Just a few notes for Miss Raven Symone.

1. You have an issue with labels.
2. You also have an issue with grammar.
3. Race and Ethnicity are not the same thing.

Ethnicity is defined as an ethnic group is a population of human beings whose members identify with each other, on the basis of a real or a presumed common genealogy or ancestry. Your ROOTS are not in Louisiana sweet girl. Even though your family history may be.

Africa is a continent that, has in fact gave way to a tremendous amount of WORLD ANCESTRY. There are numerous people, in various countries whose ancestry is in Africa, thanks to the slave ships who made multiple stops before coming to America. But, its not Black History Month, so I digress.

Oddly enough, Raven is defining herself as a RACE, which is social construct that refers to the concept of dividing people into populations or groups on the basis of various sets of physical characteristics. Race is a man made concept which is exactly what a label is,which is precisely what she hopes to avoid.

I am a BLACK AMERICAN WOMAN who’s roots, at its core, are based in Africa. But because I am completely unable to find those roots, thanks to historical events that shall remain left unsaid, I trace it back as far as I can. Which leaves me to the post slavery and Native American history, thus making me identify as a black woman.

Moral of the story, define yourself however you want. But understand, that in defining yourself, you are in fact labeling yourself at the same time. Labels are apart of the world in which we live in. They can create a sense of commonality. They are only negative if you allow them to be. How easily we get caught up on a few things when there are billions of words we can define as.

It seems that Raven feels like labeling, in and of its self, is negative. To that I say, be bigger than the label. Be more than what people see. And what they may expect. I am Black American Woman, who’s ancestors where slaves. I am a Christian, I am educated, straight, a daughter, a friend, a dancer, and a host of other things. Nothing about that was negative. Actually seems pretty awesome.

Be the best you, whoever that is, whatever you define that as.