It was wonderful to see the way Meghan Markle infused her African-American heritage into her wedding with Prince Harry.
The new Duchess of Sussex gave the world a taste of two distinctly different cultures-that of a black girl raised by a single mother in Los Angeles and a royal whose family traditions in England go back a thousand years-blended into one.
That wasn't an easy feat. But the world was watching, and the duchess had a message to send.
For the record, though, the ceremony was a bit over the top as far as most African-American weddings go. But perhaps it needed to be, in order to make her point.
The long-winded preacher and the gospel choir were unique vestiges of the black church experience, but not often incorporated into formal weddings. Except for those that include African traditions such as "jumping the broom," most black wedding ceremonies are as subdued as any other traditional ceremony.
The bride picked Michael Curry, the African-American presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States, to deliver the wedding address. His message about the power of love, infused with quotes from the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., was appropriate at a time the world is so divided.
But it went on and on-for more than 13 minutes. Many in the audience at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle obviously had never seen such a thing. Some of them didn't know what to make of it. But that's OK.
Beyond the animated preacher, a choir singing Ben E. King's "Stand by Me" and 19-year-old African-American cellist, the wedding provided so many more poignant moments that pointed to the fact that people have more in common than they might think.
With so much diversity on display, it would have been difficult to ignore the stature of this historic event-the first interracial marriage within the British royal family.
Many wondered if the duchess, being born to a black mother and a white father, would be strong enough in her identity to say to the world, "I am proud of my African-American roots."
Biracial children in America often have difficulty figuring out where they fit in or even where they are the most accepted. Often, society ends up making the decision for them.
She did not hesitate. And that should make us proud.
But whenever there is a first African-American anything, there are always questions and doubt. Many of us seemed to be looking for clues as to whether this exchange of cultural ideals would work. In other words, would she really be accepted?
The royal family seemed to go out of its way to send the message that the duchess was a fully welcome member of the family.
When her father suffered a heart attack and could not attend the wedding, Prince Charles, in perhaps the most welcoming gesture he could make, escorted the bride partway down the aisle.
Near the end of the ceremony, Charles took the hand of Doria Ragland, the duchess's mother, to escort her to watch their children sign the register. And as the family exited the church, he walked down the steps with his wife, Camilla, on one arm and Ragland on the other.
By no means does this imply that the families will become close friends. But it is interesting to note how natural it all seemed.
Credit also has to go to Ragland.
Before the wedding, there was lots of discussion among African-Americans about what she would do with her hair. Would she discard her signature dreadlocks in favor of a straightened look? Would she remove her studded nose ring for such a momentous occasion?
The answer to both was no. And that said a lot about who she is. Perhaps that is where the duchess gets her strength.
Though the love story of Harry and Meghan reads like a fairy tale, the idea that an African-American woman married a prince is not what makes it so important. It is that the duchess is a strong and independent woman who now has an opportunity to bring about change in many parts of the world.
The royal website offered a glimpse of what we can expect in her new role as duchess. She described herself as a feminist and an advocate for social justice, noting that when she was 11, she successfully campaigned to have a company change sexist language being used to sell dishwashing soap.
The site also mentions that she visited Rwanda on a clean water campaign that would work to allow young children to continue their education. And she has volunteered at soup kitchens on Skid Row in Los Angeles and in Toronto while working in Canada as an actress.
She is yet another woman with a strong voice and the chance to be a role model for young women, of all races and ethnic groups. She is yet another woman who can show others how to break through barriers, with grace and charm, and still be a mighty force.
Her diverse wedding proved that she knows who she is and that she understands her mission. It is obvious that she is up for the challenge.