Meghan said racism had driven her out of the UK. Black Britons ask: ‘Are we still here in 2021? ”

First came the interview where what many black Britons believed to be true was confirmed – Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, the first British member of the modern British royal family to identify as a woman of color, said that she had been forced to leave the monarchy largely due to the British press “inciting … racism” against her. “

“We knew we were innovating,” she said of the group’s moving performance. “We were there for communities of color not only in the UK, but all over the world, and we knew America would be watching.”

Overnight Gibson, dubbed the ‘Godmother of the Gospel’ by British media, became a celebrity in her South London community of Clapham, where she has lived for decades.

“I was sitting on the bus one day and a woman, a black lady, came and sat next to me and she said, ‘We made it!’ and I was like “Did we do it? Did we make it?” Gibson laughs.

Now that hope and optimism is tinged with the deep pain of racial trauma – the struggles of an American actress living in the palace spoke directly to the experience of ordinary black British people.

“I think my reaction was still? Are we still here in 2021?” Gibson said of the explosive interview.

Gibson feels her comments about Meghan have already been misrepresented in the media – an experience she says left her ‘traumatized’ and led to a ‘loss of trust’ in journalists.

In a time of national lockdown, the UK’s mainstream media is its public square – a space that many black Britons say is hostile to them.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement this week that “the issues raised, in particular that of race, are of concern.”

In response to Harry’s accusation that the British tabloids are “fanatical” and build a “toxic environment” of “control and fear”, the UK Society of Editors claimed that racism played no part. role in the cover of the Duchess. The head of the group withdrew after a quick reprimand from more than 160 journalists of color. calling the statement “willful ignorance”.

“The total refusal to accept that there is fanaticism in the British press is laughable, does a disservice to journalists of color and shows an institution and an industry in denial,” they added.

Popular TV host Piers Morgan’s claim on one of Britain’s most-watched morning shows that he “didn’t believe a word” that Meghan was saying led to 41,000 complaints to the UK regulator. communications. An investigation was launched and the famous presenter lost his best concert.

Morgan said on Wednesday he still does not believe Meghan.

“I had time to think about this opinion, and I still don’t. [believe her]”Morgan tweeted.” If you did, OK. Freedom of speech is a hill on which I am happy to die. Thanks for all the love and hate. I will spend more time with my opinions. “

Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, whose heated on-air exchange with Morgan went viral after questioning Meghan’s veracity during her interview with Oprah, says it will take more than two resignations to close the gap.

“There is the problem of the lack of confidence in the media,” Mos-Shogbamimu said. “If the media wants to change your words, the tone of your words, how are you going to trust them with your most valuable asset which is your voice.”

The Britain that Prince Harry and Meghan left is already changing. He was rocked by a racial judgment after the death of George Floyd in the United States, which pushed tens of thousands of anti-racist protesters onto the streets of the United Kingdom. This hope for change quickly turns into a demand for equality.

“I cannot waste my energy on those who are still on ABC, 123, re-put racism,” explained Mos-Shogbamimu, “I recognize that those who are against progress on racial equality and racial justice … one of their tactics is to thwart the efforts of anti-racist activists like me, so if they make me argue at level 123, where is my energy to face the real fight? ”

Away from mainstream British media – a predominantly white institution – Zeze Millz has carved out his own space on social media.

Her weekly YouTube show reaches an audience of 120,000 on cultural and political issues.

“We’ve been nice. We’ve been very, very nice for so long,” Millz explained from his studio in London. “Now we’re at this point where it’s like, no our voices are going to be heard now and if it’s uncomfortable for you then out of luck.”

Britons are often quick to condemn viral videos of police brutality against blacks in America, but at home, the refrain “racism does not exist” is too often heard by people of color, says Millz.

“There is a lot of overt racism in America,” said Millz, “While here it’s not like that – it’s very devious. They always give you gas and find another reason why it’s not. is not racism. ”

Supporters of the royal couple see the television interview as a public and global claim that black Britain was right: Racism exists in the UK. But they argue that exposing systemic inequalities is only the first step.

“Racism is too deep. It’s deep for one person to go in and change all of this, but I think this interview is going to trigger a lot of change,” Millz said.