Rachel Dolezal...let's talk about it

**meagan22** · 06-12-2015, 07:35 PM

http://www.dailydot.com/politics/nca...dolezal/?fb=dd
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-...ne-naacp-head/

People were really fooled by some heavy bronzer and Kanekalon?

iCan't. She didn't have to turn her life into a minstrel show if she was interested in Africana Studies, joining the NAACP, etc but I have a feeling that she's really just a con artist. She did a lot to maintain her facade while raising the stakes over the years (i.e., putting herself in positions of increased visibility and stature).

**KoilyLocGirl** · 06-12-2015, 08:03 PM

Surprising story in more ways than one. I think she has serious psychological issues in terms of who she is and where she comes from. It's kind of weird seeing self hate from this angle.

**Fuzziwuz** · 06-12-2015, 11:51 PM

On one end, I'm saying to myself... damn, there isn't a one drop rule? Why can't Dolezeal be real? I'm unsure from a psychological aspect. Maybe she identifies with and passionate about the African American culture that she conducts herself like she's black because that's where she feels comfortable. I need to research to see if Dolezeal caused any damage posing because my only concern is her contributions. The identity issue is something she needs to resolve within herself.

A media personality, Charlamane, raised an interest point. We're moving to a socially accepted society, recently accepting Caitlynn/Bruce; why can't we accept individuals that choose to be a different race? Folks can switch their gender. Why can't Dolezeal change her race? Personally, one can change whatever they choose... but a zebra can't change it's stripes. So do as one please... you are, what you are.

The misrepresentation is a concern, but I'm analyzing the contributions towards the black culture. Does the good outweigh the bad. There's not too many white folks that will switch their identity and be an activist for black causes.

**Karibana** · 06-13-2015, 02:03 AM

Originally Posted by meagan22

http://www.dailydot.com/politics/nca...dolezal/?fb=dd
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-...ne-naacp-head/

People were really fooled by some heavy bronzer and Kanekalon?

She would have fooled me. She was smart, she only tweeked what she already had. I give her points for choosing Michaela Angela Davis and Melissa Harris-Perry as her model to emulate.

Originally Posted by Fuzziwuz

A media personality, Charlamane, raised an interest point. We're moving to a socially accepted society, recently accepting Caitlynn/Bruce; why can't we accept individuals that choose to be a different race? Folks can switch their gender. Why can't Dolezeal change her race? Personally, one can change whatever they choose... but a zebra can't change it's stripes. So do as one please... you are, what you are.

I really just can't with this false equivalence. She could have have done all of her work as a white woman, what she did is undermines the black social justice movement and give credibility to the notion that there is some benefit to being a minority. We would not be so kind if she was committing crimes with her black identity no matter how truly she felt black.

**orangegoldfish** · 06-15-2015, 03:19 PM

http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...zal-black-girl
I found this article quite interesting.

why can't we accept individuals that choose to be a different race?

Being black is more than just the colour of your skin.

**Napia Mia** · 06-20-2015, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by Fuzziwuz

On one end, I'm saying to myself... damn, there isn't a one drop rule? Why can't Dolezeal be real? I'm unsure from a psychological aspect. Maybe she identifies with and passionate about the African American culture that she conducts herself like she's black because that's where she feels comfortable. I need to research to see if Dolezeal caused any damage posing because my only concern is her contributions. The identity issue is something she needs to resolve within herself.

A media personality, Charlamane, raised an interest point. We're moving to a socially accepted society, recently accepting Caitlynn/Bruce; why can't we accept individuals that choose to be a different race? Folks can switch their gender. Why can't Dolezeal change her race? Personally, one can change whatever they choose... but a zebra can't change it's stripes. So do as one please... you are, what you are.

The misrepresentation is a concern, but I'm analyzing the contributions towards the black culture. Does the good outweigh the bad. There's not too many white folks that will switch their identity and be an activist for black causes.

You just voiced exactly how I feel about this. Don't care about her misrepresentation in the least. So she wants to be black. Just don't care. She identifies with us and our culture and wants to advance our causes. I say cudos to her. Don't even care that she lied about her dad. To me, that's saying that Bill Clinton couldn't be a good president because he was having an affair with Monica Lewinsky. It says something about his character, but not his ability to do a good job. There would be so many people out of a job (especially men and women having affairs). Hell, this country would have to shut the hell down.

The NAACP even said that being black was NOT a prerequisite for getting the job. So what the hell is the big deal here? So what matters most to me and the question to be asked is was she good at her job. The identity crises (if that's what it is) that she is having something she needs to deal with on a personal level.

***shrugs*** I really think we need to move on. To me this is an interesting non issue for sure.

**Napia Mia** · 06-20-2015, 12:46 PM

Well, my room mate in graduate school looked like a white girl with a tan. Hair and all. Saw pictures of her and her little brother in her photo album one day and I asked her "Who are those little white kids?" She was like, "Girl, that's me and my older brother." And her tone was like it was a question that had NEVER been posed to her before. I was so baffled that I asked her if anyone in her immediate family was white and she told me, "Not that I know of." Alrighty then. I didn't question her any more cause I didn't want to be any more rude about it, however, genuine my curiosity might be.

I'm saying that because when I saw Dolezal's picture, she reminded me so much of my room mate. I know too many fair skinned black folks that could easily pass as white. I have history of it in my own family, so it wasn't far fetched to me that Dolezal could possibly be black.

**Cutie McPretty** · 06-13-2015, 12:08 AM

I'll accept this when a black person can lead the next klan rally or white brotherhood meeting -- without swinging from a rope.

Ethically she lied by omission and needs to be fired. Unspoken or not, it's a large part of why she received her position; her ability to relate to her target population through lived experience from birth. No, not all African American experiences are the same but your perspective; even if lived as black for the past 8 years is a completely different lived experience from someone immersed in life as a black man or woman from birth.

Get her off the stage... where is Sand Man when you need him??

**MommieDearest** · 06-13-2015, 01:04 AM

I can't and I WON'T with this chick.

She didn't have to fake being black to be an activist for black causes. There are white people, and other non-blacks, who do advocate for black people all the time.

The funny (or sad) part about this mess is that when it all blows over, she can remove her weave (or let the curly perm grow out) and quit bronzing and go back to being a white woman, with all of her privilege still intact.

Side note: Can her actions be considered "reverse passing?"