Raven-Symone Pearman, commonly known as Raven-Symone, has been under fire lately after having told Oprah in an interview, “I’m not an African-American. I’m an American.” She claims she did not want to be labeled and tried to explain that being simply “American” is a colorless term.

The former child star needs to eat her words. She is wrong.

It is no wonder that people are getting upset with her claim. By eliminating the identity of being “African-American,” Symone is downright rejecting her roots.

Adding on “African-” to “African-American” is not creating a label. 

It is displaying a sense of pride: knowing where you came from and acknowledging the histories of your ancestors.

Most importantly, identifying oneself as African-American, Asian-American, or Latino-American is taking pride in the community he or she represents.

Going back into Symone’s childhood, we can recall her first television role as Olivia on The Cosby Show and even had a role in the sitcom, “Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper”. Both were a television series highlighting African-American families.

Symone has been representing the African-American community for years, and for her to publicly break away from that identity is heartbreaking.

By claiming that being American is a “colorless” term, Symone is wrong yet again.

The U.S. has a history of immigration and its population is made up of hundreds of ethnicities. Sacramento was even proclaimed “America’s most integrated city” by TIME magazine’s Ron Stodghill and Amanda Bower.

With racial integration being prevalent in the U.S. today, it is essential we cling tight to our roots. Integration is necessary, but our cultural histories and backgrounds are what makes us interesting.

Symone needs to recognize that being American is actually quite the opposite of colorless. Being “American” is, in fact, a term that is full of many beautiful colors.

Identifying with any and all ethnicities is a way of taking pride in America’s diversity. It is not rejecting the idea of being American. It is not creating labels. It is creating a unique community.