The Meghan Effect is still in effect. As if the very idea that Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, had ceased to be a trailblazer, a game-changer, an influencer, and a role model upon stepping off the British senior royal roadshow. Only, in a hater’s dream.
Meghan’s freedom from The Firm has elevated her sparkle, and with an extra glint of steely resolve, continues her awesomeness. She’s happy, glowing, and radiant. After delivering a speech to the 2020 graduating class of the Immaculate Heart High School, her alma mater, in a virtual commencement speech. The British media performed a collective U-turn of approval and warm regards, something that smelled like praise: Royal SHAME: How Meghan Markle’s speech reminds Royal Family of ‘what they’ve lost’. Meghan Markle urges students to ‘rebuild’ America in a heartfelt speech. Meghan Markle sounded ‘less restrained’ and ‘like her old self’ in George Floyd speech.
As if Meghan would ever need the British media’s validation to admire her oratory eloquence and her sincere passion to be a motivator for youth. She’d stopped expecting honest, journalistic reporting after repeated abuses of lies, innuendos and constant harassment from certain TV reporters.
When you know who you are, what you value and what you believe, there is a confidence that radiates from your soul. Her mother’s love and teaching about charity, the impact of her school’s efforts with student volunteering requirements, her eventual volunteer work around the world, and her journey as an actress in an industry that still fails with representation. All provided a rich combination of experiences that equipped her to be this phenomenal trailblazer.
At a time when various authority positions have betrayed its citizens, adults seem to be failing at adulting. Take for example America, the violent reactions from police departments, the divisive language from Trump, the unabashed show of hate from a segment of American society who abhors racial inclusivity and equality, can cause one to despair in humanity.
And then, over this week, hope is being rebuilt, in the heroic examples of people stepping up to assist their fellow fallen protestors, even at risk to their own wellbeing, which happened many times. In one particular case, a Washington, D.C. resident in a brave act of solidarity invited about 70 people into his house as a refuge from the police attack of tear gas and violence. We have seen and heard from supporters beyond the shores of the United States who are using their platform to condemn the crimes against black bodies. For example, the Korean group, BTS, donated $1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement, perhaps grateful for a music genre that has been inspired by black culture and music.
Long after the protests have dwindled and we return to other priorities, the rebuilding of the foundation must not be forgotten. As Meghan said,
“We’re going to rebuild and rebuild and rebuild until it is rebuilt, because when the foundation is broken, so are we.”
A loud and clear call to action, that resonates deeply with our world today.
And so, who among us will step up to rebuild? Who among us has the stamina to stick around for the duration of the rebuilding? Meghan made that comment because she has been working for years (long before a royal marriage) to make the world a better place. She didn’t need the Royal Family to serve as her platform or to be a productive global citizen.
The Royal Family’s level of rebuilding never gets their hands dirty, never sees them sweat alongside others, never allows one to forget that they are the elite or first class citizens. Standing in front of the ‘rebuilding’ to take a photo holding the shovel isn’t work. Standing on the sidelines in spiffy hats and tailored suits to wax on poetically about the work needed to rebuild isn’t work. Orchestrating the fanfare around cutting the ribbon for the completed project isn’t work.
No other member of the Royal Family could have delivered such an effective speech. And yes, they have made remarkable speeches — The Queen will get her kudos for the war efforts. But by fortune of their birthright, they are unable to deliver a genuine emotional connection of economic-based hardships, racial inequality and injustice, nor can they emphasize with what it means to work one’s way up to financial and social success on one’s own merits, because they have to idea what that means.
But Meghan can and has used her life to connect with all peoples, especially the children and young adults. There is a down-to-earth charm with Meghan that makes her accessible to those young admirers who want to hug her upon meeting her. They speak about her patience and her listening comprehension, with which she easily gets an in-depth understanding of their issues. And for the fortunate ones who have met her in person, they find it easy to want to share their dreams and achievements with her. She just connects.
The Meghan Effect alludes to the clothes, jewelry, and accessories that sell out in a flash because Meghan wore, used, or mentioned it. That’s the successful celebrity buzz at work. Dig deeper and what Meghan also possesses is an unquantifiable IT factor that stirs eager, continuous consumption of these products. She also possesses an authentic, passionate and positive creative energy, which is channeled deliberately into the construction of a better society. Also, with her creation of communal spaces, for exchanges of ideas and information, she opens up the discussion for others to share new, insightful, not thought about ways, for collective solutions.
It’s a wise thing, to know one’s strengths. Meghan knows her voice matters, not more or less than another’s, but she also understands that hers comes with a global platform. With that comes responsibility and an obligation, which, should one decide to take on that challenge, accept humbly and perhaps with a bit of trepidation, rise up to. And so she did and has, with humility, respect, confidence and strength.
She will continue to have her say with strong, positive, optimistic messages, full of hope because that is who she is. The bonus is that, she will roll up her sleeves to work side by side for that ‘rebuilding until it is done right’. With the state of the world today, that is a message that is solely needed and one that will echo through humanity as long as we inhabit these spaces.
