Billy Flood hopes someday Raven-Symoné will look in the mirror and be proud of the Black gay woman she is.
Here we go…
Raven Symone says she is not black, or gay. She’s human and lives in America…
At first I jumped all over this child on Facebook. After taking some time to simmer, (as you can see Oprah trying to simmer during the interview and NOT go in) I feel sorry for Raven.
She wants to do away with labels and be called, “American” and “Human”, which if you’re paying attention are labels… She is proud of those. I just wish she could be proud of being “Black” and “Gay”.
I get it. She, has been brought up in an entertainment industry that rewards whiteness in all shapes and forms.
The “America” she is so proud of does great work to keep whiteness at a high premium. The same can be said for heterosexuality.
So I know why she has internalized heterosexism and racism. I too struggled with that at points in my young life. It’s easy to do when the powers that be reward you for denying who and what you are, and promote assimilation at all costs.
I just wish that it wasn’t the case…
One day, soon I hope, Raven can be proud to look in the mirror and see the beautiful talented black gay woman she is.
What a role model that Raven will be.
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Originally appeared at Thekynegro29’s Blog
https://goodmenproject.com/arts/legacy-labels-raven-symones-statement-rang-true-many-brpe/
JayM kills it… He should have wrote the article. Op needs to take a step back and reassess what she is saying.
I can understand both sides of this argument. Why can’t we just respect what people want to be called or how they are seen without it being a problem. No one jumped down Morgan Freeman’s throat when he said he said that Black History Month was “ridiculous” and said he wanted people stop calling him a black man? For minorities, there is always a battle with whether or not you are too this or that. There is always a group that thinks you are too “white/black/chinese/hispanic/etc.” and another that thinks are the opposite. If Raven doesn’t want to be seen… Read more »
Jay M, thank you!! Why are people demanding that she identify the way they want her to? She has the right to be who she is, whoever that may be. God Bless her!
I am VERY PROUD of RAVEN. She has every right to say she does not want to be labelled. That does not mean she does not consider herself that. It is like saying milk is not calcium because it is not labelled as such. Also, i am happy she said she is NOT AFRICAN-America. She so CORRECTLY STATED she considers herself black, but she does not know which African Country her ancestors come from. Her roots are in America. Which is true. Small correction TiffanyG, Lupita is Kenyan, not American, she is an African. I am so tired of black… Read more »
Wait, you’re tired of people who identify as African, but also identify themselves as Americans, calling themselves African?
I guess people who identify as Irish, British, German, Swedish, Brazilian, etc., should stop calling themselves that because being an American automatically wipes that slate clean?
Give me a break. People have the right to define themselves however they please, and you’re not in a position to say otherwise.
I “get” what she is saying, and I think why many don’t helps explain why our world is still in the mess it is in. You go, Raven.
I’m part native, and I understand her point of view. I have often been shuffled around and told I needed to be this way or that simply because of my heritage, with no real thought given to the HUMAN that I am. You’re basically stating that simply because she happens to be black and gay, she HAS to represent herself as such, “just in case” some little black girl in the future needs a role model and there are apparently none to choose from on this planet at the moment. Were she a white, hetero woman saying the same thing,… Read more »
As far as the gay label, I don’t think that’s entirely fair. She has the right to determine how she wants to represent her sexuality and what label she feels comfortable with – to her it’s to be without labels – stating she loves who she loves (paraphrasing). She did say that she was attracted to both genders. It’s not just gay, lesbian, queer, bi, pan, etc. There’s such a spectrum. Maybe it’s based on religious beliefs that she doesn’t hold on to labels. I’m a practicing Buddhist and it’s taught to not get too attached to labels – labels… Read more »
Technically all African Americans could say that they are mixed with something. There are very few African Americans who look like Lupita. I understand her desire not to be labeled but I also get that there is some little black girl out there who needs a role model and may hear those words and say why does she want to distance herself from the label. Also you very rarely here any other race say they don’t want to be labeled. I never here a latino say I don’t want to be labeled as Puerto Rican, Mexican or Cuban. And the… Read more »
I agree. I think it took a lot of courage for her to step into the light and voice her convictions only to receive backlash. The world is so big, let this woman go about her life as she chooses. I support her. This woman is isn’t bashing any race, we are all of one race and we all call ourselves human. I don’t personally care if she doesn’t care for being called a lesbian labels are for boxes and cans. Anyone who doesn’t understand her choices doesn’t have to, that’s their own personal hurdle to over come. I say… Read more »