My little test: if everyone does the thing you’re claiming is “resistance”, will it transform society in any meaningful way?? If no then it definitely isn’t resistance
I don’t mind self-care for Black women as in I’m not about to stress out for a country that didn’t choose the Black woman but wants me to CLEAN it up. I’m not about to march and risk any potential harm for a country that wouldn’t do it for me. And, I’m going to protect my peace, mental & physical health, and get a facial every now and then. I get that. But, I think it’s been taken way too literally. And, it’s not the flex many think it is.
Your article is brilliant and I tried to articulate these points in mine, but you hit the nail on the head. And, Meghan is not relatable to many Black women outside of symbolism and/or what she represents, and I don’t think her show had Black women in mind.
I don’t think she OR the show had Black women in mind, and I wonder how she might adjust her branding if she considered there’s a segment of the population there who will always defend her BECAUSE of the very specific things she represents.
I think she she should let them know she sees them next season. Seriously. She should invite guests to cook Black American soul food, Caribbean food, African food. Something. She could have a soft living/Sussex get together, or whatever hashtag they use get together. It’ll only be right. She should also wear some braids one episode or something. lol.
not the point but I've always felt bad that Harry and Meghan basically got adopted by U.S. political discourse, because while she's unrelatable as is usual for a standard lib celeb, she would have been pretty relatable for a princess!
Also, as a raised Episcopalian I just loved that they got Bishop Curry to preside over the wedding.
She would have been a v good princess, in part because she’s so easy to project things onto; and if the royal family had been kinder to her she absolutely would have stayed part of that awful machinery. Which is its own issue lol
Anti-monarchist says, "I wish the royals weren't pissing me off on TV all the time." Genie replies, "You sure?" while imagining the 21st cent's answer to Princess Diana. All shall love her, and despair...
"Self-care isn’t an act of political warfare when you’re not engaged in any other act of political warfare, and are in fact ensconced from political warfare altogether" is phenomenal in how to the point it is and I'd like it shouted from the rooftops. Thanks for writing this!
This is really really interesting and well-done. I loved this line, “If the action you’re describing is something you were already doing, I highly doubt it’s revolutionary.”
This is an excellent take, thank you! I have started to feel like so much of the Meghan discourse is now just a full-court mean-girl pile on.
Of course I noticed this as I was formulating mean-girl thoughts of my own! You helped me
step outside of it!
I don’t always understand (or notice) the racial element at play. It’s a blind spot. (My avatar and me have the same skin tone). However, I do have some shared experience with Meghan’s cognitive dissonance of zig-zagging across income brackets, class, racial privilege (or lack their of) and geographic and cultural milieu. My early years were spent being savagely bullied by other white kids who told me my skin was “too white.”
If I’m being fair to Meghan— Have I ever been in a room where I don’t entirely understand the rules and have tried “too hard” (and maybe failed) to fit in and done something a bunch of people who have lived in that comfortable bubble might say is cringe and out of touch? Um, yeah. A thousand times, yeah.
You have inspired me to back off. And adopt a little more kindness and curiosity and self-reflection.
“Self-care isn’t an act of political warfare when you’re not engaged in any other act of political warfare, and are in fact ensconced from political warfare altogether.” Yes. Thank you.
I read her piece as pointing to and being anchored in Audre Lorde. Our ancestors have already shared bountiful offerings, and when it's being co-opted and turned into something else, then her piece that says, "nope, that ain't it" is a necessary intervention.
My little test: if everyone does the thing you’re claiming is “resistance”, will it transform society in any meaningful way?? If no then it definitely isn’t resistance
You don’t think everyone doing the same Korean rice sheet mask as me will transform society? Oh ye of little faith
I don’t mind self-care for Black women as in I’m not about to stress out for a country that didn’t choose the Black woman but wants me to CLEAN it up. I’m not about to march and risk any potential harm for a country that wouldn’t do it for me. And, I’m going to protect my peace, mental & physical health, and get a facial every now and then. I get that. But, I think it’s been taken way too literally. And, it’s not the flex many think it is.
Your article is brilliant and I tried to articulate these points in mine, but you hit the nail on the head. And, Meghan is not relatable to many Black women outside of symbolism and/or what she represents, and I don’t think her show had Black women in mind.
I don’t think she OR the show had Black women in mind, and I wonder how she might adjust her branding if she considered there’s a segment of the population there who will always defend her BECAUSE of the very specific things she represents.
I think she she should let them know she sees them next season. Seriously. She should invite guests to cook Black American soul food, Caribbean food, African food. Something. She could have a soft living/Sussex get together, or whatever hashtag they use get together. It’ll only be right. She should also wear some braids one episode or something. lol.
Imagining her with braids is taking me on a trip lmao
😁😂😂
She should do faux locs. She would be paying homage to her mom!😁
not the point but I've always felt bad that Harry and Meghan basically got adopted by U.S. political discourse, because while she's unrelatable as is usual for a standard lib celeb, she would have been pretty relatable for a princess!
Also, as a raised Episcopalian I just loved that they got Bishop Curry to preside over the wedding.
She would have been a v good princess, in part because she’s so easy to project things onto; and if the royal family had been kinder to her she absolutely would have stayed part of that awful machinery. Which is its own issue lol
Anti-monarchist says, "I wish the royals weren't pissing me off on TV all the time." Genie replies, "You sure?" while imagining the 21st cent's answer to Princess Diana. All shall love her, and despair...
Instead she diminished, and went into the West, and remained Galadriel
Ok this whole piece is amazing and thank you thank you thank you for it.
Thank you so much, Noha!
i've been so bothered by this whole "self care as rest thing" but could not put the words together, and you just captured it so well.
"Self-care isn’t an act of political warfare when you’re not engaged in any other act of political warfare, and are in fact ensconced from political warfare altogether" is phenomenal in how to the point it is and I'd like it shouted from the rooftops. Thanks for writing this!
very very good read
Thanks very very much!
Great piece. Culture Study did a podcast episode on this show recently, you might enjoy!
Thank you! I haven’t listened to it yet, but I’m a Culture Study fan!
Thank you thank you thank you!
Thank YOU!
UH OH!
I am loosed!
just fyi i quote this piece at least once a day. tysm
What a profound compliment 🥰
This is really really interesting and well-done. I loved this line, “If the action you’re describing is something you were already doing, I highly doubt it’s revolutionary.”
Thank you!
This is an excellent take, thank you! I have started to feel like so much of the Meghan discourse is now just a full-court mean-girl pile on.
Of course I noticed this as I was formulating mean-girl thoughts of my own! You helped me
step outside of it!
I don’t always understand (or notice) the racial element at play. It’s a blind spot. (My avatar and me have the same skin tone). However, I do have some shared experience with Meghan’s cognitive dissonance of zig-zagging across income brackets, class, racial privilege (or lack their of) and geographic and cultural milieu. My early years were spent being savagely bullied by other white kids who told me my skin was “too white.”
If I’m being fair to Meghan— Have I ever been in a room where I don’t entirely understand the rules and have tried “too hard” (and maybe failed) to fit in and done something a bunch of people who have lived in that comfortable bubble might say is cringe and out of touch? Um, yeah. A thousand times, yeah.
You have inspired me to back off. And adopt a little more kindness and curiosity and self-reflection.
“Self-care isn’t an act of political warfare when you’re not engaged in any other act of political warfare, and are in fact ensconced from political warfare altogether.” Yes. Thank you.
what alternative are you offering? what self care/rest is ‘acceptable’?
I read her piece as pointing to and being anchored in Audre Lorde. Our ancestors have already shared bountiful offerings, and when it's being co-opted and turned into something else, then her piece that says, "nope, that ain't it" is a necessary intervention.