Raven-Symoné has revisited a controversial remark she made during a 2014 interview with Oprah Winfrey, saying the backlash has haunted her for years. The actor, known for her roles in That's So Raven and Raven's Home, clarified her statement during a recent episode of her podcast Tea Time with Raven & Miranda alongside her wife, Miranda Pearman-Maday.
In the 2014 interview, Symoné told Winfrey, 'I'm an American, not an African American.' She explained that many misinterpreted her words as a denial of her Black identity. 'There's a difference between being Black and African,' she said, emphasising that she never claimed not to be Black. 'It means I am from this country, I was born here, my mom, my dad, my great-great-great-great-great – and that's what I'm saying. The pure logistics of it.'
Symoné noted that when she travels abroad, people refer to her as 'an American, plain and simple,' rather than 'African American.' She also expressed frustration with being labelled, stating, 'Stop mislabelling us.' The actor acknowledged the sacrifices of her ancestors, saying she does not want to discount 'how much blood, sweat and tears they've soaked into this earth in order to create the America that I live in today.'
Reflecting on the aftermath, Symoné said she 'felt attacked' and 'judged and not heard.' She recalled that the interview was originally intended to be her coming out moment, but it quickly shifted to a discussion about labels. She had told Winfrey, 'I want to be labelled a human who loves humans,' and expressed being 'tired of being labelled.'
Symoné's mother suggested that Winfrey may have set her up for backlash by reacting quickly rather than letting her finish. While Symoné does not believe she was 'set up,' she thinks Winfrey highlighted her comments for 'people to scrutinise more.' She added that younger generations are 'starting to break down those barriers of labelling,' suggesting a growing understanding of her perspective.
