Meghan Markle’s upcoming trip to Colombia is drawing significant attention, particularly as she is scheduled to give a speech titled “Afro Women and Power.” This event, part of a larger initiative focusing on marginalized communities, will highlight issues surrounding race, gender, and empowerment. However, the Duchess of Sussex’s visit has been met with calls from the residents of Palenque de San Basilio, South America’s first free town of formerly enslaved Africans, urging Prince Harry to issue an apology for the British royal family’s historical involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.
This speech and the broader visit underscore Meghan’s continued focus on advocacy for underrepresented and oppressed communities. Since stepping away from her official royal duties, she has been increasingly vocal on issues related to race, gender equality, and social justice. Her upcoming address is expected to resonate deeply with the Afro-Colombian community, especially considering the complex history of slavery in the region and the enduring impacts of colonialism.
Palenque de San Basilio, where some of the calls for an apology are originating, is a historically significant community. It was established by escaped slaves in the 17th century and remains a symbol of resistance and freedom in Colombia and beyond. The town’s residents are proud of their heritage, and their call for Prince Harry to address his family’s colonial past adds a layer of complexity to Meghan’s visit.
Meghan’s activism and public advocacy have frequently intersected with topics related to race and historical injustices. As a biracial woman, her own experiences with racism have often informed her work. She has spoken openly about the challenges she faced within the British royal family and the wider media scrutiny that followed her marriage to Prince Harry. Her perspective has allowed her to build a platform that speaks to both her own identity and the larger systemic issues faced by people of color, particularly women.
This latest speech in Colombia could be seen as part of Meghan’s continued journey in using her platform to raise awareness and challenge historical wrongs. For the Afro-Colombian community, her presence could serve as both an acknowledgment of their struggles and an opportunity to bring their concerns to a global audience.
However, the calls for an apology from Prince Harry raise a different set of questions. The British royal family has long been criticized for its ties to colonialism and the slave trade, with many demanding accountability and reparations. While Prince Harry has acknowledged the role of the British Empire in the suffering of colonized nations and peoples, these demands for a more explicit apology have gained momentum in recent years. The residents of Palenque de San Basilio see Harry’s connection to the royal family as a direct link to this painful history, and they view his visit to the region as an opportunity for reconciliation and acknowledgment of past wrongs.
The request for an apology places both Meghan and Harry in a delicate position. On one hand, Harry’s more progressive views and his decision to step back from royal duties suggest that he may be sympathetic to these calls. On the other hand, any official apology from him could be seen as a political statement, something the British royal family traditionally avoids. Furthermore, while Harry and Meghan are no longer working members of the royal family, they still carry the weight of their titles and lineage, making their actions closely watched and interpreted on a global scale.
For Meghan, this trip to Colombia may represent another step in her personal and professional journey of advocacy, but it also ties into the larger, more complex issues of race, power, and historical accountability. Her focus on Afro women and empowerment fits squarely within her broader work, but the surrounding calls for Harry to address his family’s colonial past could complicate the narrative.
Beyond the immediate questions of apology and historical reconciliation, Meghan’s speech is likely to address broader themes of resilience, leadership, and the importance of lifting up marginalized voices. Afro-Colombian women, like many women of color globally, have historically been underrepresented in positions of power and leadership. Meghan’s decision to center her speech on Afro women and their role in society speaks to her ongoing commitment to intersectional feminism and social justice.
Her presence in Colombia is significant not just for the local communities but for the wider global audience. Meghan’s platform ensures that the issues she discusses, and the communities she interacts with, receive international attention. In this way, her speech can serve as a moment of visibility for the Afro-Colombian community, amplifying their voices and struggles to a wider audience.
This is not the first time Meghan has been involved in discussions around race and empowerment. Since her marriage to Prince Harry, she has consistently spoken about the need for greater equality and the dismantling of systemic barriers that hold back people of color, particularly women. In interviews, public speeches, and even her work with charitable organizations, Meghan has emphasized the importance of addressing both the historical and contemporary challenges faced by marginalized communities.
However, Meghan’s activism has not come without criticism. Her critics have often accused her of being too political or of using her platform for personal gain. Others have questioned the sincerity of her advocacy, given her royal connections and the wealth and privilege that come with her title. Despite this, Meghan has remained committed to her causes, using her platform to shine a light on issues that matter to her and, by extension, to many people around the world.
The upcoming speech in Colombia will likely be another instance where Meghan’s advocacy intersects with her personal identity and her larger platform. While her focus will be on Afro women and their empowerment, the broader context of her visit—particularly the calls for Prince Harry to address the British royal family’s role in the slave trade—will undoubtedly shape the narrative surrounding her trip.
For the residents of Palenque de San Basilio and other Afro-Colombian communities, Meghan’s visit could be an important moment of recognition and validation. Her speech on power and leadership will likely resonate with many in the audience, particularly women who have faced systemic barriers and oppression. At the same time, the larger questions surrounding Prince Harry’s role and whether he will respond to calls for an apology remain unanswered.
Ultimately, Meghan’s trip to Colombia is about more than just a speech. It is about the intersection of history, power, race, and gender, and how those issues continue to shape the world today. Whether or not Prince Harry responds to the calls for an apology, Meghan’s presence will undoubtedly spark further conversation about the legacies of colonialism and the ongoing fight for equality and justice.
