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The transition from European royalist systems to American governance involved a strategic shift where the concept of royalty was reapplied to skin color. While many fled Europe to escape royal political models, the same hierarchy was reconstructed in the colonies by making white people the "royals" and black people the "serfs" or slaves. This workable model allowed the power structure to maintain control through a color-based caste system.
Historian Gerald Horne argues that 1655 was a turning point in global power when England ousted Spain from Jamaica and the Dutch were removed from Brazil. This era saw the systematization of the African slave trade through the Royal African Company. Horne links the rise of the merchant class to the creation of racial capitalism, where sugar production was fueled by enslaved labor.
Neely Fuller explains that while Americans claim to reject royalism, they simply replaced bloodline-based royalty with a color-based system. In this model, white people assumed the role of the royals, while black people were relegated to the status of serfs and slaves. This workable model has been maintained because of its effectiveness in organizing labor and social status.
Neely Fuller Jr. argues that white supremacy is a "royalist system" based on phenotype rather than bloodline. In this system, being classified as white confers a status of inherent superiority, while those with "color" are designated as eligible for domination. The hosts discuss how this color-based classification is intentionally confusing, as individuals are categorized into arbitrary groups like "black," "brown," or "yellow" regardless of their actual skin tone.
The discussion centers on Meghan Markle's claim during the Oprah interview that she was naive about the monarchy and did not search for Prince Harry online before dating him. Skepticism is expressed regarding her claim that she did not know how to curtsy until right before meeting the Queen. The hosts explore how an American actress could enter such elite social circles, suggesting she may have had handlers.
The discussion turns to the "trapped" narrative presented in the Oprah interview, where Harry claims he was stuck in the institution and Meghan showed him a way out. Lizzie Cundy comments on Markle's "strong personality" and her refusal to follow royal protocols, such as using the Queen's doctors. The hosts examine whether Markle truly intended to embrace the role of a working royal.
The hosts compare Meghan Markle to Wallace Simpson, the American divorcee for whom King Edward VIII abdicated the throne in 1936. They note that Markle and Prince Harry are actually distant cousins and discuss the historical parallels of an American woman disrupting the British monarchy. The segment examines the "greatest love story" narrative versus the reality of political upheaval.
Prince Harry reveals to Oprah that the royal family cut him off financially in early 2020, forcing the couple to rely on the inheritance left by Princess Diana. He explains that their deals with Netflix and Spotify were primarily motivated by the need to pay for private security. The hosts discuss the "cartel" nature of the royal family and the consequences of leaving the organized structure.
Real estate broker Alice Mason is cited as a prominent New Yorker who lived as white for 35 years before her black ancestry was revealed. The discussion shifts to Meghan Markle, describing her as "racially ambiguous" and noting the friction her entry caused within the British Royal Family. Prince Harry's decision to step back from royal duties is compared to the shunning faced by those who leave their lineage.
