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Saturday, Feb 22, 2025

Prince Harry declares it will take all of us to defeat racism

Prince Harry declares it will take all of us to defeat racism

Prince Harry reveals he and Meghan Markle have 'spoken to a number of CEOs' of companies to urge them to 'put principles over profit' in virtual interview about stopping online hate speech

Prince Harry, 35, who is currently living in Tyler Perry's $14 million mansion in Beverly Hills with Meghan Markle, 39, and their son Archie, one, having stepped back from royal duty in March, is set to speak about the topic in a new interview for the Colour of Change initiative.

In a clip released of the interview on Instagram, Prince Harry praised the younger generation for 'acting, rather than just saying', and insisted it would take 'every single person on the planet' to defeat racism.

Speaking with US civil rights leader Rashad Robinson, the royal continued: 'As we've discussed before, it is going to take every single one of us, this is not just down to the black community, it's going to take every single person on the planet right now.'

His comments come as the authors of the couple's upcoming biography Finding Freedom claimed Meghan helped guide Prince Harry on his very public 'woke' journey.




Prince Harry, 35, has declared it will take 'every single person on the planet' to change racism and inequality in a new interview



Revealing that he had an 'honest conversation with Meghan as parents, he said: 'As we said to you the moment you said you were starting the Stop Hate for Profit Movement' - "how come you didn't mention this"!

'We were like "guys this is what we've been working on separately for months, this is perfect how can we help".

'We spoke to a number of CEOS, but we as a couple take no credit or responsibilty for the decision of companies, so our job was to inform, and to have an honest conversation as parents and say "this is principle over profit". The real key now is to make sure this change lasts.'

The clip of the interview was shared over the weekend online, with the caption seemingly including a quote from Prince Harry: ''“Inequality is not unfortunate like a car accident, it has been manufactured”.

The caption continued: 'Prince Harry and @iamrashadrobinson talked candidly about systemic racism, hate online and people with privilege, using their privilege for change.

'Here’s a sneak peek at what happened. Stay tuned for the full convo #ComingSoon!'

In the clip, Rashard said: 'Part of this work, part of this moment that we're in, is that making sure from analysis to action that we drive action toward structural and systemic change. Changing the rules that have held people back.'



Prince Harry and Meghan have been shifting their focus to the Black Lives Matter movement after stepping back from royal duty in March



Harry added: 'You say this so beautifully Rashard, and it's so true.

'There's so much that has happened for so long and once those problems exist, charity is crucial in so many ways but it can't fix the problem. The problems already exist, and are too big.

'As I've said to you before, it's like bringing a bucket of water to a forest fire.

He continued: 'We have to go to the root of the problem, the source of the problem, and actually fix it there.'

Meanwhile he went on to praise the younger generation for 'leading the movement'.

He said: 'To be led by the younger generation and to act rather than just say, it's like okay so you've said it and now you've got to follow through with it.'

According to authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, Meghan has played a pivotal role in helping her husband become more attuned to racism.



In the clip, the Duke of Sussex, who is currently living in Tyler Perry's $14 million mansion having stepped back from royal duty, said charity 'cannot fix the problem'



Speaking to the National Public Radio in the United States, Mr Scobie said: 'Harry's journey to wokeness has been very public.

'We've seen him learning and educating himself along the way, but this experience of witnessing Meghan face racist remarks and commentary would have been the first time he'd seen someone in his life or someone he was particularly close to affected by it in a certain way.

'We talk about some of the more obvious examples in some of the media coverage but I think that the things that have flown under the radar are some of the othering of Meghan we've seen.

'We've sort of seen it repeatedly that she's not one of us. And now, what do they mean by not one of us?



The couple's upcoming biography Finding Freedom was written by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand



'And I think there are things like that which Harry's really had to become more attuned to and learn to see when it happens in front of him. And Meghan would have been the person that guided him on that journey. '

Days ago, the royal wrote that social media was stoking a 'crisis of hate,' and urged companies to rethink their roles in advertising on digital platforms.

In an opinion piece for U.S. business magazine Fast Company headlined 'Social media is dividing us. Together, we can redesign it,' Harry said that social media, as it currently stands, is 'unwell'.

'The digital landscape is unwell and companies like yours have the chance to reconsider your role in funding and supporting online platforms that have contributed to, stoked, and created the conditions for a crisis of hate, a crisis of health, and a crisis of truth,' he wrote.

He called for online communities to be 'defined more by compassion than hate; by truth instead of misinformation; by equity and inclusiveness instead of injustice and fearmongering; by free, rather than weaponised, speech.'

The former senior royal said he and his wife, Meghan, have spent the past few weeks working with business leaders and marketing executives on the issue to try and introduce changes.

Harry said he and Meghan started their social media reform campaign at the same time as the launch of the Stop Hate for Profit movement in June.

That campaign was launched by a coalition of non-profits who urged companies to stop advertising on Facebook until the Mark Zuckerberg-owned firm more effectively tackled hate speech on its platform.



In the op-ed, seen above, Harry urged every social media platform to step up and take responsibility for creating new standards for hate speech, and to work more actively with consumers - not ad-buying corporations - to create a safe environment that isn't cashing in on misinformation and hate



Enlisting the support of more than 1,000 companies, the Stop Hate For Profit campaign 'sent a $7 billion message through withheld ad dollars,' Harry wrote.

Harry urged every social media platform to step up and take responsibility for creating new standards for hate speech, and to work more actively with consumers - not ad-buying corporations - to create a safe environment that isn't cashing in on misinformation and hate.

It's not the first time that Prince Harry has spoken out about these issues in recent months.

Last month, the royal faced criticism after he appeared to take a swipe at the British Empire by saying the history of the Commonwealth 'must be acknowledged', even if it's 'uncomfortable'.

The Duke made the comment as he joined wife Meghan for a video call with young leaders from the Queen's Commonwealth Trust last month.



The Duke of Sussex was criticised by some last month after saying the Commonwealth needs to follow others who have 'acknowledged the past'  as he joined wife Meghan for a video call with young leaders from the Queen's Commonwealth Trust



Prince Harry's further quotes


'For me, based on the youth and the younger generation that I've met all over the world, the same thing keeps coming up, and from a privileged position, if they're all saying the same thing, then our job is to make that change. It's not just a small group of people, it's a whole generation saying this is unjust.

'They are a generation that are more aware than previous generations, partly because of technology and the possibility to travel the world through YouTube probably. For me it's about a reset, this is an opportunity for a reset and I've always said that we need the youth to lead and guide, because they have the solutions.

'I tip my hat to them because this will inevitably be uncomfortable for a lot of people because it's not been done before.'

'It is a battle as these platforms bring so much connection for so many people, but at the same time it provides so much division.

'For so many young people I've spoken to it's a love- hate relationship, and I guess that's part of the addiction. But the danger of this addiction is that it's tailored to the individual and there's no rule book like with cigarettes or alcohol.

'It will take a lot having learnt what I have, it's been an awakening for me. My biggest question is "why wouldn't you want to be part of that change"? - if you are connected to social media through some form, why wouldn't you want to be part of the change - I think you're part of the problem if that's the case. It's way beyond a problem, it's now a global crisis.'


As part of the discussion on 'justice and equal rights', Harry said the Commonwealth needs to follow others who have 'acknowledged the past' and are 'trying to right their wrongs', and also admitted to having his own 'unconscious bias'.

The intervention was criticised by Tory MP Andrew Rosindell, who told MailOnline Prince Harry's comments were 'disappointing' and would not 'please' the Queen.

Meanwhile London-based veteran royal photographer Arthur Edwards said Harry criticising the one thing the Queen 'cherishes above all things' - which is preserving the Commonwealth - is an 'insult'.

Writing in The Sun, he said: 'Harry should stop listening to his wife, who is obviously filling him full of these ideas. She is evidently no fan of Her Majesty’s beloved Commonwealth.



Meghan and Prince Harry are 'shifting their focus' to the Black Lives Matter movement, according to Katie Nicholl



It is the latest in a series of public steps taken by Harry and Meghan as they shift the focus of their royal work towards racial equality and social justice.

In June, Harry has also publicly apologised for 'endemic' institutionalised racism', saying he is 'sorry' the world isn't in the place where young people 'deserve it to be'.

The statement sparked calls for Harry to apologise for his own mistakes relating to racism.

It comes after royal expert Katie Nicholl revealed how Prince Harry and Meghan, who have been 'very busy' focusing on the impact of COVID-19 on their charities, now plan to focus their energies on the Black Lives Matter movement.



The Duchess of Sussex spoke out in June about the death of George Floyd, which has sparked protests across the world



Katie told Entertainment Tonight: 'The Black Lives Matter movement matters to Meghan and it matters to Harry. And I understand that this is going to be an area where we're going to see the couple doing a lot more work and taking a lot more interest.'

Katie said that Prince Harry and Meghan's different backgrounds as an Englishman and a Californian gave them 'different perspectives' on the movement, and had helped them 'keep abreast' with what is happening on the ground in both countries.

According to the royal expert, Meghan in particular is 'passionate' about the movement and sees herself as 'a role model' who is able to speak on the issue of racial equality.

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