Meghan Markle Speaks Out about Racism in a Recorded Speech

Georges Floyd’s unjust murder by Minnesota police has sparked series of protest in the US as people and celebrities come together to say that “black lives matter.”

Meghan Markle was supposed to surprise 2020 graduates, however, she delivered an emotional speech as a response to George Floyd’s murder to the graduating class of her former high school Immaculate Heart in Los Angeles.

 

 

Duchess of Sussex said in her speech: “For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been planning on saying a few words to you for your graduation and as we all have seen over the past few weeks, what is happening in our country and in our state and in our hometown of L.A. has been absolutely devastating.”

“I wasn’t sure what I could say to you. I wanted to say the right thing and I was really nervous that I wouldn’t or it would get picked apart, and I realized the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing because George Floyd’s life mattered and Breonna Taylor’s life mattered and Philando Castile’s life mattered and Tamir Rice’s life mattered, and so did so many other people whose names we know and whose names we do not know.”

 

“One of my teachers, Ms. Pollia, said to me, ‘Always remember to put others’ needs above your own fears.’ That has stuck with me throughout my entire life, and I have thought about it more in the last week than ever before,” she added.

 

“The first thing I want to say to you is that I’m sorry. I’m so sorry you have to grow up in a world where this is still present. I remember the curfew and I remember rushing back home and on that drive home, seeing ash fall from the sky and smelling the smoke… I remember seeing men in the back of a van just holding guns and rifles. I remember pulling up to the house and seeing the tree that had always been there, completely charred. And those memories don’t go away. And I can’t imagine that at 17 or 18 years old, which is how old you are now, that you would have to have a different version of that same type of experience. That’s something you should have an understanding of, but an understanding of as a history lesson, not as your reality.”

 

Meghan addressed to the newly graduates as they will be the change we want to see in the future, she continued: “You are going to lead with love, you are going to lead with compassion, you are going to use your voice.”

“You are going to have empathy for those who don’t see the world through the same lens that you do, because with as diverse, vibrant, and open-minded as I know the teachings at Immaculate Heart are, I know you know that Black Lives Matter. So I’m already excited for what you are going to do in the world. You are equipped, you are ready, we need you, and you’re prepared,” she confirmed.