Women of Color Discuss Meghan Markle's Wedding

From ELLE

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have been a conversation point since their royal affair began and the engagement was announced in November. For women of color, and particularly the 16 women we spoke with once the official announcement was made, everyone seemed to have a strong reactions, both negative and positive. Our thoughtful participants echoed similar sentiments of many black women, that of both joy in representation and wariness of the union's authenticity.

On Saturday morning, the centuries-old ceilings of Saint George’s Chapel were lifted by an impassioned sermon from the Reverend Bishop Michael Curry, by the harmonies of the Kingdom Gospel Choir, and by every lip bite, thumb stroke, and loving moment between Harry and Meghan.

With a service that looked different, and much blacker, than the royal nuptials of the past, we wondered if the opinions of the women we spoke with were changed? Had the presence of Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, who arrived unapologetically with dreadlocks and a nose ring, made some women feel more represented in this traditionally white space? Ahead, 13 women of color on weigh in on what Meghan Markle’s wedding meant to them.

Zerlina Maxwell

I think that it's complicated. I have mixed emotions and it wasn't because I don't feel the same exact way I felt when we talked before. On the one hand I was super enthusiastic and thrilled that Meghan made an initial effort to include touchstones of black culture, a gospel choir, and a black preacher. Things that black people watching can relate to immediately. It was almost like a nod to black people, like you, I know I'm one of you. That was absolutely incredible, and, particularly in Britain with the history of colonialism and slavery, it was amazing to see a black-American woman in that state. It was a really important moment in history. So that was the first track of my emotional state. Oh my gosh, she made this so incredibly black and I love it.

The other piece of my emotions were all like, man, I wish I could find a prince because we're all sort of acculturated as women to aspire to exactly what we're watching. To find the one and maybe he'll be rich or be a prince. On the one hand, I think it's amazing to see a black woman be the object of what is clear to everyone is true love, right? Because so rarely are black women held up on the pedestal as the aspirational women that men want to marry. It was a weird moment. It was a positive feeling but it was also like, man, I wish I could find my Harry somewhere.

I feel conflicted. Both amazingly happy and both a little bit depressed because I would like to also find a suitable companion. A lot of women felt like where's my prince? But also we're happy that a black woman is being celebrated. It was a rare moment. Now there's like a top five, there's Michelle Obama, Beyonce, Meghan Markle, Oprah. So now she's in the top group of black women, who are queens for sure. I think that a lot of black women have conflicting emotions watching.

But now, we understand who Meghan Markle is and what she really sort of stands for. I'm excited to see them both as the humanitarians that Princess Diana was, and even more now. She was pretty forceful about that. I think that's the kind of thing we're going to see going forward. I think she's going to be really careful but I think that she's going to be a really outspoken and important voice for women and girls around the world. - Zerlina Maxwell, Director of Progressive Programming for SiriusXM, former Director of Progressive Media for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign

Vanessa Ngozi Anyanso

There are very few things that can get me out of bed at five am on a Saturday, and Meghan Markle’s Royal Wedding is definitely one of them. Throughout the hour-long ceremony I groggily ate cereal, exchanged gushing comments with my friend across the world via text, and browsed twitter for thoughtful and hilarious reactions. I also cried at least three separate times during the ceremony. When their engagement was first announced, I commented on the complete look of adoration that graced Prince Harry’s face and how it moved me. So it is no surprise that the first time I cried is when the camera panned to his awe-struck face after Meghan entered the chapel. As they exchanged brief touches and glances throughout the ceremony all I could keep on whispering to myself was “Wow, they are so in love.”

Outside of the love I could feel radiating from my screen, this was an incredibly beautiful ceremony. It was also much blacker than I expected it to be. From Bishop Curry passionately delivering a 3-point sermon which touched on Martin Luther King and southern slaves, to the gospel choir’s rendition of “Stand by Me”, to Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s breathtaking performance, I was continually surprised and delighted by the presence of black excellence. There is a lot to be said about the politics of such an unabashed display of blackness within the context of a monarchy that colonized many countries, including my parent’s homeland. However, that discussion is for a different article. What I will say is that for this hopeless black girl romantic, the Royal Wedding was a moving, and much needed, celebration of love and blackness in what has otherwise been a bleak news cycle. - Vanessa Ngozi Anyanso, Clinical Research Coordinator at U Penn

Morgan Jerkins

My thoughts remain the same! I think the influence of African-American spirituality into the service further prove my point of what I said initially and that any doubt over Meghan's blackness needs to be dismissed. - Morgan Jerkins, Writer

Aisha Lewis

I've become more and more interested in the royal wedding and couple in the last year, but I was really worried for Meghan and Harry. The way that the media has covered this in the last year, using Meghan's nontraditional background and family against her, has taken away from what this entire story is about love. During the ceremony, the channel I was watching continued referring to Meghan as the "biracial divorcee" and the fact that this is still her only identifier to some is frustrating to me. I hope that people can move forward from this and see Meghan more for her actions and passions than her marital status.

Wedding ceremonies have always been interesting to me as an observer. All that you hear from the bride and groom during that process is “I do” (or in this case “I will”) so you’re forced to understand that experience through body language and the choices made for the program. It was such a nontraditional traditional wedding. I was truly surprised at the fact that Meghan and Harry chose to highlight a gospel choir, a black cellist, a black episcopal pastor, and traditional African American songs. But those intentional choices were powerful and I think sent a message to the world that her heritage won’t be bypassed or forgotten as she becomes a part of the royal family. Also, Also, all hail Ms. Doria. - Aisha Lewis, Senior Program Manager, MassChallenge

Simone Bresi-Ando

I heard it was a lovely day and saw photos of the event as well as news clips but didn't watch the ceremony. I'm weary of the eagerness to see this as some kind of win or monumental occasion for anyone other than the happy couple and Royal PR machine. It seems current tastes are so easily pleased when it comes to symbols of triumph rather than the minutiae and solutions to the circumstances that created the obstacles.

A selected bunch of people got dressed up, two people got married and the British public are left with an estimated $42.8 million bill. In the midst of this, is a country who deports British citizens of Caribbean descent who have been there for 60+ years living, working and paying taxes but were suddenly deported as the Government threw away the only record of their immigration status thus rendering them 'illegal'! We're also still none the wiser on who is to blame for burning to death social housing tenants of Grenfell Tower whose plight was caused by a flammable exterior covering put up around their building to keep their richer neighbors content with their presence in the neighborhood. I guess we still call it Great Britain. I guess our distraction is more important than real life. - Simone Bresi-Ando, Founder of Non-Profit, I'mPOSSIBLE -Contributor for the BBC, The Guardian

Soraya Nadia McDonald

I did not like wake up at 5am or whatever to watch. I ended up watching the re-air on BBC America. And I was surprised how much I got into it I guess. Yeah it was even like a genuinely touching ceremony. And I think I was surprised by how much it did not feel like your typical royal wedding, which I think is good for her. Hopefully that means she'll be able to put her foot down when she's asked to do some of more ridiculous things that Duchesses are asked to do.

I wrote about the touches that she was able to bring, like dispensing of fruit cake. I think she has a very keen understanding of symbolism. And also the fact that, and not leaning into all of the kind of princess fantasies with her dress, which was very simple, very modern, she didn't turn up looking like Cinderella basically. Which I think signals an awareness on Megan's part as far as not just like wanting to signal her individuality, but also maybe somewhat the kind of obvious anachronism of the Monarchy. - Soraya Nadia McDonald, Culture critic, The Undefeated

Neneh Koroma

From the moment I heard that Prince Harry & Meghan were going to get married I couldn’t wait to see how the world and the rest of the royal family would react! Would she be allowed to showcase her heritage on her wedding day or would she have to bow down to the traditional etiquette? Would their wedding be like all the other royal weddings before? Would the royal family embrace her with open arms or would she have to fight to be taken seriously? Black, American, previously divorced, an outspoken activist & a feminist. Would they let her be herself?

I followed her closely throughout the last couple of months - listening to her speeches at her first official events as Harry’s fiancée and couldn’t help but be filled with admiration & awe at her poise & beauty and the message she had for women around the world: Women need to feel empowered to use their voices & people need to be urged to listen. You could tell she didn’t take her new role lightly. She was truly becoming the black princess of and for girls like us who wants to use her voice to do some good in the world and who does it so gracefully. The sort of role model I would want my future baby girls to identify with & strive to be like.

The two seem to truly see eye to eye on everything that matters to them and they showcased their love & respect for one another on their wedding day: From omitting the word “obey” in her vows to inviting the American Reverend Curry from Chicago to deliver a sermon unlike any other and performances by a black gospel choir and a black 19-year old cellist alongside traditional wedding services, their wedding was the perfect mix of their worlds and a symbol of a new era in the British royal family: Modern, open-minded and inclusive of all. - Neneh Koroma, Medical Student

Maya Earls

It started with Bishop Michael Curry who delivered a passionate sermon, the likes of which regularly happens in most majority black churches every Sunday. His sermon definitely caught the white members of the Royal Family off guard, as well as the announcers who have never experienced something like it. While the way he delivered his sermon caught a lot of attention, the words he delivered were powerful and spoke deeper lessons about loving one another. Not to mention he boldly spoke of the history of slavery in front of people whose ancestors played a direct role.So when the news first broke about the engagement I tweeted about how excited I was that a woman of color would be joining the Royal Family. My tweet blew up, with mostly people supporting and retweeting my statement.

There were a few others however who responded how I shouldn't make a big deal about Meghan Markle's race. I would have loved to see their reactions while the Royal Wedding happened, because that was surely the blackest Royal Wedding in history.

Next was the majority black choir's version of "Stand By Me." The original song was influenced by gospel music and the spirituals sung by slaves.Finally, Sheku Kanneh-Mason's performance on the cello. If that's not a perfect definition of black excellence, I don't know what is. Not to mention he sported an Afro.

The fact that all of this happened in a beautiful venue, with a lovely couple so obviously in love moved me to tears. I am so happy I got to witness history in the making. - Maya Earls, News Associate at the Associated Press

Morgan Evans

When it comes to Meghan and Harry's whirlwind romance and their fairytale wedding, it's to safe that I am pretty biased. I have been obsessed with the royal family since I was little. My mom bought a book all about Princess Diana when I was 7 years old and by the time I was 11, I had visited every royal palace in England and was on my way to becoming a royals aficionado. I was a day-one fan of Suits and a HUGE fan of Meghan Markle. After learning that she was biracial, as a black woman, I loved her even more. I also fully respected the fact that she chose to honor her biracial heritage in Suits by having a black actor, Wendall Pierce, play her father.

It's no secret that Meghan can totally pass for a white girl, in fact, I know a lot of people who were shocked to discover that she was half black. And while Meghan could very well live life as "white," she chooses to embrace both sides of her race, and emphasizes the fact that she is white but she is also black. And that black side of her heritage was beautifully displayed through her wedding ceremony. Everything from Bishop Curry, a black minister from Chicago, giving the wedding sermon, to the unbelievably talented cellist, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, the traditional gospel choir which sung "Stand by Me" and the iconic African American hymn, "This Little Light of Mine," and finally, the very touching moment of seeing Meghan's mother, Doria, ride with her in the royal car and standing along side the royal family at the end of the wedding.

I believed months ago and still believe that Meghan and Harry's somewhat unconventional union is a symbol for hope, change, and love. - Morgan Evans, Associate Web Editor, Fox News Entertainment

Jasmine Guillory

I loved everything about Meghan and Harry's wedding. I expected to; I write romance novels and am a sucker for love and pomp and circumstance anyway, but the wedding exceeded my high expectations. I found it joyful, celebratory, and far blacker than I dreamed it would be. From the sermon that quoted Martin Luther King Jr., mentioned slavery, and mirrored the feeling of being inside a black church, to the gospel choir with their fantastic outfits and many fabulous black hairstyles, to the sight of Meghan's proud mom, Doria Ragland, over her shoulder throughout the ceremony, many parts of the wedding felt like family weddings I've attended (though at the end of those weddings, no one curtseyed to the groom's grandmother). Harry is right, he is so lucky to be with Meghan, and I hope they go on to break more traditions in the best of ways. I wish all the best for the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and I can't wait to see what they do next with their enormous platform. - Jasmine Guillory, Author

Jamia Wilson

One of the things that I really enjoyed about this wedding was just the centering of who Meghan and Harry are as people. I think that, in the conversations about what the cultural significance is, it's really been beautiful to see how Meghan, who is this independent woman and outspoken feminist, has really been showing through her actions and the execution of the wedding what her values are and her connections to her culture. I have really valued seeing that they utilized the platform that they have to, for example, gain support for menstrual health and inspiring people to donate pads instead of give gifts.

I think, if anything, what I'm excited about right now is that I'd just come from a trip to England a month ago, so I have new perspective than I did when I first talked to you. When I was in England, I was there for London Book Fair and met a lot of British writers and also just black British people who I was talking to about books and culture. What I'm really excited about is what I learned as an African-American about the similarities between my experience with blackness as an American, but also things that are different. What it means for us to be dealing with similar issues in both of our countries as it relates to kind of a rise of xenophobia and their sense of Brexit and, in our sense, what's happened with the current administration.

Just kind of seeing the perspective that she's putting out there, but then also the importance of representation and how it's just shining a light on that and having people who can speak to these issues in the media, who are also sharing similar experience. I love that Meghan's lifting as she climbs, I guess.- Jamia Wilson, Writer, Commentator, and Feminist Activist

Cristina Gordon

Funny enough I was actually in London on vacation during the Royal wedding (no, I wasn’t invited but a girl can try and contrive a plan to pretend to be Meghan Markle’s cousin, can’t she?) But seriously, seeing the atmosphere of a world that felt so united was a great way to celebrate love. What I truly took away was that, for me, watching Harry and how in love he is with Meghan reminds me that love is blind. He wasn’t trying to prove anything or marry someone to make a statement, he just loved her- so he married her. That’s that, and to me, that’s the biggest thing- just stand behind what you love and believe in and magical things can’t help but follow. - Cristina Gordon, President & Founder of C Bee PR

Ashley Reese

I really didn't expect to watch this wedding. But fate had its way with me: I couldn't sleep all night and I was browsing my Twitter early enough to see photos of celebs attending the wedding absolutely flood my timeline. Before I knew it, I was getting caught up in all of the memes, scoring dresses, and eagerly waiting to see Meghan's dress. And then, as the ceremony was starting, I actually hustled to the living room and turned the damn wedding on. Listen, I have no love for a monarchy, especially not the notoriously imperialist British one that still has too much -albeit mostly dried - blood on its hands. But I am a sucker for a damn wedding, pageantry, and live-tweeting, so there I was, low key gushing over Prince Harry's whispered little sweet nothings, fawning over Meghan's dramatic ass veil, and smiling at Meghan's proud mom as she watched this ridiculousness unfold, nose ring, dreadlocks, and all smiling at Meghan's proud mom as she watched this ridiculousness unfold, nose ring, dreadlocks [/pullquote] Honestly, since I wasn't taking any of this all that seriously, it was really fun to watch. I was admittedly surprised by the infusion of black American culture into the service--the enthusiastic black preacher whose promises of wrapping up the sermon meant nothing to anyone familiar with a black church, the gospel choir--and it was a nice touch to what would have been an overly stuffy aristocratic affair.

I had a lot of fun watching this international event unfold, and part of me got really mushy and hoped Diana was somehow watching and was proud as hell that Harry had a wedding that bucked tradition (like Diana did so much toward the end of her life). But some people got a little too corny about all of this. Again, it was cool that there were elements of black Americana thrown in. I hope the Queen and all the other royals were shook - but I still didn't see this as the empowering moment of black womanhood, a narrative that a lot of people were going for. It's a cool story, but not one that I think is particularly aspirational for black women. But between their annoyingness and the annoyingness of people who were intent on reminding people of the evilness of the British Empire, it was a bit of a tossup. It's like, can you please allow me to indulge in my cognitive dissonance for one damn day?

The only way to survive something like this without losing your mind is to just acknowledge the hilarity--mostly the goofy memes--and keep it moving. I didn't instill too much meaning to this wedding, and I didn't get wrapped up in the horrors of its institution either (watching this wedding was probably one of the less harmful systems I unwittingly upheld that week). This wedding was perfect for meme fodder and shallowly judging dresses, and it's okay that it wasn't anything more than that. It seems that Meghan and Harry genuinely like each other though, and I wish them well, because as dysfunctional as Meghan's family is...I'm not sure if it can compare to the ridiculousness restrictions that come along with being a member of the royal family. Good luck, homegirl. - Ashley Reese, Writer

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