Raven-Symone Rejects Labels: “I’m not African-American”

Raven-Symone set Twitter on fire last night when she told Oprah “I’m not African-American.”  Yup, she really said that.

The former child star sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a “Where Are They Now?” interview on OWN.  As Raven discussed her personal life, she declared that she rejects labels. Although she is in “an amazing, happy relationship” with a woman, she does not identify as gay.  “I don’t need a categorizing statement for it. I don’t want to be labeled gay. I want to be labeled a human who loves humans. I’m tired of being labeled,” the actress confessed. “On the other side, my mother and people in my family, they’ve taught me to keep my personal life to myself as much as possible, but I am proud to be who I am and what I am.”

Raven also said, despite her race she does not want to identify as “African-American.”   She said, “I mean, I don’t know where my roots go to. I don’t know how far back they go…I don’t know what country in Africa I’m from, but I do know that my roots are in Louisiana. I’m an American, and that’s a colorless person.”   Of course she received much criticism for denying the word “gay” but folks were more offended by her denouncement of “African-American.”  The color-blind philosophy of certain black celebrities has been dubbed #NewBlack. See Twitter’s soundoff below:

Raven has the right to identify however she wants. but colorblindness is quite naive considering how black ppl are treated @JustChenell

— Franchesca Ramsey (@chescaleigh) October 6, 2014

What Raven said isn’t an issue for me the conversation that it opened up is important for us. We need to talk about it and we need to learn — Poe Allan Edgar (@Evolve2Exist) October 6, 2014

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Having had a chance to process Raven-Symone’s comments, think it’s clear that she has a gross misunderstanding of identity. — Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) October 6, 2014

Raven-Symone can see her lavender-colored hair, but can’t see someone’s skin-tone? Please. #STOPNewBlacks2014

— PrestonMitchum (@PrestonMitchum) October 6, 2014

Raven out of touch and idiotic. I’m honestly not surprised tho. She been rich and light skinned since childhood, of course she a fool

— Voodoo Chile (@thesoulasylum) October 6, 2014

I honestly understand what Raven was trying to say — I think. I’ve always been a Raven fan; I’ve loved her since she was Olivia Kendall. So I’m really trying to see it for her. I think her intention was to defy limiting labels placed on minorities. As a black woman myself, I do feel like America treats non-white cultures as if we are a specialty version of “normal” (aka white people). I hate that my hair products are located on 3 tiny shelves labeled “ethic haircare” in any shopping department. Aren’t we all ethnic?  I understand Raven’s refusal to be placed into a box. However, reality is reality and race exists. African-Americans are black people. You may not know where your roots trace, Raven.  However, someone who looks like you but does not carry your famous name is reminded of her skin color every day.