In the words of Malcolm X, the most disrespected, unprotected and neglected person in America is the Black woman. The explosive interview between Oprah, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle this past week shows this reality extends across the pond. In this interview, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex explained the circumstances that drove them to withdraw from royal life. Central to the interview, and the public conversation that followed, was the ongoing racism and derogatory portrayals of Meghan by the British press. This is a painful experience she shares with dozens of Black female celebrities.

When they got married, the couple caused quite a stir in the British media and high society. Prince Harry was arguably the country’s most eligible bachelor and Markle was a mixed-race American actress and divorcée. British tabloids were notoriously cruel to the Duchess, as noticed by both journalists and the general public. An article compiling “all the s**t Meghan Markle has taken from the British press and public,” details the ridicule she received for tasks such as eating avocados, sitting incorrectly, holding her baby bump and sending Christmas cards. Many of these alleged faux pas are all things her sister-in-law Kate Middleton, a white woman, was praised for. Harry and Meghan highlighted the harassment by the media, the hypocrisy the couple faced and the racism Markle has experienced in their interview with Oprah.

The Society of Editors – a collection of British journalists, did not take kindly to the criticism and released a statement claiming outright that the British media was not racist. U.K. journalists, especially journalists of color, responded in an open letter criticizing The Society of Editors for blatantly refusing to acknowledge the institutionalized racism in the journalism industry. The Society of Editors quickly retracted their initial statement and released a modified response as well as an apology, and the head of the Society resigned as a means of symbolic accountability.

Both overt and covert racism are far from unusual in Western media, especially towards Black women. While Markle identifies as biracial, she was forced into the role of the ‘Black Duchess’ and endured anti-Blackness from the press, the public and the royal family. The problems don’t stop with Markle. She is one on a long list of Black women who are forced to navigate anti-blackness as public figures.

Vice-President Kamala Harris had her name intentionally butchered by news anchors and mocked by U.S Congress members during the 2020 election campaign. The disrespect she faced was twofold: the first being the mockery of her identity and the second being her critics' refusal to see her as equal to her peers. Harris has existed in the political scene for decades, only to be blatantly disrespected by the white men who painted her as more enemy than opponent. They highlighted her otherness and attempted to demonize the idea of a Black, Asian woman in power.

Champion tennis player Serena Williams is another Black woman who was unfairly targeted by western media and has dealt with decades of racism that spanned across her entire career. The most notable example was the infamous Australian comic. The comic shows a stereotypical caricature of a Black woman throwing a tantrum on the court that is meant to depict Williams’s altercation with a referee in the 2018 U.S Open. While the public backlash was overwhelming, many also noted the artist’s decision to repaint Williams’s opponent, Japanese-Haitian tennis champion Naomi Osaka, as a white blonde woman calmly standing to the side. Much of the racial connotations here tie back to the theme of subhumanization of Black women in the media. The insinuation is that they are less rational, less equipped somehow to practice good sportsmanship. Too emotional, too loud, too much for the court and for the world.

Zendaya, another Black and caucasian actress, wore dreadlocks to the 2015 Oscars. In response, an E! Anchor said she looked like she smelled of “patchouli oil and weed.” At the age of 18, the star responded in defense of both her hair and the culture it symbolizes. The association of blackness and culturally Black practices, like wearing dreadlocks, with drugs and illicit activity allows for the justification of stereotypes that are ingrained in all forms of media and in our larger society. This example shows the pervasiveness of Eurocentric beauty standards and how the “good Black girl” is often depicted in the media - having neat hair permed straight. Time and time again, Black women are disrespected by the press, unprotected by their peers and have their privacy and humanity neglected. Fame always comes at a price, but that price should not be disproportionate depending on skin color. Markle’s interview furthers the conversation of anti-blackness by highlighting the state of Western media. However, to acknowledge the issue is only half the battle. As the many U.K. journalists emphasized, there need to be fundamental changes in the way Black women and all people of color are seen in the public eye. Too many journalists, anchors and talk show hosts are comfortable with casual racism in their questions, commentary and delivery of news. Too few of these reporters are people of color or women, which further alienates the industry from the subjects of their articles and segments. The public eye may never be a warm or welcoming space, but perhaps we can lower the disproportionate cost of fame for people of color.