During an episode of Raven-Symoné’s podcast Tea Time w/ Raven and Miranda, co-hosted with her wife Miranda, she challenged their guest, Kalen Allen, to take away the color from Raven Baxter, the main protagonist of the Disney Channel classic, That’s So Raven. She prompted him to make the Baxter family green and asked: is she still Black? This exchange has kept the timeline busy. Many reactions are skewing toward frustration due to Raven-Symoné’s idea of what it means to be a Black person. This incident isn’t the first time her views on race and ethnicity have gone viral, igniting discussion on not only what it means to be Black, but how she views it personally. Previously, the actress has publicly affirmed that she isn’t African American, but solely American in a 2014 interview with Oprah Winfrey. In another instance, during her time as a host on The View, she made disparaging comments about Black women’s names. If nothing else, her opinions have remained consistent.
But let’s accept the challenge and look at Raven Baxter’s character, her family, and some of the show’s most relevant moments through a lens that doesn’t focus on color. As the question stands – is she still a Black woman? The simple answer is yes.
For the sake of giving the concept of Blackness its due respect, we must first unpack why the experience of being Black isn’t as surface-level as complexion. To exist as a Black person, no matter where you’re from or where your origins are rooted, is to understand that though we are not a monolithic people, we share sameness in various ways. The cultural, behavioral, and even beliefs we share as a community go beyond the barrier of skin. It’s the ability to recognize and connect in ways we’re unable to experience with others. Raven Baxter’s character and family reflected a specific cultural sameness that inspired comfort in young Black millennials and Gen Zers, because we recognized them on a cultural and familial level. The Blackness in Baxter’s character was displayed through her actions, mannerisms, and social patterns. Where else would you see a teenage girl with microbraids performing a loose interpretive dance move from Beyoncé’s “Dangerously in Love” music video? How Raven-Symoné discussed her take on Blackness as a concept diminishes it to a social construct when, in actuality, many of us connected with the Baxters from an identity perspective.
Throughout 100 total episodes of That’s So Raven, spanning four seasons, Black culture was ingrained within the show’s values. While nearly every episode felt like pulling up to your favorite cousin’s house, there were several episodes that evidently showcased the nuances of the Black experience, making it hard to ever deny that it was indeed a show centered on the Black tween millennial experience.
“To See or Not to See”: Season 1, Episode 21
Jenifer Lewis, who is ironically and affectionately coined the Black mother of Hollywood, made a special appearance as Raven Baxter’s maternal grandmother. This episode is where we find out where Baxter gets her psychic abilities, while also getting a lesson in accepting her differences from her grandmother.
“True Colors”: Season 3, Episode 10
Raven and Chelsea apply and interview for a position at their favorite retail store. After undergoing a series of job-related tasks where Raven outperforms Chelsea, she doesn’t get the job. Raven then has a vision where the manager admits to not hiring Black people.
“Country Cousins”: Season 3, Episodes 27 and 28
Raven and Chelsea travel to the country to help resolve a decades-long family feud. During the family’s dinner scene, Baby G is fed a bottle with signature cultural dishes including collard greens and candied yams.
“The Four Aces”: Season 3, Episode 35
While volunteering at a senior citizens’ home, Raven meets Rhonnie Wilcox, played by the iconic Della Reese. Wilcox was a legendary jazz singer whose fame was at its peak during the Civil Rights Movement, according to my math.