Raven-Symoné: ‘I’m not an African-American’

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share via Email
• Copy Link

  Link Copied

Raven-Symoné is an American. Got it?

The 28-year-old former child star told Oprah she’s “tried of being labeled,” and she’s also “not an African-American.”

Her comments aired Sunday in an interview for OWN’s Where Are They Now? Symoné has always kept her personal life very private. Her remarks Sunday were unexpectedly candid.

READ | Raven-Symone’s Oprah interview: Blind, not bold

“I’m tired of being labeled,” Symoné said. “I’m an American. I’m not an African-American. I’m an American.”

Symoné told Oprah she wasn’t sure “what country in Africa” she was from but that she did know her family’s roots are in “Louisiana.”

Oprah then gave her a chance to “clarify.” So Symoné said the same thing again.

“What I really mean by that is I’m an American,” Symoné said. “That’s what I really mean. I have darker skin. I have a nice, interesting grade of hair. I connect with Caucasian. I connect with Asian. I connect with Black. I connect with Indian. I connect with each culture.”

Also on Oprah’s list of topics was Symoné’s sexuality. When the Supreme Court ruled to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act last July, Symoné tweeted:

Many took the tweet to mean Symoné was “coming out.” She’s not down with that either.

“That was my way of saying I’m proud of the country,” Symone said about her tweet. “I will say that I’m in an amazing, happy relationship with my partner. A woman.”

Click here to read more stories about Raven Symoné.