By Jennifer P. Sims, Ph.D., Columnist
A few weeks ago, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry shocked their family and the world by announcing that they would step back from their roles as senior members of the British Royal Family. Contributing to their decision was the intense media attention and its accompanying salacious criticism of their family. Meghan, who is mixed-race (Black/White) and American, has been receiving the brunt of the media abuse. From newspaper stories disdaining her every behavior, despite having lauded some of the same actions when White British Royals like Kate Middleton did them, to a reporter literally comparing her newborn son to a monkey, the British media has been unconscionable toward the Duchess of Sussex.
Social media dubbed the family’s departure from the UK “Megxit,” a word play on “Brexit” which refers to Britain’s recent exit from the European Union, and leading news sources reached out to social scientists for comments. In an interview with The Washington Post, for example, I discussed the role of anti-black racism and classism in the Sussex family’s experiences. My colleague, who is a psychologist, explained to PBS News Hour how the experiences of mixed-race Blacks such as Meghan and Obama reiterate that a few minorities gaining positions of power does not signal the end of prejudiced thinking. A historian penned an essay that situated Megxit within the Black feminist tradition of resilience.
In addition to these social scientific insights, Megxit also presents an opportunity to reflect on the role of religious teachings in guiding behavior in contemporary society. For example, Christian maxims such as “turn the other cheek” and “love your enemies” remind us to imitate Jesus’ responses to the mistreatment he received from others. However, seemingly forgetting that in the resurrection he ultimately triumphed over his tormentors (meaning he did not accept the abuse en perpetua), these sayings have too often been marshaled in contemporary times to chide people who complain about and/or attempt to ameliorate their mistreatment. In reality, one can live according to Christian principles without perpetually enduring abuse. Meghan and Harry modeled turning the other cheek and loving one’s enemies by refusing to take to social media to post ad hominem attacks against the journalists who repeatedly printed defamatory stories about them. Instead, they published a measured announcement that they would move their family to a less hostile environment as well as pursue other avenues of employment.
Though most of our day jobs do not involved working for the Queen of England, we too can love our enemies and turn the other cheek at work while still rejecting negativity. We can politely decline a party invite from a toxic coworker instead of attending and being miserable all night. We can speak up when a team member is not pulling their weight instead silently fuming while doing all the extra work. We can also blow whistles, report harassment, and in some cases resign if we find ourselves in not just unpleasant but in fact abusive employment situations.
In short, royal or not we can turn the other cheek and love our enemies while also ensuring the wellbeing of ourselves and our families. As a colleague and I previously concluded on her Psychology Today blog, whether one sympathizes with Meghan and Harry or considers them the epitome of entitlement, they nonetheless highlight contemporary social phenomenon such as race, racism, and even Christian maxims.
