Prince Harry Talks About Racism, Says Living With Meghan Markle Taught Him About Unconscious Bias

Prince Harry spoke out about racism during an interview with Black Lives Matter activist Patrick Hutchinson on Monday, saying he learned about unconscious bias from living with his biracial wife, Meghan Markle. The interview was conducted during British GQ’s Heroes Festival, with Harry speaking via video call from his home in Santa Barbara, California.

“Unconscious bias, from my understanding, having had the upbringing and the education that I have, I had no idea what it was,” Harry said. “I had no idea it existed and then, sad as it is to say, it took me many, many years to realize it, especially then living a day or a week in my wife’s shoes.”

Harry called on people of all backgrounds to fight against racism.

"This is a global movement. The train has left the station,” Harry said. “If you're not on it now then get on it because there's so much that we can do. And being a dad myself, the whole point in life, I guess, for me, is to try to leave the world in a better place than when you found it.”

Harry, the son of the late Princess Diana, has devoted his time to multiple social causes. He has followed in his mother’s footsteps to break the stigma around HIV/AIDS and co-founded a charity dedicated to fighting the crisis in Lesotho and Botswana. He also created the Invictus Games, a sports competition for wounded servicemen, women and veterans.

Meghan, an actress who grew up in Los Angeles, has participated in get out the vote efforts ahead of the November presidential election. An advocate for gender equality, she is a Global Ambassador for World Vision Canada.