This blog post features two prominent Americans who have something in common. It’s actually, though, about the media and the way they have covered these two individuals.
One of them is the young woman pictured above: Meghan Markle, the fiancée to Great Britain’s Prince Harry. They’re getting married in May at Windsor Castle.
The other person is the fellow you all know: Barack H. Obama, the 44th president of the United States of America. He’s now a private citizen.
Their commonality? They both are African-American. Markle’s mother is black; her father is white. Obama’s mother was white; his father was black.
Here’s the head-scratcher that gives me cause to post this brief blog item: Why do the media decline to refer to Markle as an African-American woman who’s marrying into British royalty? The media made a lot out of President Obama’s standing as the first African-American ever elected to the presidency. And, yes, Obama’s election in 2008 was a big deal partly for that reason.
To be fair, I am not consumed by the Meghan-Harry romance. I don’t follow it as closely as millions of other Americans. So perhaps the media have made the African-American reference many times beyond my earshot.
Still, someone might have to explain to me why the media are treating these two celebrities so differently. Is it because Markle’s racial heritage is not part of the larger story, while it was a part of Obama’s story?
I am all eyes and ears.