Meghan is making a speech in Manchester today, as she travels up with Prince Harry for the One Young World Summit.
The trip comes just days after Meghan’s wide-ranging interview with The Cut magazine in which she said it takes “a lot of effort” to forgive and hinted that she can “say anything”.
And in August she launched her new podcast series, Archetypes, in which she speaks openly about race and racial prejudice with the likes of Serena Williams and Mariah Carey.
But Sisonke Msimang, a South African writer, activist and political analyst based in Perth, Australia, says there "isn't much substance" to the Duchess of Sussex.
Meghan Markle
PA Features Archive/Press Association Images
A woman demonstrates outside the United Nations building during Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's attendance at the celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, U.S. July 18, 2022
SHANNON STAPLETON
In a piece – titled "Do not pretend celebrity princess Meghan Markle can meaningfully advance the cause of racial justice" – she wonders what the Duchess "has done to deserve her spot at the top of the celebrity social justice advocate food chain".
Ms Msimang adds: "I am astounded, and frankly dismayed, that she is held up as a role model for black girls.
"It disturbs me that Markle can tell girls – without irony – as she did this week: 'You have the power within you to create a life greater than any fairytale you’ve ever read. I don’t mean that in terms of you could marry a prince one day.’ I mean you can find love. You can find happiness.'"
Ms Msimang explains that Meghan's "activism can be listened to" because of her high profile, adding that "her politics can be commodified and sold to the highest bidder".
She writes in her piece for The Guardian: "But the revolution will not be Spotified, and Markle is no activist.
"Instead, the Duchess signifies the sort of empty race politics that is popular among elite American celebrities: she is thoroughly unremarkable – as many celebrities are.
"And her personal struggles have little to do with those of the majority of black women who live in the countries she and her husband flitted between in recent years."
Ms Msimang's comments come ahead of Meghan's appearance at the One Young World Summit on Monday.
The Duchess of Sussex, a counsellor for the organisation, will give a keynote address at the opening ceremony.
The Sussexes will also meet a group of summit delegates doing “outstanding work on gender equality”, One Young World said.
