White woman pretends to be black for prestige

[merithyn]

From her EWU bio:
http://www.ewu.edu/csbssw/programs/africana-studies-program/aep-faculty/rachel-dolezal

Most recently, Rachel Doležal has been appointed by the Mayor of Spokane to serve as a police commissioner for the Office of the Police Ombudsman, to oversee fairness and equity in law enforcement.

That sounds like something that *could* be volunteer, but to me it sounds more like a cushy set-aside-type gig.

Also from that bio:

Doležal also entertains an interest in the medical field and has begun pre-medical studies, working toward an MD and a residency in trauma surgery. She hopes to combine her medical knowledge with her passion for human rights and engage in life-saving surgery efforts around the world. Her other experiences include work in a community law office as a legal secretary, African dance, culinary arts, ethnic hair styling, modeling, managing a political campaign, and mothering two sons. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, gardening & cooking.

She still doesn't know what she wants to do with her life. And "culinary arts" could mean she was a waitress.

The Police Ombudsman is definitely volunteer, because the Mayor stated that he's looking into it to see if her misrepresenting herself on the application is a problem for volunteer positions. And I'm pretty sure that NAACP President is a volunteer gig, too. Only the highest echelon of that organization is paid.

[derspiess]

Exactly, that's how I feel.

I think you're overreacting.  And exaggerating.

[Valmy]

Huh.  I'm a bit surprised by the reaction to this, particularly in the light of the recent discussions of transexuality.

I thought of that a bit actually

Again if you start claiming you are trans, and that your parents abused you for being trans as a child when you never were trans until some random sanity collapse as an adult it would fall into the same category.

[merithyn]

Exactly, that's how I feel.

I think you're overreacting.  And exaggerating.

I think you're intentionally ignoring that she's gotten nothing monetary from this, nor any real status, in order to make the point that being a minority is a bonus.

[merithyn]

Huh.  I'm a bit surprised by the reaction to this, particularly in the light of the recent discussions of transexuality.

A conservative radio commentator made the connection between this and Caitlyn Jenner. It didn't go well for him.

[Valmy]

Yeah Jenner never claimed anything obviously insane. That I am aware of. I have a really hard time caring about somebody already a hasbeen when I was a small child.

[Malthus]

Huh.  I'm a bit surprised by the reaction to this, particularly in the light of the recent discussions of transexuality.

Different situation.

It's the lying about stuff that makes this one a story.

[Razgovory]

Huh.  I'm a bit surprised by the reaction to this, particularly in the light of the recent discussions of transexuality.

Different situation.

It's the lying about stuff that makes this one a story.

If she only claimed to be black would it then be okay?

[Valmy]

If she only claimed to be black would it then be okay?

It would be like converting to Judaism. Her soul was always black

[Malthus]

Huh.  I'm a bit surprised by the reaction to this, particularly in the light of the recent discussions of transexuality.

Different situation.

It's the lying about stuff that makes this one a story.

If she only claimed to be black would it then be okay?

If she dressed her hair all frizzy, and claimed that, although not born Black, she had always felt 'Black on the inside'? Sure. I don't think anyone would care much.

[Razgovory]

If she only claimed to be black would it then be okay?

It would be like converting to Judaism. Her soul was always black

No, seriously.  If a person man can decide that he feels  that he really is a woman and starts begins cross dressing and demanding that people refer to him as a woman, how is that different then a person who decides they feel "black" darkens their skin, and demands that people regard them as black?  Honest question here.

[The Brain]

Being black isn't like being a woman.

[derspiess]

I think you're intentionally ignoring that she's gotten nothing monetary from this, nor any real status, in order to make the point that being a minority is a bonus.

We don't know what she has or hasn't gotten from this without checking her bank accounts.  What she has gotten out of it are opportunities (Malthus mentioned the attention aspect) that would not be open to a white woman.  And local chapter NAACP Prez is a pretty good resume builder.

[Razgovory]

If she dressed her hair all frizzy, and claimed that, although not born Black, she had always felt 'Black on the inside'? Sure. I don't think anyone would care much.

Would a transsexual have to put the caveat that they were not born with their current gender and may not physically be that gender every time they identify themselves.

[derspiess]

The "transabled" thing now being talked about is a hoot.