NAACP Leader Lies About Being Black

It’s important to take pride in where you come from and what your background means. For some, it means large family dinners; for others, it means living in close proximity to members of your family.

For some, it means appropriating a new identity.

Rachel Dolezal, Washington’s NAACP leader, has been unmasked. Reportedly, she has lied about her ethnicity for years, claiming to be a proud black woman. Unfortunately, the truth always comes out, and it isn’t always pleasant.

Dolezal’s own parents brought this alarming piece of news to light, saying their 37-year-old daughter’s “disguise” started after the family adopted four African American children.

“It’s very sad that Rachel has not just been herself,” her mother Ruthanne, who hasn’t spoken to her daughter in years, said. “Her effectiveness in the causes of the African-American community would have been so much more viable, and she would have been more effective if she had just been honest with everybody.”

Until her recent outting, Dolezal had never spoken about her African American identity to her family, choosing to keep her two lives separate.

When asked by KXLY4’s Jeff Humphrey, “Are you African American?” Dolezal said she did not understand the question, then walked away.

“Unfortunately, she is not ethnically by birth African American. She is our daughter by birth. And that’s the way it is.” Her father, Larry Dolezal, told The Washington Post.

Whatever her intentions, the unmasking has caused many to doubt the validity of Dolezal’s mission as leader of the NAACP chapter.

The NAACP issued a statement:

“For 106 years, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has held a long and proud tradition of receiving support from people of all faiths, races, colors and creeds.

“NAACP Spokane Washington Branch President Rachel Dolezal is enduring a legal issue with her family, and we respect her privacy in this matter. One’s racial identity is not a qualifying criteria or disqualifying standard for NAACP leadership. The NAACP Alaska-Oregon-Washington State Conference stands behind Ms. Dolezal’s advocacy record.”

“In every corner of this country, the NAACP remains committed to securing political, educational, and economic justice for all people, and we encourage Americans of all stripes to become members and serve as leaders in our organization.”

What are your thoughts, Poppies? It’s a complicated situation, for sure. 

Keep Up With PopWrapped On The Web!