Wednesday, October 08, 2014

Raven Symone has the right to self identify however she chooses

In an interview with Oprah former Cosby kid Raven Symone, set black twitter and other social media ablaze when she said that she didn't want to be called anything but American. Unsurprisingly black people went crazy! There was the usual responses of her being self hating or being in denial. To put it simply a lot of hate was thrown her way.

In my opinion that hate thrown her way was unwarranted for one simple reason. Raven Symone has the right to self identify however she chooses. The same way that those of us that self identify as African American or black have the right to do that also. I wonder how many realize that but questioning her right to call herself nothing but American, they are being as intolerant and ignorant as those who have a problem with black people African American? You know those idiots on Facebook and Twitter who believe that someone self identifying as African American is somehow racist.

You can't ask one group of people who are ignorant or racist not to question how you self identify and then turn around and exhibit the same behavior yourself. That's the height of hypocrisy.

Just because a former Cosby Kid doesn't want to be called black or African American in no way invalidates or minimizes those that wish to self identify by those terms. She has made a choice and that's that. People need to get over that. With issues like the death of Michael Brown, lack of quality education, financial inequities, etc I think that there are much more important things to worry about.

If you prefer the term African American then use it and leave Raven Symone alone, she is not hurting you.

George Cook AfricanAmericanReports.com, proud African American.

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