Rachel Dolezal Thesis

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An Indubitably Influential Individual “You tell a lie often enough and people will believe you,” (Abdul-jabbar 26). Coming up as a civil rights activist, Rachel Dolezal was and still continues to be an expert on all things African American. She attended Howard University, a historically black school, for a graduate degree and went on to lecture at Eastern University in the Africana Studies program on the history of black woman and hair. Following up her education, she became the leader of the NAACP for several years in in her local chapter which is Spokane, WA. Beginning in 2006 or 2007, Miss Dolezal has disguised herself as a black woman by doing her hair and makeup to appear African-American; consequently, she does not openly admit to …show more content…
More specifically, she lead her local chapter of the NAACP, taught classes informing people of African-American culture, and is chair of an oversight committee that monitors fairness in police activities. (“BRIEF: National office of NAACP….” 1) Who Rachel Dolezal decides to identify with is beside the point when all of her accomplishments regarding racial background and equality are uncovered. She is devoted to being involved with African-American causes and wants to make the point that no matter what she will always encourage the growth and protection of the African-American culture. In light of this subject, Dolezal’s “fascination with black culture grew after the family adopted three African-American children and one Haitian child in the mid-’90s.” (Ergan, Pelisek and Herbst 56) Perhaps Miss Dolezal grew so infatuated with the culture because the more she learned the more obligated she felt to help and be apart of it; therefore, the only way she could describe this was by saying she was “transracial” or “biracial”. Her deep passion and enthusiasm are what drove her to accomplish everything she has attained and for what she lacked in her heredity has been made up for in her actions and ways she proves herself to be African-American. To manifest what exactly Rachel Dolezal has …show more content…
To bring this to light, ‘Rachel’s brother, Ezra Dolezal, stated that “Three years ago she asked me not to blow her cover.”’ (Ergan, Pelisek and Herbst 55) She wanted no one knowing her secret unless they had to. Of course, a person’s secrets are secrets, but when you bring the fact that Dolezal was an inspiration and someone that people looked to for guidance and reassurance turns her “true identity” into being perceived as untrustworthy. Deliberately going out of her way to make sure people didn’t know her secret only added more room for suspicion and a sense of deception. For instance, ‘James Wilburn, past president of the Spokane NAACP who was replaced by Dolezal, said Thursday that discussions about her background were relegated to a few members of that group before her election late last year. "It was discussed among close members to me, and we kept it like that," Wilburn said.’ Other people other than Rachel’s family knew about her background and kept it to themselves. (“Credibility of local NAACP….” 1) Even though the NAACP wasn’t obligated to inform the people of Rachel Dolezal’s identity, in some way they should have felt compelled to since the whole purpose of the association is to protect African American rights. This whole situation shouldn’t just be blamed on Dolezal. It is her secret to tell, but there were also

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