Honoring Meghan Markle and Prince Harry: NAACP Awards Recognize Humanitarian Work

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were recently celebrated at the NAACP Awards for their outstanding humanitarian efforts and distinguished public service.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were bestowed with the prestigious NAACP's Award on Saturday night in recognition of their impactful work assisting a Texas women's shelter, advocating for vaccine equity, and establishing community relief centers in collaboration with World Central Kitchen.

In a tweet shared by the NAACP Image Awards, it was announced, “Congratulations to our President's Award recipients Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Hashtag NAACP Image Awards.”

During the ceremony, the Duchess of Sussex expressed her gratitude, stating, “It's inspiring to reflect on the legacy of the Image Awards, which originated following the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Today, we can uphold that legacy by reinstating federal voting protections and continuing the work of civil rights champions like the late John Lewis.

We are truly honored to be among such esteemed awardees.”

Notable figures who have previously received this accolade include LeBron James, Rihanna, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Muhammad Ali, and Jesse Jackson.

Furthermore, the Duke and Duchess collaborated with the NAACP and their Archul Foundation to establish a new honor, the NAACP Archul Digital Civil Rights Award, which grants a $100,000 prize to innovators at the intersection of technology and social justice.

The inaugural recipient of this award was Sophia Noble, PhD, for her groundbreaking study titled “Algorithms of Oppression, How Search Engines Reinforce Racism,” shedding light on how internet search algorithms perpetuate racial and gender biases.

During his acceptance speech, Prince Harry took a moment to acknowledge the people of Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of global support for those in need.

He also expressed gratitude towards the NAACP for the recognition, remarking, “I am immensely thankful for tonight, both for this award and for the warm welcome from this community.

Despite coming from different backgrounds, my wife and I share a dedication to serving others, addressing injustices, and amplifying the voices of the marginalized.”

Meghan Markle then paid tribute to the legacy of George Floyd, reflecting on the impact of his tragic death and the subsequent calls for racial justice.

She highlighted the importance of their organization's commitment to advancing racial equality and progress, stating, “We stand proud to collaborate with the NAACP and each individual here to carry forward the crucial work of our predecessors into the challenges that lie ahead.

Thank you for joining us in this mission.”

In a joint effort with the NAACP, the couple introduced the NAACP Archwell Digital Civil Rights Award, an initiative aimed at recognizing leaders driving transformative change at the intersection of social justice and technology.

Meghan concluded her address by expressing gratitude for the honor bestowed upon them and acknowledging the support of the community, sharing, “Truly, my mother is here with us tonight, and we are all filled with immense pride.”

The NAACP Archwell Digital Civil Rights Award continues to champion innovators dedicated to leveraging technology for social justice causes.

The inaugural recipient, Sophia Noble, PhD, exemplifies the caliber of individuals recognized by this prestigious award for their contributions to combating systemic biases and promoting equality.

The week-long event celebrating individuals of color across various fields, including television, music, literature, and film, commenced with virtual award ceremonies, culminating in the live broadcast of Saturday's ceremony at 8pm ET on BET.