Hello!

I was not going to comment on Mr. Clarkson’s rant, but I have had a change of heart.

So here it is.

It was interesting to read in the media of the highly offensive comments of Mr Clarkson, published in The Sun newspaper, and now withdrawn at the writer’s request.

It is not the first time Mr. Clarkson has exercised his ‘gift’ of free speech without fear or favour. I expect he will be well supported by many hiding in the shadows and cheering him on.

Imagine. Mr Clarkson could sit and write words about a woman of mixed race, and according to his column, in effect, dreaming that she should be humiliated and dragged through the streets on public display, and the public be allowed to throw excrement at her. It is clear to me that Mr. Clarkson is very sorry that slavery was abolished, in England, and elsewhere, and the slaves emancipated, giving descendants the opportunity to speak their mind.

Mr. Clarkson knew exactly what he was doing when he wrote the column. He wrote it with a deliberate intention to insult, denigrate, humiliate, tarnish the character of, and dismiss as irrelevant Meghan Markle, The Duchess of Sussex on a public scale. His depth of hatred for the lady in question has become a passion to do her harm, although indirectly, by his written words.

Mr. Clarkson, in my view, has done well to prove that racism (but Mr. Clarkson would not regard his words as racist) is the most well entrenched psychological issue in the U.K. in general, and England in particular, against mixed race people, black people, and in fact, any ethnic minority group that dares to challenge its ‘right’ to object to who it sees fit. One does not need to use a descriptive remark, nor act in a manner that is offensive to a person of colour, to prove that a racist attitude and mindset exists. This is the main reason why the practise has ‘successfully’ prevailed in Britain for centuries, and so will it continue.

I could not care less, who finds this post objectionable, as Mr. Clarkson has led the charge on objectionable material, by having his objectionable column put in print. It is not a question of what Mr. Clarkson said that is the only issue. It is also to do with the fact of the impact it is having on showing up HIS people, forcing some to distance themselves from his words, or to voice their disgust.

Meghan Markle, The Duchess of Sussex, is a mixed race woman born in America to a Black African American mother and a Caucasian (white) American father. The Black African American mother link has frightened the hell out of many a royalist, and Anglo-Saxon in England. The Duchess of Sussex is not welcome, and was not welcome from the start, and is in fact hated, on a large scale in England, on having married into The Royal Family, and now is silently resented for mixing up The Royal Blood. I know many will see red with my blatant accusatory remarks and accuse me of purporting falsehoods.

Accusatory – be my guest.

Falsehoods?

What is the point of beating around the bush when the real issue for hating The Duchess of Sussex is exceedingly obvious? With the greatest of respect to Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, I very much doubt he was not aware of an ensuing debacle when it became clear he was dating a mixed race woman, never mind having the intention to marry her. If there is any kind of resolution to be had on this everlasting issue, it begins by getting all the facts and truth of the matter out into the open, come to terms with one’s own issues and prejudices whether one wants to or not, and start the peacemaking process from there.

However, putting out facts and truth is one thing, but not at the expense of the reputation of one’s family- with the exception of experiences being extremely dire or life threatening, which, to me, appears not to be the case. From what I have gleaned from several media sources online, I do not support the book ‘Spare’ by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. In my opinion, he should be guarded as to what else he decides to put in print as no good will come of it, and he may well regret his action in years to come.

Please note: this post has been written by a PROUD Black woman of Jamaican heritage, and guess what, was born in England to Jamaican parents from the fair Island of Jamaica! Happy to say, I was well informed by my parents about the indirect racist divisions, and idiosyncrasies of British rule which they learnt much about having  grown up on their beloved island home, during Crown Colony. On migrating to England they both saw those ‘idiosyncrasies’ in action on an even greater scale than on their island home. Like many of The Windrush Generation, I have no doubt Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, a mixed race American, is also proud of who she is, and knows who she is, which gives her the determination and strength to defend herself against her critics and accusers.

On a personal note, I would have preferred The Duke and Duchess of Sussex to not have gone the route they have taken, that is, the move to the United States, nor the making of the docuseries. Also I will not excuse The Duchess of Sussex for her mockery of Royal traditions, such as the requirement to curtsy in accordance with Royal Protocol. For me, it was an insult in the presence of her husband who is a member of The Royal Family. The exaggerated ‘curtsy’ was uncalled for. Even if it was for entertainment, it was just not on. When one marries into a family, of renown or not, you ‘marry’ everything that comes with it. This is why I believe, strongly, that The Duchess of Sussex should have done her research, and questioned Prince Harry on what The Royal Family is all about, its traditions and protocol, what is expected of her, and more importantly, how she will be received, so that she could have least prepared herself for the onslaught, and to battle it out with a determination to silence the objectors, before taking the plunge. Being ‘starry-eyed’ is not helpful when one makes a decision to enter a world of the unknown. With all of that now under the bridge, and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex having found themselves in the thick of it, they must know their own experience and have, unfortunately, found it necessary to bring it to light.

Regardless of the words and actions of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, that does not justify an approach to disparage a person’s character because of one’s own prejudice, and considers the personality and attitude of The Duchess of Sussex an affront. In addition, asking the publisher to remove the offending column, and the writer putting up a sarcastic ‘apology’ which is no apology at all pertaining to the matter, will not restore Mr. Clarkson’s dignity because there was none there in the first place to require restoration. Now, as I understand it from the media, the publisher has apologised for publishing the column. That I must say was a good decision which will resolve nothing. On the other hand, It remains to be seen whether the focus of Mr. Clarkson’s column will be willing to accept it.

I decided to delay publishing this post to see what else would arise. Well, according to the media, Mr. Clarkson in his ‘wisdom’ took the decision to email an apology apparently addressed to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, only. Whether this is protocol, or ‘protocol’ known only to Mr. Clarkson, I will give him the benefit of the doubt. My understanding of Mr. Clarkson’s latest move appears to be an iconic insult, part two, by the gentleman, as he only recognises the husband of The Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, as the fit person to apologise to, who is a member of The Royal Family, which Mr. Clarkson considers ‘senior and superior’ to his wife. As to the matter of the email containing a specific apology to Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, one can only speculate. I challenge Mr. Clarkson to refute my understanding of his latest ‘apologetic’ action.

To be frank, I do not see Mr. Clarkson receiving ANY negative repercussions for writing his words. As I see it, The Establishment is reluctant to take any action against him, and, may I suggest, especially in light of the patriotic support by the staunch royalists, and public support, in certain quarters, for the gentleman, Mr. Clarkson’ s right to free speech is secure.

The damage had been done, which I will conclude, was Mr. Clarkson’s intention.

It is ironic to say this, but I have to say thank you to Mr. Clarkson for making it clear why racism is so fiercely opposed in his country, be it directly or indirectly. It is really not only the ethnic minority community alone that should be fearful of his words, but furthermore, and to a greater extent, his OWN people, some of whom will meet even more resistance than ever against the unacknowledged perpetual, intrinsic, and endemic racist behaviour in Britain.

Mr. Clarkson, my dear, after all is said and done, and in anticipation of who is next on your list to receive disparaging remarks – myself included – please continue to exercise your democratic and constitutional right to free speech – at your peril.

Wishing you well sir.

Be good.

Louicia