LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: British television presenter Nana Akua slammed Omid Scobie's recent book 'End Game,' where he claimed knowledge of the British royal family member who questioned the skin color of Archie, son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
In a thought-provoking op-ed for the Daily Mail, Akua questioned the focus on the identity of the so-called "royal racists" and suggested a broader consideration of whether it was inherently racist to discuss the potential skin tone of an unborn child.
Akua opened her op-ed with a stark reflection on the public's fixation on uncovering the identities behind the alleged comments.
"At office water coolers, on social media, and in bars and cafes around the country, one question dominated conversation. Everyone wanted to know the identity of the supposed 'royal racists' – who allegedly asked about the skin color of Harry and Meghan's yet-to-be-born son Archie – after they were 'inadvertently' outed by the Sussexes' apparent mouthpiece Omid Scobie in his new book, Endgame," she said.
Is wondering about skin tone racist?
Akua challenged this narrative, urging readers to ponder whether it was racist at all to wonder about the skin tone of an unborn baby.
The black mother of two mixed-race children shared a personal anecdote, stating, "As the black mother of two mixed-race children, I can tell you one of the few things my ex-partner and I agreed on before our son's birth was his name: Ivory."
She humorously recalled conversations with friends and family, expressing curiosity about her unborn child's potential appearance, noting the non-racist nature of such discussions.
"I would laugh with my friends and family. What if he comes out really dark? The very opposite to what his name suggests. We'd have loved him the same no matter how he looked – we were just curious," she recalled.
Akua passionately defended the right of parents, especially mixed-race parents, to wonder about their children's appearance. She asserted, "For mixed-race parents, their children's skin tone is a lottery ticket."
She drew attention to the unpredictability of genetics, noting that twins from the same parents could have vastly different appearances, emphasizing that such discussions were a natural part of parenthood.
"You don't know until the child is born – which is why it's such a fascinating talking point. So while it's possible that asking about an unborn child's skin color in a derogatory manner might be construed as racist, merely wondering about it in a sense of genuine anticipation is absolutely not. Discussing race is not racist," she continued.
Questioning the narrative
The presenter acknowledged the lack of context surrounding the alleged royal family conversation about Archie's skin tone, dubbing it as "dubious hearsay." Akua questioned the accuracy of the account, suggesting that Scobie, being mixed-race himself, might have reported the incident through his own lens.
Analyzing Prince Harry's evolution on racial issues, Akua drew attention to his past comment as a 21-year-old and likened his transformation to that of a reformed smoker lecturing others.
She noted, "His marriage to Meghan, of course, and learning of her life experiences as a mixed-race woman, played a bigger part."
However, she raised questions about the sincerity of his advocacy, stating that "the jury was still out as to whether he genuinely understood the issues involved."
Expressing sadness over the state of affairs at that time, Akua reminisced about the positive reception Meghan received during her engagement in 2017.
"It's so sad it has come to this. When Harry and Meghan's, I was thrilled. Back then, Britain embraced Meghan, and the fact that she was mixed race was something to celebrate in our increasingly multicultural society. Yes, we wanted to talk about it, but in a positive way," she wrote.
In conclusion, Nana Akua called for a more nuanced understanding of discussions around race, parenthood, and the complexities of the royal family dynamics.
"It is this hyper-sensitivity – and fundamental misunderstanding – that lies at the heart of Harry and Meghan's estrangement from the Royal Family and the accusations being leveled," she wrote, adding, "We wanted – and still want – to see the couple and their children thrive, but their endless pampered victimhood and moaning is getting in the way."
