Raven Symoné sat down with Oprah Winfrey for an “ Oprah : Where Are They Now ?” segment . The conversation started with this tweet , in which Raven expressed happiness in the new law stating samesex couples could now marry . When Oprah asked Symoné if this was her unofficial way of coming out , she declared , “ I don ’ t need a categorizing statement for it … I don ’ t want to be labeled as gay ”. She then went on to say , “ I ’ m tired of being labeled . I ’ m an American , I ’ m not an African American .” Oprah , as well as all of us watching from home were shocked by her statements . When asked to explain , she proclaimed , “ I don ’ t know where my roots go to . I don ’ t know how back they go . I don ’ t know how far back , and I don ’ t know what country in Africa I ’ m from . I do know that my roots are in Louisiana . I ’ m an American , and that ’ s a colorless person because we ’ re all people . I have lots of things running through my veins ….. I have darker skin . I have a nice , interesting grade of hair .” Symoné and a few other influential blacks are joining in on what is called the New Black Movement , a movement characterized by “ color blindness ”, undermining cultural practices , and the illusion that the American dream is available to all who work hard .
The New Black Movement : What is it ?
The New Black Movement has its roots in respectability politics . Respectability politics , made popular due to writers such as Booker T . Washington , is the idea of minoritized groups policing themselves and showing the majority that their culture and values align . Washington , a supporter of AfricanAmericans being industrialized rather than concerning themselves with politics , believed that whites would take AfricanAmericans seriously once they can show them that they are in fact hard workers . Instead of blacks demanding rights just because they are human , Washington believed that once whites came to respect blacks , more of their rights would be granted . Instead of blaming the black plight on years of institutionalized oppression , the new black movement teaches that goals and aspirations are obtainable to all , regardless of skin color . The most outspoken champion of this so called New Black Movement is Pharrell Williams . The “ Happy ” singer spoke to Oprah recently with this gem : “ The New Black doesn ’ t blame other races for our issues . The New Black dreams and realizes that it ’ s not a pigmentation ; it ’ s a mentality . And it ’ s either going to work for you , or it ’ s going to work against you . And you ’ ve got to pick the side . you ’ re gonna be on .” It ’ s always fun when a millionaire attempts to speak on behalf of an entire race of people .
Why This Movement is Problematic
In a utopian American capitalist society in which systemic racism does not exist , I ’ d argue Pharrell and his ideology would work . Who wouldn ’ t want to live in a place where all men had an equal right to life , liberty , and property a la John Locke ? Sound familiar ? Williams seems to forget that not that long ago , Dr . Martin Luther King Jr . and many other freedom fighters were killed trying to achieve this equal footing that he talks about . Mr . Williams also seems to forget that slavery existed in America on the basis of skin color , which paved the way for the Jim Crow Law era and a vicious cycle in which lack of education , wealth , and basic rights plague the AfricanAmerican community .
My take
It is easy to argue that race does not play a factor in success when you are high up on the totem pole . When you have a lot and worked extremely hard to get where you are , you often consider those who didn ’ t make it as simply lazy . While I wish this was true , it unfortunately is not . Since the beginning of our existence , America has championed pulling yourself up by the bootstraps and controlling your own destiny . But we often forget , how can you pull yourself up if you don ’ t even have any boots ?
Now I know what you ’ re thinking . You ’ re probably at home like , “ wow , Adriana is blaming white people for everything that has ever happened to black people in this country !” You ’ d be correct .
Just kidding .
My point is , being black in America is a constant struggle of balancing opportunity and hard work against stereotypes and discrimination . At the end of the day , success can sometimes be somewhat challenging for those with more melanin . Does that mean that blacks should just throw in the towel and whine about those lost opportunities ? Absolutely not . I encourage all of my AfricanAmerican counterparts to work hard and follow their dreams . But don ’ t you dare for a minute think that race doesn ’ t matter for all who try and chase after the myth of American meritocracy .
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