Meghan Markle wants to tackle discrimination in 'male, pale and stale universities

Meghan Markle has backed a bid to tackle discrimination in universities and the dominance of “male, pale and stale” academics.  The Duchess of Sussex, 37, has thrown her support behind the move by activists and students to “decolonise the curriculum” in her first political intervention since joining the royals.   After hearing a presentation at City University in London on overhauling the curriculum, Meghan replied: “Just open up that conversation so we are talking about it as opposed to continuing with that daily rote . . . sometimes that approach can be really antiquated and needs an update.” Read More Meghan Markle's accent has changed to 'sound more British', claim experts    On the same visit she was shocked to learn about the lack of black and female professors in British universities.  She reportedly said “Oh my God” when shown figures showing that UK professors were mainly white men.  The Duchess visited City University on one of her first outings as patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) last month.  She graduated in 2003 with a double major in international studies and theatre, from Northwestern University in the US, and explored her mixed-race identity by studying works by African-American playwrights.  The former actress’ estranged dad Thomas Markle, 74, is white while her mum Doria Ragland, 62, is African American.  She once wrote about her struggle over what racial box to tick on a form at school.  “You could only choose one, but that would be to choose one parent over the other — and one half of myself over the other.  “When I went home, I told my dad what had happened. He said the words that have stayed with me: ‘If that happens again, you draw your own box’.” Read More Meghan Markle and Prince Harry 'could snub Eton' in favour of cheaper American school    Meanwhile, shock figures show only 56 per cent of black students in the UK achieved a first or 2:1 degree compared to 80% of their white peers in 2016-2017. And only two per cent of academic staff are black.  Meera Sabaratnam, who delivered the presentation to Meghan, said it was “wonderful to see the duchess standing up for female equality”, adding: “Many of the issues around racial equality are similar and it is great to see her embrace this. Change is long overdue.”  Sabaratnam is leading the push to “decolonise” the curriculum at the School of Oriental and African Studies (Soas) in London by having more writers from an ethnic minority background.  Baroness Amos, director of Soas and the first black female vice-chancellor in the UK, has helped write guidelines set be unveiled this month on transforming the curriculum in UK universities.  Dr Joanna Newman, secretary general of the ACU, said: “The duchess is passionate about the power of higher education to transform lives, and so we are delighted that she has chosen the ACU and its progressive agenda.” Read More Latest royal news

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