiced. Racial prejudice was seen to be at an all time low in 2001 – 25%. However, prejudice levels appear to have risen after that time. According to one of the directors of the survey, racial prejudice is still very much a part of the ‘national psyche’.
It is now 50 years since British MP Enoch Powell made his infamous Rivers of Blood speech, in which he severely criticized the immigration policy which he portended would bring many horrors along with it. The general attitude to immigration is still fairly negative and an insular and protectionist attitude persists in Britain - as demonstrated by Brexit.
Recently the political scandal involving African Caribbean people who had migrated to the UK after World War II (on the Windrush) was seen to target a racial group for their legal status to remain in the country. Thought to have been the result of a deliberate policy to create a ‘hostile environment’ for ‘illegal immigrants’, the scandal led to the resignation of the Home Secretary earlier this year.
25 years ago, Stephen Lawrence, a black British teen was the victim of a racially motivated attack. After his murder there was the charge of police connivance after the botched investigation into the incident. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended an event held to mark the 25th anniversary of this event. Many see this as significant.
Some commentators, such as sociology professor Kehinde Andrews think, the marriage Markle is a nonevent in terms of what it would mean for the society at large. According to him, racism is “as British as a cup of tea’. Describing Markle’s addition to the royal family as a ‘splash of coffee’, he pointed out that this very light skinned, pretty young face – only one face at that – is not likely to change much.
A poll conducted by Survation for British Future found that ethnic minorities still experience prejudice; about 33% thought that the levels are the same as they were 25 years ago. 12% of those polled admitted that they didn’t like the idea of a mixed race person marrying into the royal family and 25% of those polled admitted that they would be unhappy with their child marrying or having a relationship with someone of a different race. So clearly race is still very much an issue in Britain. Whether Markle’s entry into the royal family changes anything remains to be seen.
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