Entertainment
Raven-Symoné slams worried critics as she has declared she is not African-American. Mom thinks Oprah set her up
Former child star Raven Symoné has finally addressed previous comments she made about not identifying as African-American.
Symoné used a podcast she shares with her wife Miranda to clarify that when she sat down for an interview with Oprah Winfrey a decade ago, her intention was not to distance herself from her black heritage by identifying as an American. On the contrary, she emphasized that she wanted people to stop putting her in a box and just let her exist.
The Cosby Show alum explained that her mother was upset and thought the 38-year-old can be drawn into criticism.
According to Symoné, Bill Maher recently quoted an interview on his show to prove that several black stars are moving away from racist frames.
Oprah breaks down when Raven says THIS:
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/NX5uW1CBfo
— Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) December 17, 2023
“I’m commenting on something I said to Oprah in 2014,” she said on “The Greatest Podcast Ever with Raven and Miranda,” trying to present context to the comments.
He then cuts to a clip where he says, “I don’t want to be considered gay. I want to be called a man who loves people. I’m tired of being labeled. I am an American, not an African American.”
In one other a part of this interview, she also said, “I am a colorless person,” which many took as a denial of the claim that she was melaninated or black.
Oprah immediately responded and said, “Oh, girl,” and mumbled something concerning the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
“Now that it’s aired, I felt like the entire internet had exploded and thrown my name into the garbage. “My community and others reacted so violently that the misunderstood slash didn’t hear the exact words I said,” recalls the “That’s So Raven” star. She added: “The exact words I said were that I was an American, not an African American.”
Symoné’s reason for making this distinction is that no one in her direct lineage is from Africa and that she is clear about the validity of having to consider this country as her own.
She explained, “When I say African American doesn’t fit me…that label…it doesn’t mean I’m denying my blackness or that I’m not black. It means I come from this country. I was born here … My mother, my dad, my pra-pra-streake-streak-pra-pra-pra-pra-pradziadek).
Adding: “I understand my history. I understand where my ancestors come from. I also understand how much blood, sweat and tears they put into this land to create the America I live in today.
When the pair talked about the public ridicule Symoné faced, Miranda asked her if she felt like Oprah had framed her, stopping that thought and replying, “You’re going to get a lot of hate for what you say. Symoné said that while she doesn’t think so, her mother, Lydia Gaulden, does.
“That’s what my mom thinks,” the previous “The View” talk show host said. “Mom thinks Oprah put me up to it.”
Symoné said that while she did not personally feel that Oprah framed her, she felt that the emphasis she placed on her statement reinforced his analysis, overshadowing her self-disclosure as a woman-loving woman on the same platform.
Interestingly, the Disney star has often doubled down on her comments and in 2018, she said: “My passport says American. I never said I wasn’t Black. Oh, trust me, I know I’m black. There is only a difference. There are many African Americans, especially in 2018, who came here from Africa and need a green card — you are first-generation African Americans. That’s how I look at this title.”
“There are a variety of Black Americans here who’ve been here longer than Americans of other colours,” the 38-year-old added. “Why can’t we just have one name?”
Symoné then admitted that she “should have worded it differently.”
The actor-turned-social media personality is not the just one selecting to discover solely as an American.
Model Devyn Abdullah does not claim to be black. ‘Nina Simone’ star Zoe Saldana said she doesn’t imagine there is “no such thing as people of color.”
Disgraced comedian Bill Cosby said that, like his TV granddaughter, he does not discover as African-American.
“We are not Africans,” he said, adding: “These people are not Africans; they know nothing about Africa. With names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and Mohammed and so on, and they’re all in jail.
Most famously, golfer Tiger Woods told Oprah that he is not black.
The first African American to win the Masters said in 1997 that he considered himself a “Cablinasian” – a mix of white, black, Indian and Asian.
Later in that interview, he said that it bothered him that he was called an African American just because his mother was Asian.
The then-genius said that when he was asked to “check a box” on forms, he couldn’t “pick one,” but identified himself.
“I usually choose African American… Asian because those are the two homes I grew up in,” he said, noting he would not deny his mother or father’s heritage.
Regardless of what he calls himself, in 2017, when he was arrested by the police the authorities looked into him for DUI and placed on his arrest report what they and a lot of the world thought he was: Black.
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Robert Flack, a valued singer, songwriter and pianist, died on February 24, 2025, at the age of 88. The legendary singer, whose velvety voice again defined the soul and R&B, stays a everlasting icon of elegance, emotions and artistry. With timeless classics, resembling “Killing Me Softly with His Song” and “The First Time Ever and Wis See Your Face”, the singer died the audience captivated the audience along with her ability to weave delicacy and power in every note. Not only will we take heed to her repetitive music, but we won’t stop eager about its most iconic moments of beauty.
In the 70s Robert seriously swayed Afro – a daring statement of being black and proud – during performances at live shows, including the famous Newport Jazz festival. Two years later, she honored the scene of Ronnie Scott in London along with her hair drawn into the band, combined with dramatic long eyelashes, which defined her characteristic appearance. Always to experiment with hair, she also accepted braids decorated with beads, without effort combining style and cultural pride.
Just a few many years quickly forward, and Robert was still turning her head. While playing in Gillette Civil Rights 2010 between Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals, she stunned the navy blue eye shadow, a dark light highlighter and daring red lipstick. The following yr, she performed at Bideawee Ball from 2011 with full rhythm – eyeliner, mascara, highlighter and its characteristic red lips. And in 2020 she performed unforgettable during the 62th annual Grammy Awards, wearing a beautiful curly crown and the same red lipstick that we met and loved.
In honor of her everlasting legacy, we glance back at some of the most iconic beauty moments of Roberta’s incomparable flack.
Joe Freshgoods selects five years and counts with New Balance because of his latest version 992 “Arged Well”, a tribute to his creative partnership with a characteristic brand of sportswear, which still supports his design talents and a contagious passion.
After Debut On the Joe Freshgoods New Balance 992 website, Chicago Creative is preparing for a wider version of February 28 via newbalance.com and chosen retail sellers. The new edition of the sneakers means the fifth anniversary of Joe of New Balance, milestone after almost stood before closing his now widely beloved and known brand.
The document coming in June 2025 is shared within the history of Joe’s success, from his start as an area Streetwearus brand in his hometown of Chicago to providing New Balance partnership in 2020, when he wasn’t sure find out how to keep his business.
“He examines how the partnership influenced the global culture of sneakers and development transparency”, Joe common In the announcement on Instagram, “which was more important to me than just doing it about tennis games. This is a real life. ”
The trailer of the documentation offers access to Joe’s journey, presenting his modest approach to success and its influence on the Boston brand of sportswear founded in 1906. Since joining New Balance, Joe Robinson (higher referred to as Joe Freshgoods), a champion with a young history.
Five years later, with 20 Sneakers Publishing House and counting the most recent cooperation of New Balance Joe Freshgoods is a love letter for his creative journey with the Boston brand.
“Sometimes I feel that I shouldn’t be here. But I am here and say, “Oh, I’m good at what I do,” he says within the film.
Project 992 “Agnish well” attracts the inspiration from the primary cooperation of Joe Freshgoods from New Balance – the edition of New Balance 992 “No Emotions”, also referred to as “heart anatomy”. It was a right away hit and celebrated in the course of the NBA All-Star weekend, and now charges resale prices around $ 3,000.
While the explanations for the New Balance revival may vary, many consider the primary release of Joe 992 to be a catalyst that enlivened the brand. Sneakers have pink and red suede silhouettes placed on an olive mesh base and accented saddle skin on the tongue and rear card.
Four sets of lace are attached, and the box is decorated with unique details reflecting the theme “aging well”. In addition, Joe Freshgoods designed the “Championship Dreams” leather university jacket to commemorate his five -year success as a designer.
“I wanted this jacket to capture the essence of the last five years – each project was a milestone, another closed chapter, another dream,” Joe signature Post on Instagram. “Over time, I had the honor to tell culturally important stories, and this jacket reflects this travel project according to the design.”
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This is a cloudy day in Los Angeles, but the shining stars of the city brought light to the annual black Essence women in the Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza. At the 18th 12 months, the show we celebrated extremely talented and galvanizing distinctions, akin to Cynthia Erivo, Tyana Taylor, Raamla Mohamed and Marla Gibbs.
Before the event, Black Beauty took a red carpet. The Essence cover star, Tyra Banks, got here in a neutral rhythm – with voluminous hair matching her makeup. Meanwhile, each of the Cynthia Erivo nails found a press release – drawing black and white stripes with decorative greens. And, Teyana Taylor, in the most perfect shadows to eye shadows and lips, she had black, half -burned pixie cutting.
Then Laverne Cox arrived with chopped and cropped bob-made by Jodie Turner-Smith-with a round blush to animate her cheeks. Speaking of hair, Taraji P. Henson immersed his ends in the bleach, which consumed shine on nails, mouth and eyes. To close the carpet, the butt appeared in a brief, curled cut and a thick black French tip.
Below is the best beauty of Essence black women in Hollywood Awards.
Tyra Banks
Cynthia Erivo
Teyana Taylor
Laverne Cox
Jodie Turner-Smith
Taraji P. Henson
Silence
Nzyda Nash-Betts
Fish
Crystal Stewart
Danielle Brooks
Karrueche Tran
Zoë Kravitz
Meagan Good
Tia speech
Tasha Smith
Yvette Nicole Brown
Jackie all the time
Dominique Fishback
Kandi Burruses
Muni long
Storm Reid
Ryan Destiny
Danielle Pinnock
Arnold in China
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