Rachel Dolezal, faux black NAACP chapter president

Let's get this thread going before somebody starts one blaming the NAACP for not screening its employees better and make sure the blame sits where it belongs: on the crazy white lady pretending to be black, Rachel Dolezal. Her parents outed her extreme caucasity so she did the only sensible thing, claimed they abused her.

Oh, this story has EVERYTHING. Victim of hate crimes, Africana Studies instructor, and most importantly, this Facebook post advising "other" "black" people on how to go see "12 Years a Slave":

12 Years opened in Spokane tonight. If you haven't seen it yet, get ready; it will take a hold on you, and you should probably avoid making plans for frivolous social obligations afterward. Probably not the best film to take a white partner on a first date to, just-sayin...

In fact, over the years I have learned the only way to screen a Black-themed film in Whitopia (aka Idaho/Eastern Washington) is to:
1) arrive a little early so you have a choice in seating
2) sit in the top, back row so that if white people are inclined to stare, they have to turn all the way around to do it
3) sit in the top, back row so that during the movie people aren't constantly looking at you to monitor the "Black response" to the film
4) sit in the top back row so that if someone gets inspired to start some mess, you can see it coming and have a wide aisle and two side exits rather than a row of feet and knees to make your escape through
5) did I mention sit in the top, back row...for the previous reasons and so you will be among like-minded company and not be distracted by white people snickering at awkward or inappropriate moments, get pissed off at them and lose your focus on the actual film.
Plan B: wait for the DVD

I don't understand the question...

Updated On: 6/12/15 at 01:05 AM

White girl has a LOT of looks.

Ha ha! Maybe never going to mom's confirmation hearing is why her family had a falling out.

Why did she EVER take out the dark contacts?

Did any white people really start rumbles at "12 Years a Slave"?

What Phyllis said!!

What playlist is Rachel streaming?

Black Magic Woman by Santana

White Girl by X

White Minority by Black Flag

White Riot by The Clash

Black is Black by Los Bravos

Black or White by Michael Jackson

Black Betty by Ram Jam

Black Cat by Janet Jackson

Welcome to The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance

and of course

Paint it Black by The Rolling Stones

Phyllis, I was just coming to post this after finding it on Facebook:

Transracism won't be tolerated: Support Rachel Donezal

The page admins seem not to care about her lies -- like identifying her adopted siblings as her children -- and refer to her parents as her "so-called biological parents".

To the question you're asking, reverse passing reiterates white privilege. Donezal picks up the mantle of African American experience despite the fact that she and her ancestors have not experienced it. It's one thing to identify with the struggle -- it's another thing to get a deep tan, put on a wig, and call yourself the struggle. Donezal never wanted to be an authentic ally -- she wanted to use makeup and a fake backstory to become something she's not.

Trans people feel that they were born into a body that does not correlate with their true identity. Perhaps this can occur with relation to race -- Jess Row's interesting (but flawed) novel Your Face in Mine takes up this premise -- but this does not seem to be the case with Rachel Donezal. She just seems mentally ill.

Thanks for that, Larry. I'm not directing this at you specifically, but if you have thoughts, please share.

What makes us accept that a transgender person isn't mentally ill, but Dolezal is? We don't (the royal we, I guess. I can't speak for everyone) expect trans people to always be open about being trans? I would never think, "Oh? Susan calls herself a feminist, but it turns out she was born a man! There's no way that she can have an authentic female experience!"

I would at least argue that I think Dolezal does want to be an authentic ally (I think her work for the African-American community is proof of that, even if it is inexorably linked with race-deception). She just royally effed up virtually everything about how she got there.

Again, this are not things I believe, but the kind of surface I want to scratch at before I'd brave talking about this outside of my own personal echo chamber.

Updated On: 6/12/15 at 12:30 PM

This is pissing me off because I am involved with the NAACP on some level and this kind of deception/charade is inexcusable.

For the record, I just realized the page that I posted is satire. I didn't interpret it as such at first. Must be good satire, then.

Phyllis, in reply to your question -- I suppose the idea of someone being trans-racial is possible. Based on Donezal's comportment, however, I don't believe she truly is. She buckled when first confronted with being white. She gave a lame "we are all African" justification. Rather than saying, "I was born white, but I identify as black and have since I can remember," she's repeatedly lied and altered facts to create a narrative that positions her as a born black woman.

^^^^ NO.

This framing of this thread rejects that as a narrative stream. I would suggest you start your own victim-blaming thread about the NAACP coming from the point of view of someone who "is involved with them on some level."

There's something about manipulating her way into the leadership position that rankles. It's the entitlement thing.

You're just like every other white man calling a sister crazy.