Honestly, people have been obsessed with the question of what race is Meghan Markle since the second she stepped onto the global stage with Prince Harry. It’s kinda wild how much a single person’s family tree can spark such a massive, ongoing conversation. Basically, the short answer is that Meghan Markle is biracial.
Her mom, Doria Ragland, is Black. Her dad, Thomas Markle, is white.
But you’ve probably noticed that "short answers" rarely satisfy the internet. For Meghan, being mixed-race hasn't just been a box to check on a form; it's been the defining lens through which the world views her—and often, how they criticize her.
The Reality of Growing Up Between Two Worlds
Meghan has been super open about her background. She’s described herself as "half Black and half white." In a really famous essay she wrote for Elle back in 2015, she talked about the "grey area" of her identity.
She grew up in Los Angeles in the 80s. It wasn't always easy. She tells this story about a mandatory census in her seventh-grade English class. There were boxes for white, Black, Hispanic, and Asian. Just those. No "mixed" or "other" back then. Her teacher actually told her to check the "white" box because that’s how she looked to her.
Meghan didn't do it. She couldn't.
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She felt like choosing one box was like choosing one parent over the other. It’s that feeling of being "not Black enough" for some and "not white enough" for others. She actually used the term "ethnic chameleon" to describe her time as an actress because she could get cast as anything from Latina to Caucasian, but she often felt like she didn't truly belong anywhere.
Breaking Down the Family Tree
If we’re looking at the facts, the heritage is pretty diverse.
- Doria Ragland (Mother): Doria is African American. Her family history is deeply rooted in the American South. In fact, researchers have traced her lineage back to enslaved people in Georgia and Tennessee.
- Thomas Markle (Father): Thomas is of Caucasian descent. His specific roots are a mix of Dutch, Irish, and German. His ancestors were reportedly coal miners from Pennsylvania and even further back, immigrants from the Alsace region (on the French-German border).
That 43% Nigerian DNA Test
In 2022, Meghan dropped a bit of a bombshell on her Archetypes podcast. She mentioned that she had taken a DNA genealogy test and discovered she is 43% Nigerian.
This was a big deal. For many African Americans, tracing specific ancestry to a modern-day country in Africa is incredibly difficult because of the history of the transatlantic slave trade. Finding that specific connection to Nigeria gave her a much more concrete way to talk about her Black heritage. During her 2024 trip to Nigeria with Harry, she even referred to it as "my country."
Why the Question of Race Follows Her
The media hasn't always been kind about what race is Meghan Markle. From the moment the news broke that she was dating a prince, the "racial undertones" (and sometimes just overt racism) were everywhere.
Remember the "Straight Outta Compton" headline? Or the social media trolls?
It’s one of the reasons she and Harry eventually stepped back from royal duties. They’ve been very vocal about the lack of support they felt from the "Institution" when it came to dealing with racist press coverage. In that 2021 Oprah interview, they even alleged that a member of the royal family had expressed "concerns" about how dark their son Archie's skin might be.
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The "Ethnically Ambiguous" Career
Before she was a Duchess, Meghan was a working actress. She’s talked about how her race made her a "fly on the wall." People would say things around her—offensive jokes or slurs—not realizing her mom was Black.
In Hollywood, being "ethnically ambiguous" was both a blessing and a curse. She could book a wide range of roles, but she often found herself in a middle ground where she didn't fit the "look" casting directors had in mind for specific Black or white characters. Suits was a turning point for her because the producers didn't specify a race for the character of Rachel Zane. They just wanted the best actress. Interestingly, they later cast Wendell Pierce, a Black actor, as her father, which Meghan praised as a win for representation.
Understanding the Context
Race is a social construct, but the experiences that come with it are very real. Meghan Markle isn't just "the first biracial royal" in modern history; she’s a person who spent her life navigating the complexities of a dual identity.
When people ask "what race is Meghan Markle," they’re usually looking for a simple category. But her life shows that identity is rarely that simple. It’s a mix of DNA, upbringing, and the way society chooses to see you.
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What You Can Do Next
If you're interested in the nuances of biracial identity or the history Meghan has discussed, here are some ways to dive deeper:
- Read her own words: Look up her 2015 essay in Elle magazine titled "I'm More Than An 'Other'." It's the most raw and honest she’s ever been about her heritage.
- Listen to the "Archetypes" podcast: Specifically the episodes where she talks with other women of color about the labels placed on them.
- Research Nigerian History: Since Meghan identified her 43% Nigerian heritage, exploring the history of the West African diaspora can provide a lot of context for why that discovery was so emotional for her.