Last week, Meghan Markle shared a video message filmed on her phone with the graduating class of her alma mater, Immaculate Heart High School. The video, which was first publicly released with the African-American women’s magazine Essence, allowed Meghan to speak publicly on the Black Lives Matter movement, sharing a powerful message on the racial injustices and inequities experienced throughout America. In her message, she says:
“What is happening in our country and in our state and in our hometown of LA, 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 realised 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.”
Our team has been deeply moved by the Black Lives Matter movement over the last several weeks. Earlier last week, our editors made financial donations to organizations working on the ground, and our company matched those donations. In addition to financial contributions, we are donating a set of children’s books to facilitate anti-racism education to four elementary classrooms across the United States. For the past week, we silenced all of our accounts – including the blog – to make space for voices more important and meaningful than our own. And yet, there is so much more to be done. We intend to continue reflecting, learning, discussing, and promoting the many facets of this cause and the rebuilding of our society. As Meghan said, “we are going to rebuild and rebuild and rebuild until it is rebuilt, because when the foundation is broken so are we.”
In place of a fashion discussion, we would love to hear how you have supported your community and the Black Lives Matter movement over the last few weeks. We look forward to continued fashion coverage when it feels appropriate to do so.
Very inspirational Meghan. We will rebuild and rebuild till it’s rebuilt.
Wish you all the best in all your future endeavours.
There were no large marches happening in my small Midwest community – so I made donations to the Equal Justice Initiative, the Minnesota Freedom Fund, and the GoFundMe for Breonna Taylor’s family.
I wrote to my small town chief of police and ask him to make a public statement about what the department does in its interviews and training to make sure bullies and racists do not become police officers. I asked our member of congress what he will be doing legislatively to advance justice and equality in our country. I am sending out postcards and making phone calls to encourage Democratic voters to get their absentee ballots and prepare to vote in our primary and in the general election. I suggested that our community art center focus its Instagram, Facebook page, and e-newsletters on artists of color. I have started following people of color who are leaders in the areas that interest me — cooking, food justice, and interior design. I’m not proud of these things. They are the least that I can do and should have done long ago. Still learning. Looking for more ideas. Thank you for making this platform available.
This topic is very important! Her speech is inspirational, but this is a fashion blog and we’re here to get updates on Meghan’s style!