Why Labeling Meghan Markle As Jewish Is So Offensive

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By Rebecca Jaye November 29, 2017

Dear Editor,

The Forward blog post “Is Meghan Markle Going To Be Prince Harry’s Jewish Princess?” is extremely offensive.

By continuing to question Markle’s Jewish identity, the author of this piece is just as — if not more — offensive than the people who questioned Markle about her multi-ethnic and biracial identity throughout her whole life. Questioning her religious identity is insensitive to Markle’s decision to state through her publicist that she is not Jewish.

It also perpetuates a general problem that people of color, especially those with multi-ethnic or multi-racial identities, face as they navigate white, heteronormative, male-dominated societies.

No one has the right to question another’s identity and use stereotypes to presume another person’s ethnic, religious or sexual affiliation.

The frustration that Markle speaks to in her Allure interview is one that this very article perpetuates for all people of color with the blatant lack of sensitivity it has for the subject herself, as well as the cultural and religious traditions that it uses to link her to a community.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Jaye

The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Forward. Discover more perspectives in Opinion. To contact Opinion authors, email [email protected].

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