I was expecting more of a fight.
But it looks like Rachel Dolezal was being pressured on both sides for passing.
It’s not like we have a real hard and fast standard for identity.
Even in the Census, we live in a “you are what you say you are world,” with the ability to self-define.
You can call yourself anything. If that’s who you say you are, then it’s fine for the official count.
It’s not passing. It’s not lying. Just mark one box and live with it.
Given that set of ethics, I’m surprised that Rachel Dolezal was unable to weather the storm created in the media and resigned this morning from her NAACP post in Spokane.
Even the NAACP said there was nothing in its by-laws preventing her from holding a leadership position in the organization.
So what do we have here?
Likely some kind of internal politics, where some may feel the leadership of an NAACP chapter is an “African American” only position, and used the issue of her race to raise a critical point of ethics and integrity. Enough to oust Dolezal.
Passing as black? Oh mon dieu!
It also riled up those on the outside who look on the NAACP in Spokane as “the enemy,” who made it a big “Gotcha!”
Still, anybody hurt by Dolezal’s transgressions?
From all accounts, she has been an effective activist and leader.
Now she’s gone.
If you were on the inside and hated Dolezal, you’re smiling.
And if you’re up there in the conservative part of western Washington, you’ve just touched up a real adversary by discrediting and needlessly putting the NAACP through the national media wringer.
