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AverageJoe90

(10,745 posts)
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 05:39 PM Oct 2014

Raven-Symone: I'm not gay, and I'm not African-American

Last edited Wed Oct 8, 2014, 07:31 PM - Edit history (1)

Hey there, DU. I found this interesting piece on Raven-Symone and her views on labelling on CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/06/showbiz/raven-symone-gay-labels/?hpt=ob_articlefooter&iref=obnetwork

Actress Raven-Symone knows exactly who she is, and that person can't be defined with the usual labels.

That's what the former "Cosby Show" star told Oprah Winfrey on OWN on Sunday night, as she explained why she doesn't like to be labeled as gay or African-American.

The actress confirmed that she's in "an amazing, happy relationship" with her partner, who is a woman, but added that she doesn't "need a categorizing statement for it."

"I don't want to be labeled gay," Raven-Symone said. "I want to be labeled a human who loves humans."


Edit: Also, here's the story highlights, to clear things up:

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Actress Raven-Symone eschews labels like gay and African-American
The former "Cosby Show" star said she's just a "human who loves humans"
She also sees herself as just an American, "a colorless person, because we're all people"


I honestly gotta admire her honesty; you rock, Raven-Symone!
30 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Raven-Symone: I'm not gay, and I'm not African-American (Original Post) AverageJoe90 Oct 2014 OP
She sure looks African American to me brush Oct 2014 #1
I think you're missing the point, to be truthful. nt AverageJoe90 Oct 2014 #3
Think you missed it. nt brush Oct 2014 #5
Why don't you explain your point, then? AverageJoe90 Oct 2014 #6
I reacted to the title of the piece brush Oct 2014 #9
I get what you're saying, but you know something? AverageJoe90 Oct 2014 #14
Your title contradicts this post so I looked at the link... JimDandy Oct 2014 #19
Jim, that *was* the title I got DIRECTLY off the top of CNN article. AverageJoe90 Oct 2014 #21
Raven-Symone Says She Won't Label Herself... JimDandy Oct 2014 #23
You obviously aren't looking at what I'm looking at. AverageJoe90 Oct 2014 #25
They have changed it then. Maybe they got called on it JimDandy Oct 2014 #27
Okay. AverageJoe90 Oct 2014 #28
Full one above. JimDandy Oct 2014 #29
Headline's deceptive. Not a quote. Misleading. elehhhhna Oct 2014 #20
Okay, but, as I informed Jim Dandy, that was the title they had for the article itself. AverageJoe90 Oct 2014 #22
Hmm...Why am I seeing a different title at CNN than JimDandy Oct 2014 #24
Well, I dunno. AverageJoe90 Oct 2014 #26
I watched the video of Oprah interviewing her brush Oct 2014 #30
Meh...Tiger Woods said the same almost 20 years ago... Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #2
That he was in an amazing, happy relationship with his partner? Bad Thoughts Oct 2014 #4
yeah well, I'm sure she is sick of hearing the labels, and feeling her career is limited by them. bettyellen Oct 2014 #7
She should do as she wishes, for sure... But I actually had not heard of her since her child acting hlthe2b Oct 2014 #8
She re-ignited her career with Disney in the early 2000's LeftInTX Oct 2014 #10
she actually starred in one of those Disney cable shows some years back.... but most of the press bettyellen Oct 2014 #13
this has been all over black talk radio and media the past couple days CatWoman Oct 2014 #11
To be fair to Roxanne Jones, I understand what she's saying. AverageJoe90 Oct 2014 #16
Amazing how much hate she's getting for this LittleBlue Oct 2014 #12
I have an issue with the CNN title of the article. BeeBee Oct 2014 #15
I can see what you're saying, I think. AverageJoe90 Oct 2014 #17
Every gets to decide for themselves how they want to be labeled AngryAmish Oct 2014 #18

brush

(53,467 posts)
1. She sure looks African American to me
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 05:45 PM
Oct 2014

Even erstwhile Cablinasian Tiger Woods found that out when everyone turned on him after his scandal.

 

AverageJoe90

(10,745 posts)
6. Why don't you explain your point, then?
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 06:02 PM
Oct 2014

I think her point was rather clear: labels don't necessarily define, or have to define, what kind of a person you are.

brush

(53,467 posts)
9. I reacted to the title of the piece
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 06:08 PM
Oct 2014

I get that it would be nice if everyone was just considered human, but we don't live in an ideal world.

We live in America, one of, if not the most, racially divided countries in the world so for her to say she's not African American is nice and idealistic, but come on, we live in America where Michael Browns happen everyday.

And I just don't get people denying who they are. Is she not proud of being gay or African American?

IMHO if you're proud of who you are it grounds you in the real world, not one of idealistic fantasy.

 

AverageJoe90

(10,745 posts)
14. I get what you're saying, but you know something?
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 06:39 PM
Oct 2014

We honestly need more people like Raven-Symone to come out and speak out, as she has......of ALL ethnicities. That one can acknowledge one's background, sexuality, etc., but to NOT let such define them alone.

JimDandy

(7,318 posts)
19. Your title contradicts this post so I looked at the link...
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 07:16 PM
Oct 2014

Last edited Wed Oct 8, 2014, 08:01 PM - Edit history (1)

NOWHERE in the article does she say what you stated in your title. NOWHERE.

Even the title at the link stated she didn't like to be labeled gay/African American. Why didn't you use their title?

Eta... Your screen shot shows you used the title you were seeing at CNN--their title--which is a different title than I am now seeing at CNN. Perhaps they changed it under fire, or perhaps it's different from platform to platform. While awful for Ms Symone, it never-the-less, was not your error, so I sincerely apologize.

 

AverageJoe90

(10,745 posts)
21. Jim, that *was* the title I got DIRECTLY off the top of CNN article.
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 07:26 PM
Oct 2014

If you'd actually looked at the link, you would see, in big bold betters, AT THE TOP "Raven-Symone: I'm not gay, and I'm not African-American".

And, by the way, I didn't *lie* about anything, so please don't be an ass about this, thanks. This was their mistake, not mine.

JimDandy

(7,318 posts)
23. Raven-Symone Says She Won't Label Herself...
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 07:30 PM
Oct 2014

That is the title at the top of the CNN article to which you have linked.

I stand by what I said.

eta I am on a mobile device, but I can't see a news service changing a title depending on platform being used.

 

AverageJoe90

(10,745 posts)
25. You obviously aren't looking at what I'm looking at.
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 07:38 PM
Oct 2014

Here, I even went to the trouble of uploading a screenshot on Imgur for you.



See, at the VERY TOP of the article: Raven-Symone: I'm not gay, and I'm not African-American It's right there.

Edit: Apology has been made, and accepted.

JimDandy

(7,318 posts)
27. They have changed it then. Maybe they got called on it
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 07:47 PM
Oct 2014

or perhaps they really did put up a different title for my mobile platform (which I don't have the ability to get a screen shot of), but what I posted IS the title I see on CNN. There is nothing above that title.

Since you provided a screen shot, I'll retract my comment, though.

 

AverageJoe90

(10,745 posts)
28. Okay.
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 07:54 PM
Oct 2014

Since you provided a screen shot, I'll retract my comment, though.


Okay, and I take that as an apology of sorts, so, accepted.
 

AverageJoe90

(10,745 posts)
22. Okay, but, as I informed Jim Dandy, that was the title they had for the article itself.
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 07:29 PM
Oct 2014

Now, with your reply(and BeeBee's too!) in mind, would it help if I also quoted the story headlights? That would clear things up.

JimDandy

(7,318 posts)
24. Hmm...Why am I seeing a different title at CNN than
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 07:36 PM
Oct 2014

the rest of you? Whoever it came from was certainly being deceptive.

brush

(53,467 posts)
30. I watched the video of Oprah interviewing her
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 08:35 PM
Oct 2014

She kinda did say she wasn't African American.

I don't get people who deny who they are. What's up with that?

Be gay and be proud, be African American and be proud and learn to outsmart the homophobes and racists.

They're not that smart or they wouldn't be racists or homophobes.

 

bettyellen

(47,209 posts)
7. yeah well, I'm sure she is sick of hearing the labels, and feeling her career is limited by them.
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 06:04 PM
Oct 2014

Doesn't have anything to do with real life, where people notice these things- and often misbehave accordingly.

hlthe2b

(101,699 posts)
8. She should do as she wishes, for sure... But I actually had not heard of her since her child acting
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 06:06 PM
Oct 2014

stint on Cosby. Have I been in a cave?

LeftInTX

(24,541 posts)
10. She re-ignited her career with Disney in the early 2000's
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 06:18 PM
Oct 2014

Had her own series called "That's so Raven". From there she was involved in the Cheetah Girls. I think she is a producer etc. She's quite successful.
(You're not in a cave. The only reason I know is because my daughter watched Disney)

 

bettyellen

(47,209 posts)
13. she actually starred in one of those Disney cable shows some years back.... but most of the press
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 06:28 PM
Oct 2014

you see is of the "child starts grown up to be....gay " type. I am sure she is sick of the labels, although it's hard to say of it's hurt or helped her career.

TO me the OP is backing some fantasy about a color blind world. And that's privilege talking.

 

AverageJoe90

(10,745 posts)
16. To be fair to Roxanne Jones, I understand what she's saying.
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 06:45 PM
Oct 2014

But again, I do believe some folks are missing the point. All Raven-Symone is saying is that she wants to be seen as just a human, first and foremost, above anything else.

 

LittleBlue

(10,362 posts)
12. Amazing how much hate she's getting for this
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 06:27 PM
Oct 2014

All for saying she doesn't want to be labeled by race and sexual orientation.

BeeBee

(1,074 posts)
15. I have an issue with the CNN title of the article.
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 06:43 PM
Oct 2014

She did not say: I'm not gay and I'm not African-American. She was talking about not wanting to be labeled.

 

AngryAmish

(25,704 posts)
18. Every gets to decide for themselves how they want to be labeled
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 06:52 PM
Oct 2014

It is simply not your place to enforce labels on people.

For example for years have denied trans filks the right to identify with the gender they identify with. Being born with male genitalia does NOT mean you are not female.

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