# Local NAACP Leader Fabricates Black Ethnicity **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 12, 2015, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357 "2015-06-12T13:35:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/21 "2015-06-12T15:19:11Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Save yourself the outragery. This is already being beat up here. > [Charlamagne Tha God Compares Rachel Dolezal To Caitlyn Jenner: ‘You Can Be Transgender In America & Not Transracial?’](http://www.gossipcop.com/charlamagne-tha-god-rachel-dolezal-transracial-caitlyn-jenner-transgender-tweets-twitter-rant/) > > I think main difference is that there is relatively little evidence for racial disphoria as a condition. This an attention mongering scam by someone who has been making a LOT of stuff up, not a tortured soul living a lie. I’ve met more people with race identity issues than gender identity. Recognize the condition, and they will come out ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/22 "2015-06-12T15:34:07Z")
Wow. When I read this story, I figured it’d be used to dismiss black civil rights activists. It never even occurred to me that it’d be used to take cheap shots at transgendered folks. People will surprise you, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/23 "2015-06-12T15:41:54Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > In this case it sounds like she always identified with African-American culture and society, even as a kid. As she grew older she pushed it further and further. It’s not like she woke up one day and decided to pull a scam. > > I believe the original heads of the NAACP were mostly whites. AFAIK there’s no technical reason why a white person couldn’t be the head of an NAACP chapter, though I guess it would be unlikely to happen in practice. Not sure what the rest of the local leadership will do now. > > IMO this is just a strange story, nothing more. (To the extent that there is anything serious about it, it would probably be the hate crimes reports. And of course, whatever personal issues that family might be going through.) It appears on the face of it that it’s quite likely she has lied about her background, her race, her parents, her children, where she was born, where she was brought up, abuse she received as a child, and potentially a whole raft of “hate crimes” that have puzzled the police as she was the only with access to the sites they happened. So… I’m going to put this one in the attention-whore “scam” category. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/24 "2015-06-12T15:49:14Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The poor woman is obviously a bit emotionally troubled. > > I too, am more than a bit curious as to why it’s only now her family, or for that matter anyone else, is saying “You know, this lady in the NAACP saying she’s black is not at all black.” I’ll grant some thing just sort of creep up on you but a person who is white, and who LOOKS white even when pretending to be black, is kind of a striking weirdness. If one of my white friends permed their hair and starting saying they were black (or one of my black friends straightened their hair and started saying they were white) I would be immediately making inquiries. I would be very concerned for their mental health. > > It’s kind of like those people who dress themselves up as super duper special forces/Navy SEALS/JTF 2/SAS outfits and claim to be veterans who were never soldiers at all. They’re all quite nuts. But at least they can take off the phony uniforms when family is around who know better. > > All of this is assuming there isn’t part of the story we aren’t getting, such as the distinct possibility Dolezal has never actually claimed to be black. Reading only the OP and assuming the story in it is true, my take is that her family was willing to put up with it (or, at the least, not go to the media about it) until her public story-telling started to include them abusing her in racially-charged ways. That they were unwilling to stay silent about. From the OP: > [@](#): > > The Easterner reported: “According to Dolezal, the object her mother and stepfather used to punish them was called a baboon whip, used to ward baboons away in South Africa. These whips would leave scars behind, ‘They were pretty similar to what was used as whips during slavery.’” (Ruthanne says her daughter was not abused, does not have a stepfather, and has never lived in South Africa.) In short, her lying about being Black - family unwilling to ‘out’ her. Her lying about family abuse - family willing to ‘out’ her. In so doing, they show her to be essentially a pathological liar - demonstrating why her alleged abuse is all part of her general pattern of lying. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/25 "2015-06-12T15:59:28Z")
It must take a lot of time to apply that much bronzer to her face and neck day after day. I shudder to think what chemicals were used on her hair. She’s obviously a pathological liar looking for attention that comes with being an activist. I see the elaborate deception as a problem. It’s up to the NAACP to decide the next step. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/26 "2015-06-12T16:00:19Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Wow. When I read this story, I figured it’d be used to dismiss black civil rights activists. It never even occurred to me that it’d be used to take cheap shots at transgendered folks. People will surprise you, that’s for sure. Sometimes I like to imagine that Christian conservatives are right, and after we die we’ll all be in a little room with Jesus and a DVR and we’ll all have to watch our lives again, with commentary from the Director. “Now coming up here you have a line about Caitlyn Jenner. Tell me what you were thinking during this scene.” ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/27 "2015-06-12T16:03:49Z")
She is obviously trying to claim the immense benefits American society provides to those who are black! ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/28 "2015-06-12T16:05:03Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It must take a lot of time to apply that much bronzer to her face and neck day after day. I shudder to think what chemicals were used on her hair. > > She’s obviously a pathological liar looking for attention that comes with being an activist. I see the elaborate deception as a problem. It’s up to the NAACP to decide the next step. Uh is it even legal to require black ancestry to be in the NAACP admin? That doesn’t smell right to me. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/29 "2015-06-12T16:05:56Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Wow. When I read this story, I figured it’d be used to dismiss black civil rights activists. It never even occurred to me that it’d be used to take cheap shots at transgendered folks. People will surprise you, that’s for sure. I too am surprised. I’m just surprised at the swipes being taken and at who. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/30 "2015-06-12T16:21:25Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Uh is it even legal to require black ancestry to be in the NAACP admin? > > That doesn’t smell right to me. I don’t know. Lying on a job application is often a reason for dismissal. But it’s up to the NAACP. If they don’t care then I guess she keeps right on using bronzer and living a lie. She’ll probably do that anyhow. That lady has some major issues. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/31 "2015-06-12T16:28:13Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I don’t know. Lying on a job application is often a reason for dismissal. But it’s up to the NAACP. If they don’t care then I guess she keeps right on using bronzer and living a lie. In Spokane where about 2% of the population is black if you have someone who stands up and offers to take on the administrative work required to bring the local NAACP chapter up to speed I don’t think I’d be doing the [Jack and Jill Kraft paper bag test on them if they are willing to take that on.](http://www.blackgivesback.com/2009/03/jack-and-jill-of-america-70-years-later.html#.VXsICP3bI5s) > [@](#): > > I also grew up as a child in NYC during the 60s. J&J was a notoriously bougie, elitist and closely guarded secret. Additionally, in order even be considered you had to pass what was called the ‘paper bag’ test and have ‘good hair’…meaning you couldn’t be any darker skin-toned than a standard brown paper bag, and your hair definitely could show no sign of ‘kitchen’ or turn nappy/kinky in the event of a rain storm. So you can dress this up and pretend it’s now a well-intentioned socio-economic organization if that gets you through the day. I know it differently from first hand real life experience…when you couldn’t declare you lived in The Bronx, it had to be ‘Riverdale’. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/32 "2015-06-12T16:30:36Z")
> [@JerrySTL](#): > > In recent American society, being a ‘victim’ can actually be a bonus. It hasn’t hurt Elizabeth Warren. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/33 "2015-06-12T16:39:25Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I don’t know. Lying on a job application is often a reason for dismissal. But it’s up to the NAACP. If they don’t care then I guess she keeps right on using bronzer and living a lie. She’ll probably do that anyhow. That lady has some major issues. I agree she has major mental issues, more for the false claims of hate crimes. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/34 "2015-06-12T16:39:27Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I don’t know. Lying on a job application is often a reason for dismissal. But it’s up to the NAACP. If they don’t care then I guess she keeps right on using bronzer and living a lie. She’ll probably do that anyhow. That lady has some major issues. You assume that national NAACP has the power to fire her. I doubt they do. That’s not usually how those kinds of organizations are structured. The usual structure is that each chapter is an independent 501(c)(3) with its own board and employees, and they sign a contract with the national unit to use the name in exchange for various covenants. It could be that they assign the power to the national organization to remove officers or employees, but they don’t usually do that. Usually, the only recourse the national organization has is to threaten withdrawing the chapter altogether, or to sue them for contract damages. Neither is especially helpful, and so they typically try to apply soft pressure. The upshot of which is that this mostly turns on how many friends this lady has on the local board, and whether they decide that they are hurting the organization and cause to keep her on. ETA: or maybe by NAACP you meant the local chapter, in which case this post just clarifies. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/35 "2015-06-12T16:39:28Z")
This is such a strange story. The picture she posted of["her father and her son"](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHRF5piUsAAwp5G.jpg) is apparently actually her adopted brother and …someone else? I would love to find out who that guy is. One news story i saw said that the “brother/son” has cut off contact with his adopted parents (Dolezal’s birth parents) and now lives with Rachel. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/36 "2015-06-12T16:44:42Z")
So as it turns out, you _can_ fail the One Drop Test. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/37 "2015-06-12T16:53:24Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Uh is it even legal to require black ancestry to be in the NAACP admin? > > That doesn’t smell right to me. The NAACP issued a statement saying[race is neither a qualifying nor disqualifying standard](http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/12/us/washington-spokane-naacp-rachel-dolezal-identity/index.html) for leadership in the organization. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/38 "2015-06-12T17:00:16Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Uh is it even legal to require black ancestry to be in the NAACP admin? > > That doesn’t smell right to me. I don’t think they should care at all about whether she is or is not Black. They ought to care a lot about whether or not she is a pathological liar, though. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/39 "2015-06-12T17:16:15Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > In this case it sounds like she always identified with African-American culture and society, even as a kid. As she grew older she pushed it further and further. It’s not like she woke up one day and decided to pull a scam. I suspect a key factor was when her parents began adopting black children. I have to wonder if a white child in that situation wouldn’t begin to question whether her parents wanted all their children to be black. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a child raised in a predominantly black family having ambiguous feelings about their own race. I think the fact that the black identity Dolezal invented for herself involved stories of abuse and hate crimes and claiming her father was her stepfather and her brother was her son indicates that Dolezal has a very warped image of what being black is. This seems to be a woman with mental health problems. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357/40 "2015-06-12T17:33:52Z")
This is a fascinating story. It seems as if there’s evidence that she’s lied about being black, but the interesting question is what if she hadn’t? False hate crimes aside (which is disturbing and infuriating), would this still be a story if this had been more of a case of lying by omission? There are plenty of black people who look like her, so I’m not so much intrigued by _how_ she was capable of fooling people as much as I’m intrigued by her desire to do so. Perhaps she has always gravitated towards black people socially, and then realized that being seen as a light-skinned black person afforded her more acceptance than being perceived as a white woman who simply enjoys black culture. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-naacp-leader-fabricates-black-ethnicity/722357.md?page=3)