Wow what a dope!
-
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.
-
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.
-
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! -
galahadfairlight — 11 years ago(October 15, 2014 05:51 AM)
So your username is a testament to your intelligence levels?
Some people will do and say anything to get out of responding. You could have opted to simply delete your previous responses, instead of flailing around.
This signature has stupidity! -
The_Dougster — 11 years ago(October 08, 2014 12:32 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.'
You can't lay all that on her! She has a right to live her life and
define
herself any way she pleases. Why would anybody take offense to her not wanting to be called African-American? Personally, I dont need or want a hyphen to describe me. Minorities have no obligation to either if they choose not to. -
jarrodmcdonald-1 — 11 years ago(October 08, 2014 12:38 AM)
One thing that struck me as ironic is that she is granting this interview to Oprah, a black woman. Why not talk about not identifying as an African-originated American to someone like Barbara Walters instead? She is on a black woman's program talking about her non-blackness and it's a bit absurd to me. She's confused. She has also been in show business long enough to know that fans will hang on what she says and non-fans will tear it apart. She should probably keep her life private and avoid the scrutiny. My guess is that she will reverse some ofb68 her thinking as she gets older. She will do a 180 and be proud of her African based heritage and her lesbianism if she stays in a committed relationship with a female.
-
The_Dougster — 11 years ago(October 08, 2014 02:21 AM)
One thing that struck me as ironic is that she is granting this interview to Oprah, a black woman. Why not talk about not identifying as an African-originated American to someone like Barbara Walters instead?
Perhaps she just happened to be on Oprah Winfrey's show.
Many
people appear on Winfrey's show. Why does the skin color of the host have to be an issue? There's nothing absurd about that and I don't see why you'd say she's confused.
My guess is that she will reverse some of her thinking as she gets older. She will do a 180 and be proud of her African based heritage and her lesbianism if she stays in a committed relationship with a female.
Who says she's
NO2000T
proud of her heritage and/or her sexual orientation? Seems to me that you're making a lot of assumptions about her based on comments that you seem to be taking out of context. The way
I
interpret her comments, she doesn't want to be
defined
as "Gay". Other black people, such as Whoopi Goldberg, have publicly stated a preference for
NOT
being referred to as 'African-American'. I dont need a damn hyphen to describe
my
nationality or heritage and dont see why members of certain ethnic groups are castigated if
they
dont feel the need either. -
jarrodmcdonald-1 — 11 years ago(October 08, 2014 08:28 AM)
Sounds like you are trying awfully hard to defend her. I get it, you're a fan. But she is acting wacky and people are going to rake her over the coals. She's black. If she was purple, we'd be saying she's purple. She doesn't sleep with men. If she did, we'd be saying she sleeps with men. Again, I am not slamming her for who she is but for how she is trying to say she is not what she is. It's weird and no matter how she spins it, she is still going to be typed and labeled. That's life.
-
Brian_and_the_Revolution — 11 years ago(October 08, 2014 09:25 PM)
Yep, last time I checked, a lesbian means a woman who's romantically involved with other women. So yes, Raven is as gay as Ellen Page. Nobody has time for the million and one LGBTQRSTUV definitions.
I'm straightapplaud me for my bravery! -
The_Dougster — 11 years ago(October 09, 2014 04:02 AM)
Sounds like you are trying awfully hard to defend her. I get it, you're a fan.
I'm actually relatively indifferent to this individual. I just don't get some of this criticism. Firstly, I applaud black people who'd prefer
NOT
to be referred to as African-Americans. I think the whole hyphen thing is unnecessary and divisive.
But she is acting wacky and people are going to rake her over the coals. She's black. If she was purple, we'd be saying she's purple. She doesn't sleep with men. If she did, we'd be saying she sleeps with men. Again, I am not slamming her for who she is but for how she is trying to say she is not what she is. It's weird and no matter how she spins it, she is still going to be typed and labeled. That's life.
That doesn't mean she has to type and label
herself
! There's absolutely nothing wrong or "wacky" about that. -
galahadfairlight — 11 years ago(October 09, 2014 02:29 PM)
Shes not acting 'wacky' at all, shes pointing out that her colour and her sexual orientation shouldn't be an issue and she shouldn't have to wear the associated labels just to 'fit in'.
If Charlize Theron decides to become an American citizen, you do realise she would genuinely be able to call herself an 'African-American'.
How does that help your stupid unnecessary labeling now?
Why is it even necessary for people to label themselves?
Most black Americans have been so for GENERATIONS.
My family history spans to Norway and France. Do I now as a Brit embrace my heritage and rename myself?
What would I achieve by doing so?
People talk about 'pride in their heritage'. How can you have a pride in a plada0ce that you've likely never visited and likely never will? Pride only extends to a naming convention, but not actually going to the place you've named yourself after?!?!?! What a load of bollocks.
Its divisive nonsense, it separates people for no sane reason than on what they look like.
Wacky? Way to go with trivialising it you moron!
This signature has stupidity! -
jarrodmcdonald-1 — 11 years ago(October 09, 2014 03:58 PM)
It looks like people really responded (negatively) to the word 'wacky.' I guess you never know what will set people off. That's interesting.
I have been posting on other websites about this, and since yesterday my point of view has changed a bit. Also, since yesterday, Raven herself has clarified her statements. At issue was whether she was denying her blackness, and she was quoted today as saying she's not doing that. She just doesn't like the term 'African American.'
What I wonder here, and I suppose everyone else can help me on this, is why why do people take offense at the use of the word African? Is it because the younger generation is using that word as a put-down to symbolize jungle2000 or tribal heritage? Because people whose families harken back centuries to Iceland or New Zealand do not get bent out of shape when it comes to someone reminding them where they came from. Some nice and courteous feedback would be appreciated enlighten me, please.
Also, I do want to say that I have had many battles in my life about stereotyping and labels. So I can most definitely relate to Raven and others on that part of the discussion. But what I posted yesterday was that life is unfortunately all about labels and classifications, and we have to deal with it, even if we do not like the fact it exists the way it does. That's all I was saying. Now it's your turn to think I'm wacky. LOL
-
galahadfairlight — 11 years ago(October 10, 2014 04:57 AM)
It looks like people really responded (negatively) to the word 'wacky.' I guess you never know what will set people off. That's interesting.
Denigrating someones opinion as 'wacky' is pretty much the same to me as saying a 'Homosexual or Lesbian will grow out of it', i.e. you take no notice of their opinion and pass it off as a fad if you will. Specifically using a word like 'wacky', suggests shes a bit mental and not in charge of her faculties, a case of not even trying to challenge what shes saying, just saying shes mad as if thats a relevant response.
I have been posting on other websites about this, and since yesterday my point of view has changed a bit. Also, since yesterday, Raven herself has clarified her statements.
She didn't need to though. Only those that were knee jerk and frankly looking for an issue needed to be placated, because they took what she said wrongly.
At issue was whether she was denying her blackness, and she was quoted today as saying she's not doing that. She just doesn't like the term 'African American.'
No, the issue was for other people, not her. I fully agree with her, why should she have to accept labels that she feels doesn't apply to her or are not all of what she is?
For instance, no-one refers to me as an 'English white heterosexual', its an unnecessary label to put on people and achieves?
What I wonder here, and I suppose everyone else can help me on this, is why why do people take offense at the use of the word African?
You've got it all wrong largely. Most people around the rest of the world don't see what the relevance is of this entire "I'm an X-American", whether it be Irish, Scottish, British, French, African, they are entirely bizarre and pointless labels, they do nothing but say to people "I'm part of this group, you're not part of this group."
Sounds pretty fvcking divisive to me.
And most of the people claiming that they are Irish-American, their ancestors were in America before the Titanic sank!
Same goes for Italian-Americans and African-Americans, unless you're a recent incumbent, you're AMERICAN, or is that a dirty word?
Is it because the younger generation is using that word as a put-down to symbolize jungle or tribal heritage?
Its because its meaningless. "Great your ancestors came from Africa or Italy, but YOU emphatically don't. You were born in America, so was your father, and his father, and his father."
But with the African-American name, its this assumption that they do come from Africa, and for a lot of people today,they understandably don't want a title or label attached to them that may not be true, and bears no relevance to who they are today.
Because people whose families harken back centuries to Iceland or New Zealand do not get bent out of shape when it comes to someone reminding them where they came from. Some nice and courteous feedback would be appreciated enlighten me, please.
You've been enlightened.
Also, I do want to say that I have had many battles in my life about stereotyping and labels. So I can most definitely relate to Raven and others on that part of the discussion. But what I posted yesterday was that life is unfortunately all about labels and classifications, and we have to deal with it, even if we do not like the fact it exists the way it does. That's all I was saying. Now it's your turn to think I'm wacky. LOL
Who says people have to accept labels?
If people don't insist that I refer to myself as "English white male heterosexual", I see no need to refer to someone like Raven-Symone as "African-American black female lesbian."
Seems to me that labels only really apply to people that are not considered part of the 'normal', and when the world is as diverse as it is today, you may want to reconsider what constitutes 'normal' today
This signature has stupidity!