Rachel Dolezal may have announced her resignation from the NAACP, but that in no way means we have heard heard the last of this spunky, tenacious social justice champion. In the past week Rachel has been criticized for crafting an identity as an African American woman, when she is in fact of black ancestry. She was outed by her estranged parents who claim that for the better part of the last decade, Rachel has conned others by falsely portraying her racial identity while reaping the academic and professional rewards that should have been afforded to someone who was of genuine African American decent.
Rumors are swirling that Rachel plans to organize a much larger movement which could bring trans-racialism to the forefront of the social justice pulpit. This comes hot on the heels of Caitlin Jenner’s coming-out as a trans-gendered woman, which leaves many people asking, should trans-racialism be recognized as a legitimate minority?
Connie Goldberg, the current senior coordinator of mental health services at the Washington Center Of LGBTQ Outreach seemed to be supportive of Dolezal’s chosen racial identity. “If people can accept the fact that Caitlin Jenner is a woman, then there really is no reason not to accept the fact that Rachel Dolezal is a black woman. If people understand that gender is a social-construct, then why not race? I have counseled countless individuals over the past 15 years who have suffered greatly because they weren’t able to express the racial identity that they resonated most with. Americans, particularly white Americans, seem to be suffering from a myriad of cultural identity issues. It’s really no surprise that they end up identifying with cultural norms that don’t necessarily correspond with their birth race. It’s time we stop the bullying, harassment and accusations of cultural appropriation, and accept these individuals for who they truly are. I for one am absolutely behind Rachel. She doesn’t need anyone’s approval to be a strong black woman, and neither does the millions of others who identify as transracial.”
Others argue that Dolezal’s issues run much deeper than just mere racial dysphoria. Carmen Spader who is the program manager of the Southwest Washington Cultural Arts Showcase disagreed with the assumption that Rachel’s situation was the result of a simple case of melanin-envy. “This is a person who is mentally ill. She concocted an elaborate web of falsehoods in order to attain positions of prestige. She photographed herself with some random African American man claiming he was her father. She claimed her parents beat her and her siblings with a “baboon whip” based on their skin color? There are just so many outrageous tales this woman has spun in order to make herself look like some sort of supreme victim. If you examine her history, it’s nothing but a pile of outrageous histrionics. She seriously needs to seek mental help, she is obviously a profoundly disturbed individual.”
Whatever the case may be, It’s becoming evident Rachel isn’t going to give up on the issues she is clearly so passionate about. Connie Goldberg expressed her gratitude that someone was finally stepping up to the plate to fight for the rights of the trans-racial. “Nobody is begging Caitlin Jenner to give up the wigs and dresses and become Bruce again. Why should Rachel be forced to ditch her weaves and bronzers?”
The post Rachel Dolezal To Organize First Ever Trans-Racial Symposium appeared first on United Media Publishing.