CNN’s Don Lemon agreed to Oprah Winfrey’s explosive interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on Monday, noting that he was not the least bit surprised by the racism the couple had encountered from members of the royal family and the British media .
“I don’t think Oprah, I don’t think anyone who has looked at it – especially not a colored person – is surprised that there is racism” in the British Royal Family, Lemon said. “That’s what the monarchy is based on – heredity, hierarchy, a caste system, bloodlines.”
Lemon argued that “the whole institution is built on a racist structure,” and given such a systemically biased system, it was no wonder the royals were concerned about the potentially dark skin of Meghan and Harry’s child Archie.
The couple told Winfrey that this, along with the ‘bigoted’ British press, had contributed to their decision to move to America, adding that Harry’s family had hitherto been unwilling to apologize for the role they played in the driving. of the couple abroad.
Harpo Productions / Joe Pugliese via Getty Images Oprah Winfrey interviews Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on a CBS special that aired Sunday night.
“There shouldn’t be an ‘Oh my God, the British family is racist’ – of course they are racist,” Lemon said sadly. That’s what the whole monarchy is built on – the racism, the family that should be in it only by birth. And so far it was only white royals on the British throne. “
The CNN host added that he was also not surprised at Harry’s statement that he was unaware of the prejudice in his family until he was forced to confront them with his mixed race wife.
“That wasn’t surprising, because as we always say, that’s what privilege is always about,” Lemon said, adding, “If you’re not dealing with it, then it doesn’t exist for you.”
Lemon brought up his own marriage to Tim Malone, a “ white man from the eastern end of Long Island, ” and pointed out that it was only by marrying a “ black man from the south ” that he had really come to terms with racism .
“Of course I am not surprised that Harry came into contact with racism through his wife, and he felt that in a personal way,” said Lemon. “That’s how it happens … Harry now has a black child and a black wife, so it’s personal.”
See Lemon’s comments below.
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