There is another controversy over the veracity of representations of minority status in Washington. We previously discussed the controversy raised by the allegedly false claims of Senator Elizabeth Warren that she is a Native American. In this case, however, the accused is the head of a NAACP chapter and she is being accused of lying by her own mother. Worse yet, some have suggested that Rachel Dolezal, who is the head of the NAACP’s chapter in Spokane, planted hate mail at her office.
Dolezal has described her ethnicity as white, black, and American Indian in past papers and applications. However, her mother, Ruthanne, said that she is Czech, Swedish, and German, along with some “faint traces” of Native American heritage.
That has led to angry responses from different groups that she represented herself as a minority when she was selected for different positions. Dolezal has called the controversy a “multi-layered issue” and insisted “That question is not as easy as it seems. There’s a lot of complexities … and I don’t know that everyone would understand that.” She then added “We’re all from the African continent.” Many have interpreted that statement as a claim that, since mankind itself has been traced to Africa, everyone is an African to some degree. The definition is not sufficient for various groups. It raises, as did the Warren controversy, the basis for claiming minority status — a status that can give an edge in applications or hirings.
In addition, critics have raised suspicious racially motivated incidents reported by Dolezal while she was in Coeur d’Alene, including the discovery of a swastika on the Human Rights Education Institute’s door. Likewise, Spokane police records for February and March of this year showed that a hate mail package Dolezal reported receiving at the NAACP’s post office box did not bear a date stamp or barcode. Dolezal denies responsibility for those incidents.
The question is how to handle such cases in not only definition how to prove or what constitutes minority status or how to respond to allegedly false claims. If one receives payment for holding a position secured by assurance of minority status, can it be an actionable from of fraud or misrepresentation for the purposes of criminal or civil liability?
Source: Spokesman
bam bam did not bother reading Turley’s source. The source said there was a lawsuit.
This is from the NAACP (via WashPo)
“The national NAACP — an organization founded by blacks and whites — has generally taken the situation in stride. In a statement, the association stood behind Dolezal’s advocacy record and said, “One’s racial identity is not a qualifying criteria or disqualifying standard for NAACP leadership.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/passing-in-reverse-what-does-rachel-dolezal-tell-us-about-race-today/2015/06/12/76a377a8-112d-11e5-a0dc-2b6f404ff5cf_story.html
I would swear that the news is sometimes delivered to my door by sixteen clowns in a brightly painted Ford Fiesta.
Paul: Why? What’s with this idea that we have to go around “outing” and denouncing one another? Too many talk shows have apparently turned us into a nation of people who feel the need to constantly stick their noses into other people’s business. Like I commented earlier, if the blacks with whom she’s associated are willing to accept her, then why should anyone else care? I’ve read that blacks, as a group, tend to be more understanding and forgiving, and that if one is charged with a crime, you had better hope that there are blacks on your jury, rather than whites who tend to be more judgmental and critical. Perhaps this perception is true, as it seems that it is white people who are so concerned about this, even though it doesn’t effect them in any way….
TinEar – if you put his woman on your jury would you be expecting the black woman who would be more understanding or the white woman who was more critical? And who would you get?
bam bam
I don’t lie. I cut and paste. Here is your complete comment
bam bam
1, June 12, 2015 at 5:18 pm
Paul C
Fair-skinned blacks attempted to pass for whites during a time when virulent racism was the norm. It done as a survival measure, allowing the person to move in and out of various aspects of society without attracting the negative consequences that those who were more obviously black experienced on a daily basis. You are comparing apples and oranges. Passing for white was committed so that one could, perhaps, live a more normal life–eat at a whites-only lunch counter, drink at a whites-only water fountain, live in housing which restricted blacks, etc. This woman, as a white person, pulled this ruse without the benefit of a legitimate declaration that she did so to escape the horrible discrimination experienced as a white individual. I believe that she took a seat at a predominantly black institution of higher learning and was most probably the beneficiary of money intended for a black student needing assistance. She, therefore, deprived some true minority student of the opportunity that she absconded. Her lead position, at the local NAACP, is equally disturbing.
I repeat. I cut and paste. I did not misquote nor lie.
Squeaky: I always thought “white privilege” or “white guilt” was something that middle class whites came up with to make themselves feel superior, as in, “Oh, I’ve been so privileged, why I’m practically a Rockefeller, or at least a Vanderbuilt, so I really should write a check to the poor unfortunates who have nothing better to do than play Midnight Bastetball, while I’m at the Cotillion….” It’s a way for middle of the road whites to try to feign upper class backgrounds, and it works hand in hand with minorities who want to squeeze more unearned bennies from any whites stupid or arrogant enough to fall for it. As for me, I come from working class Irish, 3d generation, so I don’t give a rat about whites who try to pretend they’re something they’re not. I know who I am and I’m proud of it.
Nick: Not sure I can agree that she comes from a good family. A good family would have kept their issues within the family and not have gone to the media. I have had major issues with family members but could never imagine going public with criticisms. Whether it’s a matter of loyalty or dignity, a family should stick together, or at least maintain the appearance of supporting one another.
TinEar – I am not sure that I would not have done what the family did. Maybe not the way they did, but someway.
@TinEar
Yeah, but you know according to all the racial identity quacks on the left, your “White Privilege” is something you can’t just check at the door, like you would a coat at the coat-room. It is an evil presence or aura that goes with you wherever you go. Sooo, how does Sister Rachel check hers at the door, under that line of thought???
White Privilege is the liberal left’s version of “original sin”. Something that you can use to make an otherwise innocent person feel guilty, and then extort money from them.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
I see TinEar is willing to trash a GOOD family in order to enable this borderline personality, lying SOS. Right on cue!
bam, From what I have read so far, maybe her biggest immediate problem was telling the Spokane Police Commission she was black to get a seat on a committee regarding racial issues and police. I just saw her parents interviewed. This woman has posted photos of black men saying that was her father. Her parents are hurt. Her parents adopted and raised 4 black kids over the years. This is a good family and she has crapped on them. She obviously has psych issues, but that does not excuse her behavior. Unless you’re a bleeding heart enabler.
Nick
You have to wonder, after so many years of having a daughter lie about her imaginary racial background–attending a predominantly all-black university, working as the head of the NAACP, etc.–what finally came to a head that made the family publicly disclose the hoax? Did they just awake from a coma? Perhaps some sort of pending lawsuit? Something else is going on here that triggered this sudden epiphany. Unlike TinEar, as much as I love my various family members, I would not continue to sit idly by as one of them gamed the system or deceived organizations. First, of course, one should try to dissuade that person from continuing such bad acts; if that didn’t work, I’d expose the alleged fraud and theft.
I don’t see any fraud here. She attended an historically black college, and was later hired for positions which presumably would normally go to blacks. In all these instances, the people who admitted and/or hired her had the opportunity to observe her and to question her racial bona fides, (if it concerned them). If the black college and employers were willing to accept her, then why should white people care? It could be that she has “faint” minority blood, or it could be that she’s from a totally screwed up family and chose to identify with a different ethnic group for emotional support and/or other benefits. I went to law school with students who looked as white as Wonder Bread, yet were admitted under special programs for Hispanics. A white woman where I work was promoted to manager based on a claim that she is Asian. My understanding of the government’s “racial rewards” is that you claim to be whatever race you identify most strongly with. The one exception is American Indian, which is actually a legal, not ethnic designation. In the 1950s the federal government “terminated” a number of tribes, by paying the members. Essentially the govt bought out their contracts (treaties) by paying cash to the members in exchange for no longer recognizing the tribe. So unless you’re a registered member of a tribe that is recognized by the BIA, the government doesn’t consider you an Indian, regardless of your ethnicity. Hence the anomaly of blond people with 1/32 Indian blood getting BIA benefits, while some dark, full blooded Indians from terminated tribes get nothing. But I recently learned that there are tribes selling tribal memberships. A white man at work purchased a tribal membership so that he could get into a federal program to promote minorities into the federal executive ranks. Personally, I consider the whole issue of government benefits based on race so offensive that if someone wants to game a completely illegitimate system, I say ‘good for you.’ Hopefully it will lead to the dismantling of the entire cynical farce.
Hmmm. Did somebody say “unicorn”???
https://birtherthinktank.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/jenner.jpg
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Nick
There is not an infinite number of seats at predominantly black universities. There is not an infinite amount of money available for needy, minority students. Anyone stealing opportunities or funding, specifically set aside for disadvantaged students, is the lowest of the low. This should be fully investigated, and there should be consequences if the allegations are found to be true. The fact that she is delusional enough to view herself as either black or American Indian doesn’t faze me. I don’t care if she believes that she is a unicorn. Once she misrepresents herself–potentially stealing money not intended for her use and displacing other students or candidates for employment–her misrepresentation takes on a different meaning and gravity.
Very specifically, at 3:57 pm, I question that IF this woman did attend a predominantly all black university, DID she receive scholarship money intended for use by a needy black student? DID she deprive, a true minority, of a precious opportunity to obtain an education? Wadewilliams, as usual, lies and misquotes what has been stated here. I seriously believe that it is some sort of severe psychological malfunction that allows him to consistently do so, with regularity, on this site. Wishing what was said doesn’t make it so. I suppose that the use of question marks, at the end of words, confuses him. I guess that trolls gotta troll. Notice, no thoughtful or intelligent remarks regarding the article; just misquoting what another has posed as a question.
bam, This like a Rorschach test for liberals. They have tread lightly, as has the NAACP. I have waited to make this point, not wanting to jump the gun and allowing the folks from the left an opportunity. IF EVER there were a time to bring up their pet phrase, “white privilege” it is here. And they have not. This kind of stuff fascinates me. She flat ass lied on many occasions. She should be prosecuted for fraud.
Maybe this will get the NAACP to finally change their name. Because technically she is “colored”, just like John Boehner.
bigfatmike
Part of being a capable person, which you attribute to this woman in one of your statements, is using one’s true identity and abilities to accomplish goals. She has perpetuated a fraud across the board–throughout her education and in the workplace. Good intentions? Hardly.
Well heck, anybody could tell she was white by her name. A real black woman would be named Rachequaria, or Rachequisha, or Racheneekaweeka or something like that. I bet she did it for both the money and the victimology points. Anyway, it makes me think of an Irish Poem:
Hue And Cry???
An Irish Poem by Squeeky Fromm
There once was a woman named Rachel,
Who appeared very white by her facial.
But she made lots of dough
With her phony Afro- – –
Is this what they mean by “buy-racial”???
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
“Fair-skinned blacks attempted to pass for whites during a time when virulent racism was the norm. It done as a survival measure, allowing the person to move in and out of various aspects of society without attracting the negative consequences that those who were more obviously black experienced on a daily basis. ”
I think is true so far as the statement goes. But I think there is a broader question related to skin tone and racism. I think many of various ethnic groups, including African Americans, believe there are gradations in prejudice and racism that roughly follow skin tone. Those with lighter skin tones receive better treatment.
My perception is that dimension of racism is not often recognized or discussed by whites.
bam bam says
I believe that she took a seat at a predominantly black institution of higher learning and was most probably the beneficiary of money intended for a black student needing assistance. She, therefore, deprived some true minority student of the opportunity that she absconded
Sorry. I missed the FULL investigation that established that she received financial assistance, how much assistance was received, and the reason for the awarding of the financial assistance and if others were deprived of assistance because this woman’s award..
As an aside, I’ve read she did a pretty good job leading this chapter.
Those who are interested might want to check this WAPO article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/06/12/the-damage-rachel-dolezal-has-done/?hpid=z3
Apparently this was not completely innocent confusion that resulted from ambiguous answers. It seems that at times she went to extensive lengths to claim a heritage to which she had no historical or genetic connection, including posting the picture of an African American gentleman not her father.
As far as I am concerned any organization has a perfect right to select anyone as their leader.
But we all have an obligation to fairly disclose relevant facts about our selves and not take unfair advantage.
Apparently she is also a professor of African American studies at Eastern Washington University. Of course the next question has to concern what credentials she used when applying for that job.
This is actually a sad case – a capable person, good intentions, mendacity and maybe fraud. Pardon me while I suppress an inappropriate giggle.