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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRaven-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!
brush
(53,467 posts)Even erstwhile Cablinasian Tiger Woods found that out when everyone turned on him after his scandal.
AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)brush
(53,467 posts)AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)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)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)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)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)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)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)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)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)
Since you provided a screen shot, I'll retract my comment, though.
Okay, and I take that as an apology of sorts, so, accepted.
JimDandy
(7,318 posts)elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)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)the rest of you? Whoever it came from was certainly being deceptive.
AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)But that was CNN'ss fault, not mine.
Edit: Apology accepted.
brush
(53,467 posts)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.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Bad Thoughts
(2,514 posts)Didn't work out.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Doesn't have anything to do with real life, where people notice these things- and often misbehave accordingly.
hlthe2b
(101,699 posts)stint on Cosby. Have I been in a cave?
LeftInTX
(24,541 posts)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)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.
CatWoman
(79,283 posts)and it's pissed a lot of people off.
one example: http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/08/opinion/jones-raven-simone-oprah-black/
AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)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)All for saying she doesn't want to be labeled by race and sexual orientation.
BeeBee
(1,074 posts)She did not say: I'm not gay and I'm not African-American. She was talking about not wanting to be labeled.
AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)And I agree: probably not the best title choice, indeed.
AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)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.