By Aaron Miller-
The Duchess of Sussex has released a recorded moving speech in a video for graduating students at her former Los Angeles high school, Immaculate Heart High School.
She told the students that the mass protests against anti-black racism and police brutality have been ‘absolutely devastating’.
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Speaking via a video of her virtual address, she said she was ‘nervous’ about addressing graduating pupils and speaking about the current events across the U.S but went on to name George Floyd and other African Americans who have been killed by the police.
The 38-year-old former actress, said: ‘George Floyd’s life mattered and Breonna Taylor’s life mattered and Philando Castile’s life mattered and Tamir Rice’s life mattered’.
Meghan also referred to Los Angeles as the family’s ‘home town’ after moving there with husband Prince Harry, and their son Archie.
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She spoke about the L.A. protests, and recalled her own experience in witnessing the Los Angeles riots in the 1992 after Rodney King’s death, and her high expectations for the graduating class to join the fight for an end to racial injustice and police brutality.
“I wasn’t sure what I could say to you,” she began in her speech. “I wanted to say the right thing. And I was really nervous that I wouldn’t, or that it would get picked apart, and I realised—the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing. Because George Floyd’s life mattered, and Breonna Taylor’s life mattered, and Philando Castile’s life mattered, and Tamir Rice’s life mattered, and so did so many other people whose names we know and whose names we don’t know. Stephon Clark. His life mattered.”
“…..You get to be part of rebuilding,” “And I know sometimes people say how many times do we need to rebuild? Well, you know, we are going to rebuild and rebuild and rebuild until it is rebuilt. Because when the foundation is broken, so are we”.
I know that this is not the graduation that you envisioned. And this is not the celebration that you imagined. But I also know that there’s a way to reframe this for you and not see this as the end of something but instead to see this as the beginning of you harnessing all of the work, all of the values, all of the skills you have embodied over the last four years and now you channel that.
Now all of that work gets activated. Now you get to be part of rebuilding. And I know sometimes people say how many times do we need to rebuild? Well, you know, we are going to rebuild and rebuild and rebuild until it is rebuilt. Because when the foundation is broken, so are we.
You are going to lead with love, you are going to lead with compassion, you are going to use your voice. You are going to use your voice in a stronger way than you’ve ever been able to because most of you are 18 or you’re going to turn 18 so you’re going to vote. You are going to have empathy for those who don’t see the world through the same lens that you do because with as diverse, vibrant and opened minded as I know the teachings are at Immaculate Heart are, I know you know that Black lives matters. So I’m already excited for what you’re going to do in the world.
You are equipped; you are ready; and we need you, and you are prepared. I am so proud to call each of you a fellow alumni, and I’m so eager to see what you’re going to do. Please know that I am cheering you on all along the way. I’m exceptionally proud of you, and I’m wishing you a huge congratulations on today, the start of all the impact you’re going to make in the world as the leaders that we all so deeply crave. Congratulations, ladies, and thank you in advance.”
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