"George Floyd's life was important, and Breonna Taylor's life was important, and Philando Castile's life was important, and Tamir Rice's life was important, just like so many other people whose names we know and whose we don't know the names. "
These are the strong words shared by the Duchess of Sussex that the graduating class of the Immaculate Heart High School heard during a virtual ceremony speech on Wednesday evening. It was a surprise appearance. The girls didn't know it was going to happen until the video was played at the end of the two-hour ceremony.
Duchess Meghan was to share her sincere congratulations and some personal memories of her stay at Los Feliz Girls' School in Los Angeles for a long time, but a spokesperson told BAZAAR.com: "She felt compelled to speak directly to these people and talk to them. young women about what's going on in this country right now around the murder of George Floyd - as well as what's been going on for many, many years and many generations for countless other black Americans. "
"In the past two weeks, I was planning to say a few words about your degree and, as we've all seen in the past few weeks, what's going on in our country and in our state and in our hometown of LA has been absolutely devastating, "she told the students. "And I didn't really know what I could tell you. I wanted to say the right thing. And I was really nervous that I wouldn't do it, or that it would be separated, and I realized - the only bad thing to say is to say nothing. "
"Because the life of George Floyd was important, and the life of Breonna Taylor was important, and the life of Philando Castile was important, and the life of Tamir Rice was important, just like so many other people whose names we know and whose names we don't know. Stephon Clark. His life mattered, "she said. "The first thing I want to tell you is that I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that you had to grow up in a world where this is always there."
Sharing her own memories of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, which she said were also sparked by an "act of senseless racism" when construction worker Rodney King was brutally beaten by LAPD agents, he said. she added, "I remember the curfew and I remember rushing home and on the way home, seeing ashes falling from the sky and smelling the smoke and seeing the smoke coming out of buildings ... I remember seeing men in the back of a van just holding guns and rifles. see the tree that had always been there, completely charred. And those memories don't go away. "
Meghan told young graduates that she knew they would use what they learned in high school to be leaders in these difficult times. "You will lead with love, you will lead with compassion, you will use your voice," she said. "You are going to use your voice in a louder way than you have ever been, because most of you are 18 years old, or you are going to be 18 years old, so you are going to vote. empathy for those who do not see the world through the same lens as you, because with teachings as diverse, vibrant and open as I know, the teachings of Immaculate Heart are, I know you know that the life of black people is important, you're ready, we need you, and you're ready. "
BAZAAR.com understands that the Duchess was delighted to participate in the IHHS graduation ceremony, but after recent events, she knew that there was no way to speak to a group of compassionate young women and service oriented not to mention George Floyd and racism afflicts the United States and the world. She hopes her words have brought some hope, comfort or inspiration to the school community that is so dear to her.
Her words will undoubtedly inspire graduates of the school, which promotes academic excellence and creativity in an environment that allows students to become women of good heart and good conscience. She said, "One of my teachers, Ms. Pollia, said to me, 'Always remember to put other needs above your own fears.' It has marked me all my life and I thought about it more than ever last week. "
A source close to the couple told BAZAAR.com: "This is something incredibly personal for Meghan, especially considering all that she has been through. And as a couple, it is, of course, very important. They both feel it, just like the rest of us. "
Meghan and Prince Harry have both had backstage meetings with people at all levels to make sure they are educated and connected to the issues of police violence and the Black Lives Matter movement.
"Harry and Meghan have had private conversations with community leaders and people at all levels, as well as friends and family, about this issue since the recent events began," said one source at BAZAAR.com on recent Sussex efforts. "By talking to as many people and organizations as possible, it was a way for them to feel connected to everything that was going on and to learn more about the issues around them."
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