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http://www.buzzfeed.com/claudiakoerner/a-civil-rights-leader-has-disguised-herself-as-black-for-yea?bffb&utm_term=4ldqpgp#.ot3nDlkgnG

A civil rights leader in Eastern Washington state has been passing herself off as black for years, her parents told local media.

When reached by BuzzFeed News late Thursday, Rachel Dolezal’s father, Larry Dolezal, said that he and her mother are both white.
“She’s our birth daughter and we’re both of European descent,” he said, adding, “we’re puzzled and it’s very sad.”
Rachel Dolezal has been the president of the Spokane, Washington, chapter of the NAACP since January. She also serves as chair of the city’s police oversight commission.
Rachel Dolezal has been the president of the Spokane, Washington, chapter of the NAACP since January. She also serves as chair of the city's police oversight commission.
facebook.com / Via Post removed from Facebook
She is also an adjunct professor of Africana studies at Eastern Washington University.
She is also an adjunct professor of Africana studies at Eastern Washington University.
EWU / Via ewu.edu
According to her staff biography, Dolezal received her master’s degree from Howard University, an historically black university in Washington, D.C.
“Her passion for civil rights is influenced by her years in Mississippi, where she advocated for equal rights and participated in community development,” the bio states.
Dolezal’s biography also states she has been the victim of at least eight “documented hate crimes.” No suspect has been identified.
Representatives at EWU said they did not have a comment on Thursday night.
But on Thursday, Dolezal’s parents also told local media outlets that their daughter’s heritage is Czech, Swedish, and German — including possible traces of Native American.

Larry Dolezal told BuzzFeed News he could not fully explain why his daughter might have wanted to pose as a black woman.
But, he added: “She has over the past 20 years assimilated herself into the African-American community through her various advocacy and social justice work, and so that may be part of the answer.”
He went on to say that Rachel cut off all communication with him and her mother, and “doesn’t want us visible in the Spokane area in her circle because we’re Caucasian.”
To her colleagues in Spokane, however, she identified a different man as her father.

facebook.com
According to the Spokesman-Review, Dolezal misrepresented herself on her application for the city commission, writing that her ethnicity included white, black, and American Indian. Officials told the Spokesman-Review they were investigating whether she violated any city policies.
And in an interview with KXLY 4, Dolezal did not answer when asked if she was African-American.

vine.co
Yet on her Facebook profile, Dolezal joked about being watched at the movie theater for the “black reaction” to 12 Years A Slave.
Yet on her Facebook profile, Dolezal joked about being watched at the movie theater for the "black reaction" to 12 Years A Slave.
Facebook: rachel.dolezal1 / Via Post removed from Facebook
The formerly straight-haired blonde also posted a photo of her “natural” curls.
The formerly straight-haired blonde also posted a photo of her "natural" curls.
Facebook: rachel.dolezal1 / Via Post removed from Facebook
Though rumors regarding her background had circulated for years, a recently reported hate crime prompted serious questions of Dolezal’s credibility.

youtube.com
Dolezal said she found a threatening package in the NAACP’s post office box in February, KXLY reported. The city of Spokane later sent out a press release that the package contained racist messages and death threats. The city statement reiterated that it was the ninth hate crime Dolezal had experienced.
“It is deplorable and shocking that Ms. Dolezal should be experiencing hateful and malicious threats. We stand strongly in solidarity with her, as a university and as a campus community,” Eastern Washington University President Mary Cullinan added in a statement.
But postal workers told police the envelope was not timestamped or canceled. The only way the letter could have gotten into the box was if it had been placed there by a post office employee or by someone who had the P.O. Box key.
Dolezal told the station she would never falsify something so serious.
In interviews and her writing, Dolezal often mentions her black sons.
In interviews and her writing, Dolezal often mentions her black sons.
facebook.com / Via Post removed from Facebook
The Coeur d’Alene Press quotes Dolezal referring to “my oldest son Izaiah.”
But Larry Dolezal said that Izaiah is actually Rachel’s adopted brother.
About five years ago, when Izaiah was 16, he opted to go live with Rachel, Larry Dolezal said, at which time she obtained guardianship. Still, he told BuzzFeed News that he and his wife, Ruthanne, remain Izaiah’s legal parents.
Larry and Ruthanne eventually lost contact with Izaiah, and on Thursday did not know where he was. Larry added that Thursday is Izaiah’s 21st birthday.
Rachel hinted to the Press recently that Izaiah was her brother:
Rachel Dolezal confirmed in a recent phone interview with The Press that Izaiah is one of her adopted brothers.
“He used to be my brother,” she said. “But I have full custody of him now.”
“The last we heard he was either attending pre-law at the University of Idaho in Moscow, or through the branch campus in Spokane or in Coeur d’Alene,” Larry said.
He also denied claims made by Rachel to local media that she had been abused by her parents.
In addition to herself, Rachel told the Press that Larry and Ruthanne Dolezal had abused her siblings as children. She also maintained that she was black.
“They can DNA test me if they want to,” she told the newspaper.

She wrote a regular column on issues surrounding race for the Inlander, an alternative weekly.



Is this a modern version of the "White Saviour" Trope?

Transformers! More than Meets the Eye!

We call it the Elizabeth Warren Syndrome.

She looks pretty white to me?

Whatever. 'Murica!

Giant can of worms, this one is.

Or Tumblr escaping into the real world.

I think it raises an interesting question, though:

Do you have to be a person of color to advocate for the advancement of people of color?

 Psienesis wrote:
I think it raises an interesting question, though:

Do you have to be a person of color to advocate for the advancement of people of color?

I don't think so, no. That said, the issue is not so much that, after all, the NAACP has gone out and said that it doesn't require it. My issue is with the strange deception going on here. I mean, there is no racial requirement, so why is she putting up this false front?

While there is no evidence to point to it one way or another, it calls into question some of her experiences, such as the anonymous hate letters. Not to diminish them in the slightest on my end, mind, but she undermines herself with this.

 Psienesis wrote:
I think it raises an interesting question, though:

Do you have to be a person of color to advocate for the advancement of people of color?

No.

However, that isn't the issue here...

It's that she's claiming that she's black.

Black Privilege yo!

OR... she's Transblack.

Or her mother wasn't quite honest about who the father is.

 Psienesis wrote:
Do you have to be a person of color to advocate for the advancement of people of color?

No, and even her parents said that. The problem is that lying is lying, which is what she did and continued to do. The question is did she lie to get ahead or is she flying rodent gak crazy? Maybe a bit of both, but in the end the problem has to do with dishonesty.

 Ahtman wrote:

 Psienesis wrote:
Do you have to be a person of color to advocate for the advancement of people of color?

No, and even her parents said that. The problem is that lying is lying, which is what she did and continued to do. The question is did she lie to get ahead or is she flying rodent gak crazy? Maybe a bit of both, but in the end the problem has to do with dishonesty.

Wait...

Help me out here.

What's the difference between Rachel Dolezal and Bruce Jenner?

I mean... people *can* choose which race to identify with... Right?

At what point is it ethically wrong? I guess that line has to do with whether you've taken some benefit that was designated for others (ie, Black Privilege???).

I think it's more complicated than "just dishonesty". I think there is some mental issues going on with this woman. I think she has a genuine identity crisis going on. It could be even worse than that, I really hope it doesn't end up being that she made those threats up to gain false sympathy.

GG

 whembly wrote:


I mean... people *can* choose which race to identify with... Right?

Can they?

I feel like this is a bridge that has not yet been crossed....

With the attitudes towards all things Transgendered, you'd think so....but has the topic ever been broached?

What a Jerk.

 cincydooley wrote:

 whembly wrote:


I mean... people *can* choose which race to identify with... Right?

Can they?

I feel like this is a bridge that has not yet been crossed....

With the attitudes towards all things Transgendered, you'd think so....but has the topic ever been broached?

In the music world... Michael Jackson, Eminem and Vanilla Ice would like a word with you.

And of course:

 CptJake wrote:
What a Jerk.

Damnit, that's the best opening line ever!

To Psienesisisisis' question "Do you have to be a person of color to advocate for the advancement of people of color? "

Certainly not. That's not really what this is about, though.

As to the lady in question, from her face book posts where she claims to be with her oldest son that is really an adopted brother, where she talks about sitting in the back of the theater while watching 12 years a slave so that white people don't look for black people's reactions, and other stuff... She sounds like she's either a little liar or a little off her rocker or some of both.

This one is just plain silly.



This is her brother.

The Coeur d’Alene Press quotes Dolezal referring to “my oldest son Izaiah.”

 whembly wrote:

 Ahtman wrote:

 Psienesis wrote:
Do you have to be a person of color to advocate for the advancement of people of color?

No, and even her parents said that. The problem is that lying is lying, which is what she did and continued to do. The question is did she lie to get ahead or is she flying rodent gak crazy? Maybe a bit of both, but in the end the problem has to do with dishonesty.

Wait...

Help me out here.

What's the difference between Rachel Dolezal and Bruce Jenner?

I mean... people *can* choose which race to identify with... Right?

At what point is it ethically wrong? I guess that line has to do with whether you've taken some benefit that was designated for others (ie, Black Privilege???).

She didn't go "I identify as black even though my parents are white" she went "my dad is black look here he is" *picture of her with her black neighbour*

Yeeeeikes.

Yeah, this is really not about what one identifies as. This is a more serious issue of a woman who has lost touch with reality. I don't want to just toss them aside, but I have to call the validity of the 'hate crimes' she's had against her into question at this point.

Anyone remember the "Man kicked out of female representation position" thread?

So basically, we're looking at the reality sequel to;

 MrDwhitey wrote:

 whembly wrote:

 Ahtman wrote:

 Psienesis wrote:
Do you have to be a person of color to advocate for the advancement of people of color?

No, and even her parents said that. The problem is that lying is lying, which is what she did and continued to do. The question is did she lie to get ahead or is she flying rodent gak crazy? Maybe a bit of both, but in the end the problem has to do with dishonesty.

Wait...

Help me out here.

What's the difference between Rachel Dolezal and Bruce Jenner?

I mean... people *can* choose which race to identify with... Right?

At what point is it ethically wrong? I guess that line has to do with whether you've taken some benefit that was designated for others (ie, Black Privilege???).

She didn't go "I identify as black even though my parents are white" she went "my dad is black look here he is" *picture of her with her black neighbour*

Not quite...

How, exactly is what Rachel did any different than what Jenner is currently doing?

She's not black, and Bruce (Caitlyn) Jenner is not a woman (he still has XY chromosomes and his junk is intact).

Rachel changed her wardrobe, her makeup, spray tans and her hair do not make her black. Pretty much everyone seems to agree on that...

Right?

And yet, we're supposed believe that Bruce Jenner can become a woman by…changing his name, his wardrobe, his makeup, and his hair??

I don't really care if Racheal wants to *be* black or if Bruce wants to be *called* Caitlyn. Out of courtesy, I'll refer to Bruce as "Caitlyn" and treat Rachel as if she's "black" (which is exactly no different than how I treat someone else of different enthicity).

However, nothing going to make me NOT acknowledge that Racheal is biologically white and that Caitlyn is truly a male species of the Human Race™. Nor do I think it's something 'heroic' or 'brave'.

Don't you see how this is fethed up?

I mean, apparently, it's ok for Rachael to claim she's black, but it's not okay for Emma Stone to be a 1/4 asian in a movie???

her race identity is black, and she obviously is a black woman trapped in a white womans body.

stop being so transphobic you cis-whitey / cis-black people

the black dad is her identity dad, whatever race/gender we want to be, or whoever we want to be our parents, is our parents now.


also, taking things like *reality* into account, IE her parents are not black ergo she is not black, akin to saying you were born with a penis(or male DNA chromosomes), ergo you are a man, which is considered trans phobic.


to call her out as a liar just because she isnt genetically black, is to call out any trans gender person who claims to be the gender they identify as instead of their genetic one.

to call her out as lying about who her real parents are, is to call out transgenders for *lying* about their true genitals/gender

ie
those arnt your real parents how dare you claim they are!
vs
those arent your real boobs, how dare you claim they are!





ahhh 21st century problems

Actually Whembly, what I said is correct.

 MrDwhitey wrote:
Actually Whembly, what I said is correct.

Okay.

Thank you for acknowledging what I said was correct.

 MrDwhitey wrote:
Thank you for acknowledging what I said was correct.

No worries.

I still don't see a diff tho.

My problem comes with her presenting someone who isn't her father as her father.

 easysauce wrote:
her race identity is black, and she obviously is a black woman trapped in a white womans body.

stop being so transphobic you cis-whitey / cis-black people

the black dad is her identity dad, whatever race/gender we want to be, or whoever we want to be our parents, is our parents now.


also, taking things like *reality* into account, IE her parents are not black ergo she is not black, akin to saying you were born with a penis(or male DNA chromosomes), ergo you are a man, which is considered trans phobic.


to call her out as a liar just because she isnt genetically black, is to call out any trans gender person who claims to be the gender they identify as instead of their genetic one.

to call her out as lying about who her real parents are, is to call out transgenders for *lying* about their true genitals/gender

ie
those arnt your real parents how dare you claim they are!
vs
those arent your real boobs, how dare you claim they are!





ahhh 21st century problems

I just going to..go out...this door here...Frazzled runs through wall, lands on other side in pile of rubble and runs away.

The conflation of gender and ethnicity is certainly something, but I think Frazzled has the right idea.

 Ahtman wrote:
The conflation of gender and ethnicity is certainly something, but I think Frazzled has the right idea.

Why is that?

I mean... the biggest difference between the 2 cases is that Bruce has been open and honest about his transformation.

He's not trying to fool anyone. He has a bloody reality show!

Rachael, on the other hand has weaved a complex web of lies and deceptions for many, many years. If she had been open and honest about being a white person who identified as being black, would she be where she's at now????

Who knows.

And yet... at the end of the day, one isn't black, and the other isn't a woman.

that whole post should be in whatever emoticon denotes that it should be taken with a mountain of salt...


oddly, frazz probably got closer to my point then i did with his comment,

well done frazz!