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A PROMINENT CIVIL rights activist, who has been a leader of a rights group for African Americans has been disguising herself as a black woman for years, her family says.
Rachel Dolezal has been a leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) in Spokane, Washington for a number of years.
This, despite being of Czech, Swedish and German descent.
Taylor Viydo / TwitterDolezal's parents, who live in Troy, MT, say Rachel has been deceiving people. They want people to know the truth. pic.twitter.com/sS3aiUwD0H
— Taylor Viydo (@TViydo) June 11, 2015
Dolezal, originally from Idaho, had become prominent in the media locally, campaigning on race issues and against hate crimes. She had claimed to be a victim of racial harassment, something police say there is little evidence of.
Her mother told the Coeur D’alene Press that Dolezal’s claims that she had been raised by a white stepfather were false and she had, in fact, just celebrated her 41st anniversary with Rachel’s father.
“Rachel is very good at using her artistic skills to transform herself,” Ruthanne Dolezal said.
“It is very disturbing that she has become so dishonest.”
Her parents say Dolezal married and later divorced a black man. They said after the divorce in 2004 Rachel began identifying as the daughter of bi-racial parents.
She had told fellow members that her father was coming to Spokane in January, sharing a picture on the NAACP Facebook page of her with a black man. His failure to show up, coupled with the discovery that she has identified herself as white, black and native American on different forms, raised suspicions.
Asked by a local TV crew if she was African American, she said she “didn’t understand the question” before walking off.
When contacted by the Spokane Spokesman-Review, Dolezal said the issue was “multilayered” and “We’re all from the African continent.”
She added that the controversy was sparked by an ugly litigation process with family members.
Reaction
Spokane’s City Hall says it is investigating the issue, but there is no indication that anything illegal was done.
The issue caught fire on Twitter last night, trending across the US. Some have accused Dolezal of cultural appropriation, but others have likened the case to that of Caitlyn Jenner.
Charles Clymer / TwitterIt's not just her appropriation. It's that she claimed an oppression that wasn't hers. #RachelDolezal pic.twitter.com/we4yn3aAlk
— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) June 12, 2015
Dolezal’s mother said that the family have long been aware of her racial claims, but only commented when contacted by the media.
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It was needed
@Pól O’Giollagain: Only calling for a hose pipe ban yesterday like we would get no rain….this is Ireland ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN lol.
@Peter Hughes: true true lolol We ain’t got our famous green for nothing;)
Wet and windy here last night. Outside as well ..
@Logan Shepherd: lol…
Yipee
Might actually be able to get through portmarnock village today. Thank God for the rain.
@James Hayes: Haha .. enjoy the trip .. maybe park near the beach for a while.
@James Hayes: I had to read that twice. My parents used to drive there and I always remember a deep dip full of water on the way home. Us all having to get out of the car on while they pushed the car through and got it restarted.
Hmm, is it a coincidence that the weather takes a turn for the worse on the day the Leaving Cert was due to start?
Irish waters must be so relieved….
‘‘Twas a grand summer
October’s usually better!
All hail The Big Mac
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