Raven started a conversation that the world wasn’t ready to have. As she’s done many times before. My parents were born in Haiti migrated to America had me and I consider myself Haitian-American as a first generation American who very much was raised in a household where Haitian culture was very much instilled on us.

Let’s also remember in that interview? Raven literally ran down her ancestors origin from Africa. She also stated “I’m black” in that interview as well. People just heard the “Not African American” part and ran with it. I understood what she was saying the minute she said it. & I was 18 at the time!

@alyssatorres8973

3 ай бұрын

Love is always the right way ❤

@Ethereal420

2 ай бұрын

So, skip all the other anti Black shit she's said and done eh? Lol

@unbothered2023

Ай бұрын

​@@Ethereal420like what?......

People need to leave Raven alone and let her be a human being.

@shanec3610

3 ай бұрын

Truth af 👏👏👏👏👏👏🙌

@edwindance567

3 ай бұрын

It's hard outheea

@alyssatorres8973

3 ай бұрын

A fierce one at that! 😮‍💨🤤

@Ethereal420

3 ай бұрын

She should've left Michelle Obama and Harriet Tubman alone. She should've kept her mouth shut instead of saying she won't "hire people with Black names". So let her live in her privileged world with her white wife...

@BornFunnyTv

3 ай бұрын

She's misleading our people because she's lost about everything. American is not a race it's a place. A place where they don't like us. I AM BEYOND PROUD TO SAY (I AM AFRICAN AMERICAN )✊🏿

I think Raven is owed an apology. What she said wasn't wrong, and I hate how she was ridiculed for it. Black people have been in this country and practically built this country for hundreds of years. It's not right that we don't get to claim our right to be American.

@wabz.z

2 ай бұрын

Especially since she’s Louisiana Creole (I believe)

@kickrockspleze

9 күн бұрын

The black people that attacked her have to first accept that not claiming African is not denying your blackness.

Raven is so, unbelievably intelligent and well-spoken. She knows exactly what she means when she says it. I hate that she even had to explain anything, but people are so quick with "cancel culture" and quick to jump to conclusions before actually knowing the facts. Well said, girl. Sending so much love

I watched that episode of Oprah when it aired, and it totally made sense to me the second you said it. I used to try explaining it to my mom a while ago. However, some people will never understand other people's point of view.

@alyssatorres8973

3 ай бұрын

I understand you!!

no because i live in canada and i’ve never heard anyone here say we’re african canadian….we’re just canadians lmao

@alyssatorres8973

3 ай бұрын

😂🇨🇦🍁🇨🇦😂

@princessbc9791

3 ай бұрын

Exactly. I've lived in 3 other countries, and no other country has a prefix before their nationality but America...because it's racist rhetoric.

@unbothered2023

Ай бұрын

You know and that's what makes Americans look soon stupid.

@BroJo676

Ай бұрын

I don't remember Canada ever waging war on Black people through slavery and Jim Crow laws as the US.

I completely understand what you were saying, Raven. I’m always identified as a black American. African American suggest I was born on the continent of Africa, had citizenship then moved to America and now have American citizenship. No. I’m an American. Born and Raised in America. If we want to break it down more into logistics, then yea, I’m a black American because of the color of my skin.

@princessbc9791

3 ай бұрын

Exactly! I was raised with this understanding.

@fundifferent1

3 ай бұрын

Your ancestors certainly came from Africa, and that is what it does and always has referred to.

@notthe1_orthe2

3 ай бұрын

That’s not how ethnicity works. In melting pot countries like the USA, ethnicity is your place of origin-American. In homogeneous countries like Nigeria, ethnicity is based on region or dialect (yoruba vs. igbo). So African-American automatically refers to the people who have been American for generations since 1619 and are the descendants of enslaved Africans. A recent immigrant comes from ONE singular country like Haitian-Americans and Nigerian-Americans do. AAs have bloodties all over Africa which is why the entire continent is in our ethnonym.

@smithmarina970

3 ай бұрын

It doesnt tho, ppl who hve a closer connection will typically list the specific country like nigerian american

@princessbc9791

2 ай бұрын

@@fundifferent1 Newsflash! It has not “always” been that way. If you knew your history, you’d know at one point we were called Afro-Americans, which was less than smart. Also, everybody on earth ancestors are from Africa if we’re judging merely on ancestors. However, I don’t have anyone in my family who is African…not 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th generation and we’re heavily mixed with European, but we’re black. So, when it comes to nationality, if whites are just American, so are Blacks, Asians, Indians, Mexicans, etc.

Raven deserves at least 1 million subscribers.

@Jasmyne444

3 ай бұрын

She’ll get there for sure! 😍

@DontHurtMeNoMo

3 ай бұрын

What makes her deserve subscribers...?

My daughter is biracial & was 14 during that interview. She understood you completely as did I. Its frustrating when people selectively listen. Or as granny would say "Cherry-pick" negativity

THANK YOU for covering this story! I’m probably the 5% of people who understood what Raven was saying back when that interview first aired. I would get sooo irritated when people mention it and say stuff like, “Oh, Raven said she isn’t black.” And I would internally scream and think “That’s NOT what she said…!” 😬🤯 But I’m glad that you guys were able to talk about this and give clarification.

As someone who also got called African-American & had to check the African-American box for most of their life I understand. It just doesn't make sense! I'm glad Raven was able to speak upon this & felt comfortable talking about it. Because everyone completely did her dirty for no reason whatsoever! And it also makes me sad that that was supposed to be her coming out moment & that got taken away from her.

@princessbc9791

3 ай бұрын

Well, most applications do read "African American or Black,"...so you could just look at it as if you're checking Black...that's how I see it because I'm not African American.

@fundifferent1

3 ай бұрын

That's you're fault for not understanding the history of the word. If it didn't make sense to you you should have googled the history of the term and educated yourself on it. Raven should do the same. It doesn't mean what you all seem to be assuming it means.

@extrashotofespresso_

3 ай бұрын

Another pet peeve I have with that box is usually in parenthesis it will say (not of latin origin) it’s as if black peoooe who live in America and come from two other black people who are also American but have Afro Latin roots don’t even count. It’s like saying it’s impossible for someone to be black with a latin ethnicity and American nationality

@notthe1_orthe2

3 ай бұрын

@@extrashotofespresso_there is a separate section for ethnicity where you can include whether you’re Latino or not. You can check both black/African descent and Latino boxes.

@notthe1_orthe2

3 ай бұрын

@@fundifferent1thank you. There’s so much misinformation going on here and Raven is fueling it. None of these people know the difference between nationality and ethnicity and it shows.

Raven doesn't have a problem with being black. She doesn't like the obsession with race.

@ms.congeniality3976

3 ай бұрын

The End.

@fundifferent1

3 ай бұрын

She literally said nothing like that. You're doing what Bill Maher did and putting words in her mouth even after she clearly stated in the video what she meant.

@VicHay-hk6nh

3 ай бұрын

RAVEN IS RAINBOW, WE DON'T WANT HER ON AFRICAN AMERICAN SHOWS

@alexl.9602

3 ай бұрын

​@@VicHay-hk6nhNobody wants a black guy names Vic. So gtfo

@jclyntoledo

2 ай бұрын

​@@VicHay-hk6nhNo, Rainbow is a character from the show "Blackish"

1) I don't know if Oprah set you up, but she definitely saw an opportunity for a viral moment for her fledgling show/network and threw you under the bus to get it. She's a very smart woman, and she knew exactly what you were saying, and she pretended she didn't. 2) Jesse Jackson popularized the term African-American, and a lot of people prefer it because it's far more accurate than "Black". No one is Black or white. We come from places. The problem is not with saying African-American, it's that, for example, "white people" don't say European-American. America is unique because all of us (other than Native Americans) descend from people who aren't natively from here. I think using regions to explain ancestry and group identification makes far more sense than using what we find in a box of crayons (colors). That said, the backlash was ridiculous. It helps, though, to agree on the definitions of terms before we use them or to at least clearly define what it means for you before you use it. I do that a lot in my work, and it saves me a lot of trouble. I'll say something, and if there's any ambiguity, I'll say something like, "to be clear, I mean _______ when I say _______"... just because different words mean different things to different people. I always joke that a biscuit is a cracker overseas, and that's not what it is here in the US, so it just helps sometimes to agree or clarify definitions first.

Exactly there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be judged by labeling yourself that way, I agree. Im hoping we can discuss how spoke about certain names of the group she identifies with and if she still thinks that it should stop you from being hired.

@Dsle-ys5ts

3 ай бұрын

Yes I was thinking about that too

I love this so much!!!! Good for you Raven speaking your truth and not letting what people in Hollywood like Oprah think you should do/say. ❤

interesting how identifying as an American was more controversial than identifying as being attracted to the same-sex. Speaks to the inherit shame our country holds towards our own history as a country. great episode, thank you Raven & Miranda!

@Ciaroes

3 ай бұрын

I was thinking the same thing!

@extrashotofespresso_

3 ай бұрын

Great point!

@kickrockspleze

9 күн бұрын

It wasn't that she was identifying as American that made people upset. They were assuming by not adding the African she was denying or shunning being black.

I only thought her original statement was weird because she said she doesn't like labels but then she identified herself as 2-3 different labels JUST not African American But i understand her position. Someone who is Jamaican or Haitian born in the United States of America does not identity as African American & it's not questioned. They could say well their last 4 generations were born in Jamaica. *African Americans* as we know it are 5 - 6 generation Americans at the least. When someone is saying they are Italian-American or Nigerian American they generally have a parent or grandparent born in Italy or Nigeria. US descendants of enslaved people know their parents were born in US as were their parents' great-grandparents. Black American culture is rich and pulls from great history to establish something new and real and we shouldn't miss that point. We have a culture as Black Americans/African Americans that was cultivated in the US.

@Ciaroes

3 ай бұрын

Yes to all of this!!

@wolveman22

3 ай бұрын

@20YearSoul- The rich culture and the 5-6 Generations of Black Americans are some of the reasons using the term African American is outdated and inaccurate. The term accurately describes a different group, Africans (who have a direct connection to a country in Africa) who live in America. Black Americans are a separate thing and should be addressed as such.

@notthe1_orthe2

2 ай бұрын

@@wolveman22African immigrants to America come from one SINGULAR country and use that in their ethnonym. They are Somali-American or Jamaican-American. They aren’t nor do they call themselves African-American. Idk what the hang up is for some of you bamboozled negroes but ethnicity in the USA is “ancestry + citizenship” so you don’t have to be born in Africa to be of African ancestry. AAs have bloodties to several countries in Africa (not just one like immigrants) so that’s why we use the whole continent in our ethnonym. But anybody black with American citizenship is a Black American including recent immigrants.

Theres NOT 1 THING THAT WAS SAID THEN OR NOW, THAT I DONT AGREE WITH !!! Ive always felt this way . THANKS RAVEN AND MIRANDA FOR THIS CONVO.

@alyssatorres8973

3 ай бұрын

For real 😮‍💨🥰

Raven makes a lot of since if folks can be open minded. She’s not saying she’s not proud of being gay, or black. She just doesn’t want to be labeled. Like black people doesn’t want to labeled as black, they just want to be like anyone else. U don’t hear anyone say white American so why should we say black Americans?? Just American! It’s not a bad thing. Trying to change that stigma. I love You Raven and I support you Boo!!! Sending you and Miranda peace, love and light!!!

@sandiego2380

3 ай бұрын

Saying you’re black to a black person shouldn’t be a bad thing either. Stop being a drama queen yearning for attention. Lmao of course you hear the term white American, what is wrong with you?

@tkm1875

3 ай бұрын

She can not want to be labeled all se wants but she lives in the real world, EVERYTHING has a label. She's exhausting herself by doing the mental gymnastics.

@Lovebirdd

3 ай бұрын

@@tkm1875if she doesn’t, if we don’t, no one will and nothing will change in the “real world.”

@houseoflavishevents9668

3 ай бұрын

* sense

@Mecca_Tee

3 ай бұрын

I agree. But isn’t being called an American a label too?

Love you girl! Always been a fan, always appreciate you sharing your heart! ❤

Raven you are a legend 💗

Didn't you mention on the Oprah interview something about having a good grade of hair, not knowing your roots and Americans being colorless? Oh and on The View around that time, you talked about how not hiring someone based on them having a Black sounding name, was not being racist. Remember you said on the View you'd never hire someone named Watermelondrea. Let's talk about that Ms. Symone👀

@Ethereal420

3 ай бұрын

Thank you!! Also the time she defended a Univision host calling Michelle Obama "a cast member from planet of the apes" disrespected Harriet Tubman. I'll never forget that shit!

@PrincessPink-is6kf

3 ай бұрын

Okay then stop wanting people who are clearly mixed with white, to claim just black cause when they say crazy shit like this, you get mad. Stop claiming certain people that shouldn’t be claimed. That is the detriment of the one drop rule! Some people are unfortunately ignorant. If she said that, people shouldn’t worry about how she identifies.

@jarricah7920

2 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Love this response

@BornFunnyTv

3 ай бұрын

She don't even wanna be Black but you love this response.... it's something wrong with our people

@KendollandSteffy

3 ай бұрын

@@BornFunnyTv no there’s something wrong with your BRAIN ! Where did she ever stated she doesn’t wanna be black?????

You were right, and we love you for it. I recently started to trace my families roots and we come from LA

Raven you are soo wise… passionate.. beautiful.. HILARIOUS AND SO MUCH MORE. Thank you 🙏🏽 for being YOU

I understood what you said immediately. You just look at things like the big picture and feel as though sometimes small details don’t/shouldn’t matter that much.

I understand you completely Raven! You shouldn't have to explain yourself. Stay amazing!

You are 100% right raven !!!!

Love you Raven!

I agree 100% with you raven !

I love raven !!! She can’t do no wrong 💯

LOVE YOU GUYS, Especially Raven < 33 Thanks for being the REALEST

I didn’t see the original interview. BUT ! I feel it Raven ! I knew exactly what you meant when you said it. Great video y’all ! ❤🎉

Raven, maybe you and Monique need to have a chat hunni. Love hearing from you!

@alyssatorres8973

3 ай бұрын

🗣️we want this

Honestly I think most ppl understood what you said at the time, ppl just wanted to hate because they love to hate. But I do have to say, your facial expression after you said it is so funny that I think thats also why it went more viral. You had a look of extreme confidence 😂

Finally this was clarified! Love you so much Raven!!! 🤍🤍🤍✨🌹🌹🌹

I say this all the time Raven!!! I’m not from Africa!! Preach!!

Raven you are such a wonderful person ❤

this is why i love raven so much, she gets it

Loved this tea!!

Yo Raven! I remember when you said this. You were sooooooo RIGHT and ahead of us all!! These are our exact sentiments right now as Black Americans. We’ve been making the distinction lately, but back then we didn’t even take the time to UNDERSTAND YOU!

I like that Raven sees species, instead if race.

@mlw9195

3 ай бұрын

I think what raven fails to get is that African American is an ethnicity. More than anything. It’s a political issue that allocates resources for black ppl who’ve been in this country for hundred of years it’s not just some word.

@jupitersworld244

3 ай бұрын

@@mlw9195raven is a clown simple!

@alyssatorres8973

3 ай бұрын

⁠​⁠@@jupitersworld244 but here you are commenting and helping the channel grow 💁🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤡 you support it ;) 😏😉😉😉

@FitzyS

3 ай бұрын

😂😂😂😂

@brandonoliver2161

3 ай бұрын

@@mlw9195exactly! Humans are nuanced and contain multiple identities; we do not need to denounce one identity in order to embrace another

Raven my heart ❤️ 💙 your story and your perspective matter

I knew exactly what she meant back then, so, "Do You, Raven!" 🙌🏾💙

Thank you both I always enjoy what y'all are speaking about - very lovely ' intelligent Women .. love it Ty 😊 peace

You go Raven!!!! ❤

Raven gave me the Uushwash Guushwash - Orlando

@Ethereal420

3 ай бұрын

😅😅😅😅😅

@jasonbored8319

3 ай бұрын

@@Ethereal420 The Shooshwash

I agree and understand exactly what you’re saying Raven

A lot of us knew exactly what meant then and now!!!! Love you!! ❤

The way I defended you from the jump when this aired & will continue to do so…I’ve always felt a similar way as you do especially being of Caribbean descent!

@benedictevi5007

3 ай бұрын

Can you please expand on the link to the Caribbean heritage?

@gigigervais5174

3 ай бұрын

@@benedictevi5007 of course! While I was born in America, both my parents were born & raised in Haiti (we’re pretty sure I was the first one born in America if not one of the first). My family lineage in Haiti goes back several generations, so I’ve always felt a little strange being labeled African American because I’ve never really felt like I had African family ties.

@benedictevi5007

3 ай бұрын

@@gigigervais5174 It completely makes sense 👍

I was on your side when you said what you said years ago. I knew what you were talking about because I felt the same way as you then and still now. 🫶🏾 Love you Rae

I 100% agree with Raven! ❤❤❤

yup. now most black peolle identify as black, not african american. you were ahead of your time but that’s a benefit of being a well traveled and educated person. 🩷 u raven so much. i wish i could be your friend you feel like a big sister to me and i love that you seem like a normal person unlike most celebrities

@alyssatorres8973

3 ай бұрын

Well said I couldn’t agree more!

I’ve been thinking about this moment from the Oprah interview for the passed year as I have been doing genealogy , The fact that people didn’t understand what u were saying speaks volumes about our psychosis globally

@alyssatorres8973

3 ай бұрын

😮🤯🥂

💯% agree with you!!!

Ever since she came out, I love her so much. I’m so glad you said that and it took me many years to get to this point, but I 100% agree with you. American not African-American.

I totally agree, and I got what she was saying then and agreed with her then. Me agreeing with it then caused many debates with friends and family who now after some time understand why some people identify themselves this way. I identify myself this way because of Raven actually. She made me really think about what she was saying and why as far as labels, especially with my sexuality as well. You don't want to be labeled because that can be limiting when really what you are is human

I wanna have a conversation…. When you releasing more music ? I’m starving.

@alyssatorres8973

3 ай бұрын

🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍽️🍽️🍽️🍽️🍽️🍽️Like we HUNGRY, HUNGRY FOR IT 😜😛😛😛🤤🤤🤤 🍽️🍽️🍽️🍽️🍽️🍽️🍽️🍽️🍽️🍽️🍽️🍽️🍽️🍽️🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍽️🍽️ what’s your favorite song? 🤔🤔 which one needed a music video the most?

OMG Raven! I have always felt this way! I am, my mother has, and her mother has, ALWAYS been Americans! Thank you for sending this message. I don't like being called an African American. I was BORN IN AMERICA, so I'm an AMERICAN!👱🏾👍🏾 And yes! I am blonde!!!😂

I LOVE YOU RAVEN!!!

As a Latina whose family has been in America before it was America i got it when Raven said it. And I’ll say it here never been a fan of Oprah she could have had your back but instead she fed you to the dogs. You deserved better ❤

I totally agree labels only hinder us and divide us as people

@alyssatorres8973

3 ай бұрын

They do well at it

I wholeheartedly agree with Ravens statement

Yeah I was wondering if someone was going to say something about that video and I did notice it had been shown recently and I'm glad you had this video to talk it over

Wow never thought Raven would be able to bring this issue to the forefront. Proud of her

I love this, as a free spirit person myself. I struggl alot with identities that are imposed on us by the way we look in America..

Raven, I understood you from the moment you said that 😊. When you came out on Twitter it made sense yet again because I could tell for a while that you were gay 🎉😊 I love you both keep this show going ladies❤❤❤❤❤ You all are so entertaining and have thoughtful conversations that are refreshing to hear.❤😊

Yessssss i agreed then and i agree now 🙌🏾👏🏾

Agreed Raven. You been my childhood crush my whole life and I dumped you that day, because I didn’t understand. I know better now and hopefully you’ll accept me back as my fake childhood crush boo again. African American is whack and calling us that is political and not helpful to us at all. I’m glad you kept pushing! We were all dumb in 2014. Stay black as hell Raven! #fucklabels

@alyssatorres8973

3 ай бұрын

Awwwww 😭😭😭

I love this for you Raven.. you were ahead of the “curve” years before most of us were.. I’m sure today more ppl will realize and see what you really said. Good for you sis! 👏🏽👏🏽 Like don’t label me!

@VicHay-hk6nh

3 ай бұрын

WE DON'T WANT MIXED UP CONFUSED RAINBOW GETTING ACTING OUT AFRICAN AMERICAN SISTAS

we love u raven

I understood your statement Raven.

I agree with Raven. I don’t believe in labels like her ❤

This is the best video of yours I’ve seen so far!! THANK YOU for speaking truth and letting me know I was never alone in not being an Oprah fan, but being too afraid to ever speak it publicly 😅

I did not get the reason for the distinction until I went to Africa. I then understood how unique an African American is.

Wow I love this and it make sense why she said what she said and I respect that and I am proud of her and I love her no matter what!

Agreed! Raven is speaking the #truth.

I think a lot of people who were born and have contributed to the America that we see today, who have fought to be recognized in this country as an American may have had a problem with the removal of “African” - or whichever native place before - American. Still today we are asked to place ourselves in categories with every form or application. To identify… I think it would have been different if you doubled down by saying you’re Black, however there’s still a separation from being an American (full stop). The system is working. Race was created and so was the identifying factors we still use today. We are still being labeled. We don’t say “I’m Human” without saying “from Earth”… this is a much larger discussion and it takes understanding and education of humanity’s history to get the context and nuance. I understood where you were coming from when you said you didn’t want to be labeled. Oprah also understood that but I think there was more to discuss.

Not Halitosis!!! That was so unhinged omg, let me find out!

raven is a 100% right!

Totally get what you were saying Raven, as a Canadian we don't have that culture of saying "African-Canadian". I've always referred to myself just as a Canadian even though I'm first generation (my parents are Jamaican). I'm just a Canadian girlie who is black lol

Raven was my childhood and I remember for a couple years just thinking she lost her mind w all the comments she would say & hearing it again now .. she was soooo valid & it makes sense.

i get what you mean. if you culturally feel american, it feels strange to call yourself anything but! i perosnally have deep cultural roots also in my parent's culture so i dont mind being asian american or being called that.

I love you Raven, but it seems as if you still don’t fully get it. “People see me across the street and don’t be like HEYYY LOOK AT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN!” Well actually they do Raven. There’s a lot of that going on and I think that’s the disconnect that the average black took from that “I’m not African I’m American” label statement because American is still a label and it almost felt like you chose the other side. Still love you babe ❤

@alphacharm

3 ай бұрын

I agree!

@alyssatorres8973

3 ай бұрын

I understand you and her. I don’t see her choosing sides. If she did she wouldn’t be here still. She is trying to give us a peek on the side we don’t see! She can identify, you can identify. She gets it she just in a different class so there’s weird barriers that don’t help the connection of perspectives due to vocabulary disadvantages.

@wolveman22

3 ай бұрын

@RuizMrs- Imo what she's trying to say is I'm not African American I'm Black American. Not a denial of blackness but a disconnect from being called African because I'm black.

I am with you Raven I am so tired of LABELS

Raven uses her body language wonderfully. She is very lovable. ❤

Im glad she addressed this

I heard you Raven! They can never make me hate you!

I love that you addressed this. I understood what you meant then and have said the same all my life for the exact same reasons. I am an American. Period. No one else quantifies their nationality with their race first. We are a reflection of an American history that can’t be denied. And I agree with Mom, Oprah set you up bc no way she didn’t understand what you said… she travels! She’s Oprah!

@mlw9195

3 ай бұрын

I think what raven fails to get is that African American is an ethnicity. More than anything. It’s a political issue that allocates resources for black ppl who’ve been in this country for hundred of years it’s not just some word.

I get what you were saying. Purple Heart 💜

Awesome job ladies with the podcast drop a like .

@awesomeadamfrom2099

3 ай бұрын

I have no answer to that question

I always understood what you were saying. The investment of literal blood, sweat, and tears makes us American. I will not divest, but I will collect!

I agree with her 1000000000%! I am not from Africa, I have never been to Africa. I was born in America. I am an black American. Not an African American.

We get you Raven, people just like drama

Honestly, this needs to spread all across black America

I agree with Raven, I prefer to say I am an American rather than say I am Mexican American or Latino or Hispanic. I was legit born in America so why just not use only “I am an American” rather then using the other names to described who I am.

I remember this, all i have ever thought about Raven is .... Raven is Raven, no labels.

I knew exactly what you meant!

It’s a bit ironic that Raven has no problem with labels such as “American” or “Black”, but does have an issue with labels when it pertains to ethnicity. People do not seem to understand that there is a difference between race, nationality, and ethnicity. If she identifies racially as Black and identifies her nationality as American, I’m curious about what she would consider her ethnicity as? Instead of saying what she doesn’t identify as, it would be helpful to hear what she does

@brandonoliver2161

3 ай бұрын

And again, if she doesn’t want to identify with a specific ethnicity, that’s absolutely her right! It’s just weird that ethnicity is where she draws the line with identity and labels

@wolveman22

3 ай бұрын

@brandonoliver2161- Black American describes both an ethnicity and a race. Black culture is one of the most visible and prevalent cultures in the world. There's literally people all over the world mimicking black culture. We do not share culture with Africa (which is a continent with many cultures of its own) at all. Ethnicity-the quality or fact of belonging to a population group or subgroup made up of people who share a common cultural background or descent.

@brandonoliver2161

3 ай бұрын

@@wolveman22 Yes, Black American is an ethnically; it’s actually synonymous with the term “African American”. The Black American experience is very specific and unique, it’s not the same as being from another culture. Blackness, itself, is not a culture. There’s not just one “Black Culture”. There are Black people from Honduras, Brazil, Canada, etc. These peoples have different cultures and are of different ethnicities. Even within Africa, there are soooo many different cultures and ethnicities i.e Hausa, Yoruba, Fulani, etc. So, when Raven says she doesn’t identify as “African American”, it makes me curious about what ethnicity she does identify with. Or if she’s just playing semantics, or if she’s just not fully educated on the subject

@wolveman22

3 ай бұрын

@brandonoliver2161- She didn't do the best job of explaining herself but I'm pretty sure she identifies as black American. Also while I agree with most of what you said I don't agree that black American and African American are synonymous terms. In truth they actually describe distinctly different people. In my opinion one of the nexts steps for black Americans is having some pride in who we are and owning our identity. Even with full knowledge of our history.

@brandonoliver2161

3 ай бұрын

@@wolveman22 How would you describe the difference between Black American and African American? Do you consider these as two distinct ethnic groups?