This is bizarre

[rodeored]

Why would someone do this? 


www.buzzfeed.com/claudiakoerner/a-civil-rights-leader-has-disguised-herself-as-black-for-yea#.wbn3eOjzZ

[lightbulbsun]

This is really odd. I wonder what made her parents come forth now if this has been going on for 20 years?

[gummybear]

I am so confused by this. I read the article on C&P and it seems like she has some mental issues going on. I mean, you can be an excellent civil-rights advocate and be white, can you not? You can even argue her theory of "We all come from Africa" is correct. But to change your appearance? Tan/makeup or whatever is going on here? The wig/perm and calling it "natural" when clearly she is Caucasian and has altered her appearance in almost a costume-like way? When there is hardcore evidence of her being not just white, but a light-skinned, freckled tow-headed child?

Something's not right.

[cabbagecabbage]

From what I quickly read, she has AA siblings who were adopted and took a great interest in race issues at a young age. She went to Howard. It sounds like whatever this is, it's been building for most of her life. It's very strange and I'm having a tough time deciding how I feel about it.

[gummybear]

Jun 12, 2015 7:38:27 GMT -5 cabbagecabbage said:

From what I quickly read, she has AA siblings who were adopted and took a great interest in race issues at a young age. She went to Howard. It sounds like whatever this is, it's been building for most of her life. It's very strange and I'm having a tough time deciding how I feel about it.

I get the interest thing, I do. It's the misrepresentation, if that is what is truly going on. Why lie? I feel like there has to be something else that is not being reported. 

[Deleted]

Jun 12, 2015 7:31:10 GMT -5 @mama2b said:

Jun 12, 2015 7:21:10 GMT -5 lightbulbsun said:

This is really odd. I wonder what made her parents come forth now if this has been going on for 20 years?

I wonder if people got suspicious with all her reported hate crimes in the news recently and went snooping.

This is what it sounds like. Someone is questioning the legitimacy of the "hate crime" and went snooping around.

[cabbagecabbage]

Jun 12, 2015 7:43:31 GMT -5 gummybear said:

Jun 12, 2015 7:38:27 GMT -5 cabbagecabbage said:

From what I quickly read, she has AA siblings who were adopted and took a great interest in race issues at a young age. She went to Howard. It sounds like whatever this is, it's been building for most of her life. It's very strange and I'm having a tough time deciding how I feel about it.

I get the interest thing, I do. It's the misrepresentation, if that is what is truly going on. Why lie? I feel like there has to be something else that is not being reported. 

I'm guessing it was never intentional deceit in her mind but maybe I'm assuming too much. I'm pretty surprised that no one from her young life has noticed and come forward until now. I agree something else must be happening. I'm always surprised by scandal stories how long people get away with things.

[Deleted]

This is odd. I don't understand misrepresenting oneself for a cause. She's entitled to have an interest in culture and rights without dressing as someone she is not. I don't know how to feel about it, but I don't think people should say they are of a different culture (and color their skin/hair differently) because it's a lie.
ETA: maybe I shouldn't have said hair color because that doesn't represent anything.. But saying her hair is "natural" when hats clearly not HER natural hair texture judging by her young blonde photo.

[thedutchgirl]

The Washington Post article is pretty good and has more info. According to the parents, they don't speak to her or the one son due to allegations of abuse. Another son is quoted in the article.

www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/06/12/spokane-naacp-president-rachel-dolezal-may-be-white/

[FastHands]

Jun 12, 2015 8:10:52 GMT -5 @blueyes623 said:

This is odd. I don't understand misrepresenting oneself for a cause. She's entitled to have an interest in culture and rights without dressing as someone she is not. I don't know how to feel about it, but I don't think people should say they are of a different culture (and color their skin/hair differently) because it's a lie.
ETA: maybe I shouldn't have said hair color because that doesn't represent anything.. But saying her hair is "natural" when hats clearly not HER natural hair texture judging by her young blonde photo.

But, when talking about the treatment of people by society as a whole, color *does* mean something. I don't know if she thought she could do more good this way -- be taken more seriously somehow? -- or if there is really some deeper issues going on.

There are just so many pieces of this that don't fit together for a logical picture. I mean, she's obviously dedicated her life to civil rights causes, which is great, but obviously does not require you to belong to the group(s) for which you advocate. Howard is a "historically black college," not an only-black college. 

I want to know (but realize I am not entitled to know, lol) the circumstances of her breaking ties with her family AND the circumstances of her brother coming to live with her instead of their parents. 

[wambam]

I think she probably is mentally ill, but her parents are acting strangely as well. Why let this go on this long? Why are they saying something now?

[knx9211]

I have to wonder if they waited to say something because it didn't necessarily "hurt" anyone - but now she's made ~9 allegations of racial harassment and intimidation, now involving law enforcement? But I don't know the timeline of the allegations, so that's just a guess.

[Serenity9]

Yeah, I have a feeling there really was something awful going on in that family, and that probably started her off on an unfortunate track. Someone in the comments suggested Histrionic Personality Disorder. Armchair diagnosis, I know, blah blah... but if we're wondering "why?" That would be where I'd put my money.

[captainobvious]

I'm sorry, I skimmed the article and missed this: are the allegations about crimes against her specifically, her family as a whole or is it more her NAACP association? (Is the mailbox the orgs or her home one?)

I guess it doesn't really matter at the end of the day, because people are questioning their authenticity regardless, but now I'm curious.

[rodeored]

Yeah, the parents seem weird too but I can't quite decide why.

[gummybear]

Jun 12, 2015 8:43:25 GMT -5 @pnkbride said:

Taking this a step further, if you can identify as another sex (transgender), why can't you identify as another race? It sounds like she has always felt this way. It is a very strange situation with her parents. I agree with others, why have they waited?

I'm seeing a lot of Caitlyn Jenner comparisons on FB. IMO, there is a difference in saying "I was born male but identify female, I feel as though my assigned sex is a mistake, therefore I am now a female" and "I AM African-American". She is not saying she was born Caucasian and feels as though it was a mistake, or that she identifies as another race. She is misrepresenting herself. 

She could take an interest in the culture, immerse herself in it, go to a historically black university, teach African-American studies, chair the NAACP. All of that. It's the lying that gets me. 

[sofamonkey]

Am I understanding correctly that she got a full ride to college based on her being black as well? It seems that way from the article.

[ProfessorArtNerd]

See, guys? Never trust an art historian!

[gummybear]

Jun 12, 2015 10:10:24 GMT -5 sofamonkey said:

Am I understanding correctly that she got a full ride to college based on her being black as well? It seems that way from the article.

I didn't see this. How did this fly? I mean, wouldn't the guidance counselor or someone be like, "Hey Howard, this isn't right"

[Serenity9]

Jun 12, 2015 10:10:24 GMT -5 sofamonkey said:

Am I understanding correctly that she got a full ride to college based on her being black as well? It seems that way from the article.

I saw that she graduated from Howard, but I didn't see that she got a full ride based on her race. Also, I don't know much about Howard, but wouldn't it be difficult to give minority-based scholarships at a school that is mostly minorities?

[franklin]

What in the world? This is all kinds of crazy and I really don't even know what to think about this.

[sofamonkey]

Jun 12, 2015 10:24:46 GMT -5 Serenity9 said:

Jun 12, 2015 10:10:24 GMT -5 sofamonkey said:

Am I understanding correctly that she got a full ride to college based on her being black as well? It seems that way from the article.

I saw that she graduated from Howard, but I didn't see that she got a full ride based on her race. Also, I don't know much about Howard, but wouldn't it be difficult to give minority-based scholarships at a school that is mostly minorities?

In the Washington post article, towards the top. Maybe I'm misreading?  That's why I asked, because it sure sounds like that.

[Serenity9]

Jun 12, 2015 10:31:03 GMT -5 sofamonkey said:

Jun 12, 2015 10:24:46 GMT -5 Serenity9 said:

I saw that she graduated from Howard, but I didn't see that she got a full ride based on her race. Also, I don't know much about Howard, but wouldn't it be difficult to give minority-based scholarships at a school that is mostly minorities?

In the Washington post article, towards the top. Maybe I'm misreading?  That's why I asked, because it sure sounds like that.

Ah, okay. I was looking at the OP's link.

[sofamonkey]

Jun 12, 2015 10:39:52 GMT -5 Lucy Honeychurch said:

Jun 12, 2015 10:33:43 GMT -5 Serenity9 said:

Ah, okay. I was looking at the OP's link.

Welllllllllll, no.  

"When Rachel applied to Howard University to study art with a portfolio of “exclusively African American portraiture,” the university “took her for a black woman” and gave her a full scholarship."

Howard University is historically black for the most part; I think they likely gave her a scholarship based on her art and assumed she was black.  Which is vastly different from giving her a scholarship because of her race. 

But she took the full ride and never clarified? I wonder how it all we.t down and what Howard has to say. It's an interesting little tidbit.

[Serenity9]

Jun 12, 2015 10:44:14 GMT -5 sofamonkey said:

Jun 12, 2015 10:39:52 GMT -5 Lucy Honeychurch said:

Welllllllllll, no.  

"When Rachel applied to Howard University to study art with a portfolio of “exclusively African American portraiture,” the university “took her for a black woman” and gave her a full scholarship."

Howard University is historically black for the most part; I think they likely gave her a scholarship based on her art and assumed she was black.  Which is vastly different from giving her a scholarship because of her race. 

But she took the full ride and never clarified? I wonder how it all we.t down and what Howard has to say. It's an interesting little tidbit.

Well, if they gave her a full ride based on her art, I don't see the problem. You don't have to be black to go to Howard.

Of course, I see the problem with everything going on now, but if the scholarship was based on her work and not on her heritage, then that should be fine.

[sofamonkey]

Jun 12, 2015 10:47:13 GMT -5 Serenity9 said:

Jun 12, 2015 10:44:14 GMT -5 sofamonkey said:

But she took the full ride and never clarified? I wonder how it all we.t down and what Howard has to say. It's an interesting little tidbit.

Well, if they gave her a full ride based on her art, I don't see the problem. You don't have to be black to go to Howard.

Of course, I see the problem with everything going on now, but if the scholarship was based on her work and not on her heritage, then that should be fine.

Absolutely. And I guess that's what I'm wondering now - was the scholarship merit or heritage based.  You and Lucy have clarified that it could just be merit based, which is what I was missing. Thanks!

[Deleted]

I remain irritated by the poor naming of this thread.

Hmph!

[onesweetworld]

I'm so embarrassed for her.

[sofamonkey]

Jun 12, 2015 11:56:09 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Only in Spokane could someone that white pass themselves off as black for decades. 

You mean Spoklahoma?

[gummybear]

I am moving on from WTF to sad. This woman is a highly-educated, passionate and dedicated person. She's obv. dedicated her entire life to civil rights. She's probably done a world of good and enlightened and helped many.

But the LIES. Why? Like others have mentioned there is obv. something going on in that family unit. The teepee? And she has custody of her brother?