BLACK
LIKE ME
In
the unlikely event you have been on vacation on a remote island somewhere, you
may have missed one of the top media stories that have occupied front pages in
this country. Just in case, Rachel Dolezal is the subject at hand. She is
accused of denying her white heritage while claiming to be Black. That, in
itself, may cause eyebrows to raise, but the realization she presided as
president of the Spokane branch of the NAACP for several years and maintained a
part-time position as an African studies instructor has resulted in seismic
readings on the Rector Scale. Be that as it may, Rachel has resigned her
position as president and has lost her position as instructor. In addition, she
is being investigated by the city Ethics Commission to determine if she lied
about her race on her application to Spokane’s police oversight board. OVER THE
TOP? Stay with me on this.
Rachel’s coming out party was
initiated by her parents, who after several years of estrangement decided it
time to expose their daughter. Obviously, things were not comfortable at home.
The “why” to that question remains unanswered. But Rachel Dolezar must face the
challenges that await her. “The furor has touched off national debate over
racial identity and divided the NAACP,” as reported by Newsday. In addendum, a spokesman for the NAACP has admitted leadership
positions within the organization do not require a person be Black. The drama
continues.
When quizzed on NBC’s “Today” show,
Rachel described the discussion about her as “viciously inhumane.” When asked
about her race, she said, “I identify as Black.” Case closed? Not yet. Kitara
Johnson, a NAACP member who presents herself as a dissenter of Dolezar,
successfully organized a petition asking for the resignation. Apparently,
things are not that comfortable within the NAACP.
Oddly enough, how one defines their
place on earth, gender, race or otherwise, has become the object of public
opinion. In an amazing coincidence, the timing of this episode could not have been
more appropriate. Caitlyn Jenner?
Simultaneously, the international community is confronted with a decision
that’s not theirs to make. Upon further observation, trans-racial episodes are
not unique. The more common agenda is known as “passing,” when a person of
color passes himself/herself off as White. When exposed, this condition is
usually looked upon as unacceptable by both Blacks and Whites. However, the
motivation is usually not questioned. Quality of life historically favors
White. It was precisely this imbalance that motivated the journalist, John
Howard Griffin, to experiment in the 1950’s. His book, Black Like Me, became a riveting example of black life in the deep
South as experienced by a white man who chemically changed his complexion and
became Black. As might be expected, his work received mixed reviews despite a
NY Times Best Seller listing.
Perhaps the case of Rachel Dolezar
does create a dilemma when compared with the American posture. This may be the
source of her parents’ discomfort. They suggest she suffers a sort of mental
imbalance to pursue her life in this manner. After all, what white person would
normally trade their Caucasian heritage to become Black? The greater question
is: Where do we go from here?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar does an
excellent tongue in cheek analogue by making his confession. “I’ve decided to
come out with the truth … Although I’ve been claiming to be 7’2” for many decades;
the truth is that I’m really 5’8”.” He then proceeds to suggest Rachel get a
pass for her “white lie” in light of the positive advocacy she is credited for.
Bottom line: Has this ‘white lie”
damaged your quality of life?
