Raven-Symoné just can't catch a break. Fans nor the media will let her live down the controversial remarks she made about "ghetto names" on The View last Thursday (Oct 8). Believe it or not, there was a time when the actress fought against discrimination (including racism) and made standing for what's right a cool thing to do. Get ready for a trip down memory lane as we highlight three times the That's So Raven star kicked ass on Disney by detailing right from wrong.
The 29-year-old actress might have given the impression she agrees with racial bias, but according to her recent Facebook admission, she's doesn't believe or support discrimination of any kind. The often-misunderstood celebrity is now working on a way to rebuild her reputation.
When the Disney Channel introduced their young audience to a psychic teenager named Raven Baxter in 2003, the show became an instant hit overnight. If That's So Raven wasn't making us laugh our butts off, it was finding a way to teach us a valuable life lesson without coming off like a cheesy after-school special.
The following episodes provide a perfect example of Raven-Symoné on the right side of justice:
1. "True Colors" (Season 3, Episode 10)
This episode relates extremely well to the hot water Raven currently finds herself in, but this time around, she stands up against racial discrimination. Raven and her best friend Chelsea are looking to make some extra cash, so they both apply for a job at a clothing store. Raven has a highly qualified background and skills in the fashion merchandising field, while Chelsea proved to be a little incompetent and lackadaisical.
Despite the difference in their performance and skill set, Chelsea is chosen for the position. Her group of friends is baffled by the decision. Raven ultimately has a vision of the manager stating, "she doesn't hire black people." Hurt and looking to fight back, Raven decides to go undercover for a TV news report to expose the manager and her racist ways.
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2. That's Not So Raven (Season 2, Episode 8)
Discrimination doesn't always involve race; It can also include age, weight, religion, and sexuality. While being a teenager with psychic abilities is an obvious factor to set her apart from her peers, sporting her own original fashion pieces to school also does the trick. In this episode, Raven is welcomed into the fashion industry based off her designs.
When she's featured in a popular style magazine, she notices her body shape is electronically altered. Raven feels offended and hurt by the editor's actions and confronts the head of the fashion agency who believes models can only have one look. She proves beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
3. "Five Finger Discount" (Season 3, Episode 5)
Anyone familiar with the Disney classic knows just how many times Raven and her on-screen brother, Cory, got on each other's nerves. Despite all the headaches he gave her, Raven knew she wouldn't be fulfilling her big sister duties if she didn't guide him toward making the right decisions. In this final example, she does just that when Cory succumbs to peer pressure after friends encourage him to steal from a toy store.
Raven has a vision of her little brother being stopped by a security guard in the mall, so she devises a plan to help him out. Disguising herself as a mall cop allowes her to inform the real security guard about Cory's friends' history of theft. Cory ultimately decides to ditch his bad friends.
