Wow what a dope!
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Raven-Symoné
wienerboy-925 — 11 years ago(October 06, 2014 06:22 PM)
This might offend some folks but oh well-So she doesn't want to be labeled. It offends her to be African-American or gay. Sad that Martin Luther King and Medgar Evers died in vain cause she doesn't want to be labeled. As well as Harvey Milk and Matthew Shepard also died in vain cause she doesn't want to be labeled. People have fought for decades to have those prides, to say it's not shame to have these "labels". Does she not understand that? Is she really that clueless?
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kdn328 — 11 years ago(October 06, 2014 09:39 PM)
She never denied her color. The only reason she said she doesn't label herself as African American is because she cant trace back where in Africa her ancestors are from. What she really knows is that she's from Louisiana and she grew up in America which is why she labeled herself American based on citizenship (nationality). But she never denied being black or gay. She just doesn't want to be labeled for it because it's not all that she is. She's much more than her race and her sexuality.
And ethnicity is a part of who you are but it's not your entire identity, I felt like that's where Raven was trying to make the point. -
Brian_and_the_Revolution — 11 years ago(October 07, 2014 07:21 AM)
"She can't trace her ancestors back from Africa"- lame ass excuse considering there's a little something called ancestry.com. I've traced my Irish/English/Scottish/Cuban ancestors all the way to the 1600's. Nice try Raven.
I'm straightapplaud me for my bravery! -
CandyRenee — 11 years ago(October 07, 2014 05:43 PM)
Guess what if she went to Ancestry.com she would probably discover that she has very little African blood. Actress Gloria Reuben who identifies herself and looks black discovered that she is in fact mostly white. Most blacks that have been in American for generations are mixed. It should be an individuals choice what they want to be called. Raven is a mixed race woman that is clear from her appearance and if she doesn't want to be called African-American so be it.
Now is the hour! Riders of Rohan, oathes you have taken, now fulfill them all! To lord and land! -
Brian_and_the_Revolution — 11 years ago(October 08, 2014 09:17 PM)
Umokay CandyRenee, please get off the "We Are The World" train for a second. First off, the statement about her appearance is ignorant considering that there are plenty of light skinned African-Americans with two African-American parents. My wife is black and one of her sisters has the same coloring as Raven-Symone but both her parents are black. Two, both of Raven's parents are indeed African-American. Three, Gloria Reuben's mother is white. Four, if Raven's so colorless, then she needs to give back every single NAACP image award not to mention never involve herself in any African-American related evens such as Black Girls Rock like she did a few years ago.
Just like it's an individuals choice on what t5b4hey want to be called, it's also my choice to call bulls**t. Let Raven try that colorless mess down in Ferguson and see what happens to her colorless ass.
I'm straightapplaud me for my bravery! -
CandyRenee — 11 years ago(October 09, 2014 09:24 AM)
Um.. Okay The_Brian_Factor you need to get of the we are the world beep I believe that people have the right to be called whatever they want. At no point did I state that we need to hold hands singing we shall over come. Raven did not say she wants to be colorless. She DOESN'T CLAIM AFRICAN. What do you not understand?? Some people don't see the need to claim a connection to a place they have never been. She is Black American end of discussion.
So every cop in Ferguson is racist and kills black people? So that means every white person is racist right? So that would include you right?
Now is the hour! Riders of Rohan, oathes you have taken, now fulfill them all! To lord and land! -
zilla7777 — 10 years ago(June 22, 2015 09:11 AM)
I believe that people have the right to be called whatever they want.
Not me. I believe that people should be called what they are. Period. And I won't change my belief to play in your politically correct arena. -
wienerboy-925 — 11 years ago(October 12, 2014 06:41 PM)
I agree and disagree with you. Yes. In fact she can trace her roots to find out what region/tribe her ancestors originated from in Africa. I watch Henry Louis Gates program on PBS Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Anna Deavere Smith traced her roots using a DNA sample to the country of Nigeria and her ancestors came from the Igbo tribe.
However, Anna Deavere Smith and many other African-Americans and black people in North America, South America and the Caribbean are unable to trace all the way back to 1700's and 1600's. Whereas, whites can because they were not kidnapped and sold into slavery for centuries at a time. For African-Americans tracing their roots all the way back is difficult b/c it ends at freedom. Very few African-Americans can trace all the way back to 1700. The majority of African-Americans cannot do that.
And how does this matter?! Whether they came in the 1600s, 1700s, or whenever. She's black, which means her ancestors came from Africa which means she's from African desert. Who cares if she can or can't trace her back to Africa. That fact that she's black means she's from African descent. How hard is that for her to figure out?! -
wienerboy-925 — 11 years ago(October 18, 2014 10:48 AM)
But, she is WRONG about not knowing what part of Africa her people originate from. That's what I found very sad about her statements there is all sorts of technology out there it's not hard to find out about your roots.
Well if her family came from slavery I don't think it would be that easy. Not like immigration papers that were documented and ancestry.com would have online. Are slave records even online anywhere? Even so African names were changed to American names so it just wouldn't be that easy it seems.
Did I say she was not black? Geez.
Well she doesn't seem to know so who knows what to think. What she calls labels, I call reality! -
The_Dougster — 11 years ago(October 07, 2014 05:08 AM)
Sad that Martin Luther King and Medgar Evers died in vain cause she doesn't want to be labeled. As well as Harvey Milk and Matthew Shepard also died in vain cause she doesn't want to be labeled.
Hold up, man. That's harsh and totally uncalled for.
None
of those people died for her to be a hyphenated American. And she said nothing of being
ashamed
of being gay. She just doesn't want to be
defined
as such. I'm sorry you can't make the distinction but I vehemently disagree with your premise that she's a "dope" for making those comments. -
jarrodmcdonald-1 — 11 years ago(October 07, 2014 08:43 AM)
I wouldn't say she's a dope but she's going a little bit off the rails. She is failing to realize that she is in a position to create a positive image about her color and her sexuality instead she is trying to cut herself off from a lot of that, because of her own need to be 'herself.' She likely has fans that look up to her, fans who may be struggling with some of the same identity issues.
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novastar_6 — 11 years ago(October 07, 2014 07:23 PM)
Actually according to Youtube the world is full of her fans who feel VERY much the same way she does and HAVE for years, she's just the first public figure to actually give voice to what everybody's feeling.
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wienerboy-925 — 11 years ago(October 12, 2014 04:56 PM)
Actually according to Youtube the world is full of her fans who feel VERY much the same way she does and HAVE for years, she's just the first public figure to actually give voice to what everybody's feeling.
You're trusting anyone on youtube?! LOL they're bigger trolls on there than they are on here on the IMDb. I have never met an African-American or someone who's gay who ever had the mindset that Raven-Symon has. Again no one has ever fought for any civil rights to be "nothing". She should understand that but is taking the easy way out and being apathetic about it!