On Tuesday, Oscar-winning actress, comedienne and host of ABC’s “The View” joins Raven-Symoné in denouncing being called an African-American.
“You know what uh uh! This is my country,” Goldberg said. “My mother, my grandmother, my great-grand folks, we busted ass to be here. I’m sorry. I’m an American. I’m not an African-American, I’m not a chick American, I’m an American!”
This event is reminiscent of Raven-Symoné’s 2014 TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which she stated:
“I’m tired of being labeled. I’m an American. I’m not an African-American; I’m an American.”
Whoopi Goldberg is the Republican uncle you learn to tune out. https://t.co/1UfxQU3ZU4
— Michael Arceneaux (@youngsinick) January 6, 2016
Apparently, Goldberg’s reasoning is that her family has been in America too long to be anything besides American. She is not wrong in saying that Black people have a stake in this country. Our enslaved ancestors built this wealthy nation, but to deny our heritage and reject Africa altogether dishonors them. Before there was an America, we were African. When America is gone we will still be African.
The debate over whether Black people are African-American or just American further divides Blacks in this country. With decades upon decades of racial oppression, this debate proves moot.
The music that dominates the charts, the foods we eat, our fashion and innovation come from the great legacy of West African cultures from which Black Americans descend. Corporate America profits from that tradition, but Black people can’t called themselves African.
It does not matter what Black people call themselves in this country; there will always be systemic racism that disenfranchises people who are descended from West Africa.
Here is Goldberg’s statement:
