By Monique
I literally have no words to describe this story, except that Rachel Dolezal, the president of the Spokane NAACP chapter and Africana Studies professor, is a white woman pretending to be black, and has been living as such for years. Not only that, but she’s pretended her adopted brothers (who are black) are her sons and she identified a random black man as her father.
According to Buzzfeed, Dolezal’s real parents have said Dolezal’s ethnicity consists of “Czech, Swedish and German” ancestry with “possible traces of Native American.” A pin could be stuck in that last part, but I digress. The short of it is: Dolezal’s white.
The kicker is that Dolezal could have been a member of the NAACP and a professor of Africana Studies without pretending to be black. This is the zaniest thing I’ve ever seen in a long time.
Could she have a mental illness? Sure. But she could just be perpetuating blackness just to do it. Regardless, I want to know more about this story, no matter how much it bends my mental processes.
You can read more about this wild story at these links. This ends the news portion of this post.
Now begins the Twitter portion. You know Twitter had a field day with this. This story couldn’t have been a better gift to Twitter. The story spawned three different hashtags, #RachelDolezal:
#RachelDolezal be like, “Shout out to all my real Africans.” pic.twitter.com/1PTC08QW56
— britni danielle (@BritniDWrites) June 12, 2015
Ok, y’all… read the IG caption. #RachelDolezal @SpokaneNAACP pic.twitter.com/ZxqEjdL7pC
— Charles Wade (@akacharleswade) June 12, 2015
Civil Rights Leader Faked Being Black, Gets Exposed http://t.co/D9BGqtq55S
— illseed (@illseed) June 12, 2015
Don’t talk to me about how #RachelDolezal understood/knew the Black struggle when she could pick & choose when to be “Black”.
— Kim Moore (@SoulRevision) June 12, 2015
Might be the greatest display of black-face performance art since “Birth of a Nation.” D. W. Griffith would be proud. #RachelDolezal
— LeSean Thomas (@LeSeanThomas) June 12, 2015
ATTENTION BLACK PEOPLE: Since #RachelDolezal was passing, all new passwords, codes, & handshakes, will be distributed via EMAlL tomorrow
— alpha1906@gmail.com (@alpha1906) June 12, 2015
BW been holding down this Gender & Race 101 class for the free on your TL tonight while #RachelDolezal got a gig. Support sisters yall
— rell (@Awkward_Duck) June 12, 2015
There are white people who teach Africana American Studies studies who do not pretend to be black, so why #RachelDolezal felt the need to?
— BrotherJR (@BrotherJR76) June 12, 2015
Reporter: Are you African-American? #RachelDolezal: …….?? ?????? pic.twitter.com/uNsiCKwL5g
— 7 GOD (@iiBreakNecks) June 12, 2015
#RachelDolezal is another white savior reminding us all that we can be anything we want to be! Even a light skindeeed black girl!
— Amanda Seales (@amandaseales) June 12, 2015
Only a white person could get this much attention for being black. 🙂 #RachelDolezal
— Broderick Greer (@BroderickGreer) June 12, 2015
You don’t love being black you love being “cool” and you think #RachelDolezal‘s farce makes blackness cooler
— Imperator Amazonia (@Blackamazon) June 12, 2015
Now was she reverse passing at @HowardU? I’d like to hear from some of her classmates. #RachelDolezal
— Elizabeth Desnoyers- (@MOVEprofPHD) June 12, 2015
don’t get me wrong this #RachelDolezal situ is serious, but it is also SERIOUSLY hilarious, & we’ve all been in need of a good laugh!
— Amanda Seales (@amandaseales) June 12, 2015
#RachelDolezal makes Iggy Azalea seem like the chick from Frozen. #BlackMagic
— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) June 12, 2015
Y’all…lol. The depths of her delusion. I. Can. Not. ? #RachelDolezal pic.twitter.com/7hguZU3jD9
— Jasmine (@DopeMsNoir) June 12, 2015
Her own mama outed her. HER OWN MAMA! That is the blackest thing that ever happened to her. #RachelDolezal
— Danielle Henderson (@knottyyarn) June 12, 2015
Producers from the Lifetime Network are already on the phone clamoring at the opportunity to make this a movie #RachelDolezal
— BlackGirlNerds (@BlackGirlNerds) June 12, 2015
Poor @TheOnion. Reality is stranger than fiction. Wasn’t there a movie in the 80’s about this? #RachelDolezal pic.twitter.com/bzUAXXx4W5
— Paolo Munoz aka Pabs (@GameDiviner) June 12, 2015
Damn b. #RachelDolezal pic.twitter.com/yGBzABoc45
— Amanda Seales (@amandaseales) June 12, 2015
When you got everybody fooled except old black women #RachelDolezal pic.twitter.com/zrIQtUYrsq
— Liza Dye (@lizadye) June 12, 2015
#Transracial, since some people legitimately tried to make an argument that Dolezal was purposefully playing with the idea of racial constructs and that changing from white to non-white is the same as being a transgender person (thankfully, there were people here doing the good work of rebutting that nonsense):
People need to let Rachel be who she wants to be. #TransIsBeautiful #Transracial pic.twitter.com/DxoKUluwGO
— sabby delano. (@sabrinadunn) June 12, 2015
People bashing #RachelDolezal‘s self-definition as a black woman are bigots. Race is a social construct. #CaitlynJenner
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) June 12, 2015
There is nothing “trans” about #RachelDolezal. Stop w/ the false equivalencies to transpeople. Rachel is a lying, deceitful fraud. The end.
— April (@ReignOfApril) June 12, 2015
.@drgoddess Yes, you need to check your privilege. #transracial #RachelDolezal pic.twitter.com/wKhdcyDZ9p
— Mike Cernovich (@Cernovich) June 12, 2015
#transracial had better be a joke.
— Jeff Muehlbauer (@JeffAMuehlbauer) June 12, 2015
So now I can be white when it benefits me? yay for white privilege. #transracial
— native princess (@kylaaajeannn) June 12, 2015
Wow, and just like that Twitter has created a whole new category #transracial
— GhanaianoftheGalaxy (@AsaretheAfrikan) June 12, 2015
#TransRacial has me ON. THE. FLOOR. Shoot, let me go out here and be a White man and get a quality business loan. #RachelDolezal
— Dr. Goddess (@drgoddess) June 12, 2015
I’m not black. I’m dark white. #transracial
— Hoodkage (@blackflautist) June 12, 2015
if i identify as white when do i receive my privilege? 3-5 business days? express shipping? i need to know. #Transracial
— W2 FORM (@bbyadult) June 12, 2015
Shoutout to the first #Transracial WWE Champion in history @JohnCena pic.twitter.com/gkz1eYR27i
— Patrick Kane’s Ghost (@HeelRoberson) June 12, 2015
friendly reminder that #transracial is #transphobic and a white woman pretending to be black is racial/cultural appropriation jfc
— Sage Delphi (@zestysage) June 12, 2015
WELP I am seeing people equating Rachel Dolezal and Caitlyn Jenner and saying that being transgender is as ridiculous as #transracial. NOPE.
— KT Haché (@papierhache) June 12, 2015
RT @Seantaneous: I applaud this brave woman for being who she was born to be. #RachelDolezal #transracial pic.twitter.com/W9xunBDUnm
— Daisy Buchanan. (@_24kg0ld) June 12, 2015
My prob w/ #Transracial: Black folk cant decide to be white when the cops raid their pool party. But a white woman can be NAACP president.
— |L I Z Z O| (@lizzo) June 12, 2015
Ima be Mexican tomorrow. I’m tired of pretending I’m somebody I’m not. #RachelDolezal is a hero to me and everybody that’s #Transracial
— D.D.T (@thepoetnextdoor) June 12, 2015
I think I’m a white woman trapped in a black woman’s body. Help me on my journey to become fully white #Transracial
— solabomi (@sprite_jsr) June 12, 2015
I’m #Transracial now, going to express myself as a white girl by swearing at my dad.
— Sinesipho Ngcayisa (@Sinesipho_) June 12, 2015
I applaud #RachelDolezal for having the courage to be who she was born to be. Give her an ESPY. #transracial
— Tony & Lightning ⚡️ (@tonybalogna) June 12, 2015
Totally going to work as a white man tomorrow. #transracial
— Quaviano Ronaldo (@swindellium) June 12, 2015
she was born in the wrong body. let’s shower her with awards and magazine covers. #RachelDolezal #transracial pic.twitter.com/qnjDj91nJT
— Sean. (@Seantaneous) June 12, 2015
#RachelDolezal has inspired me to speak my truth. Im really a slender white woman trapped in a black girl’s body. #Transracial
— Deja Belle (@DejaBelle) June 12, 2015
lmfao being #transracial isn’t a thing, that’s the dumbest thing I’ve seen all day.
— besos mojados (@sunxg0ddess) June 12, 2015
Don’t run with this #Transracial bs. It’s not cute. Just another display of your privilege. We can’t play white.
— Avery. (@Philosavery) June 12, 2015
@stopbeingfamous “Call me Quesha” #TransRacial
— Dameon. (@Dxmeon) June 12, 2015
She elevated the appropriation game. #TransRacial pic.twitter.com/ePGHcow9an
— QUEEN (@MELODICthunder) June 12, 2015
Caitlyn Jenner decided to be a woman, now people are celebrating. I’m Asian but I want to be black, how do I make that happen? #Transracial
— Anton Rufino (@antonrufino) June 3, 2015
#Transracial #Cisracial pic.twitter.com/P0CcLu0UEU
— Jeaux Jeaux ✨ (@MiXO_pop) May 31, 2015
What the hell is #transracial pic.twitter.com/6R3OzzgAG4
— Miss Dixon ☥ (@OloriDixon) May 5, 2015
“Don’t appropriate culture!” PRETENDS TO BE BLACK ON A SERIOUS LEVEL. #Transracial #HYPOCRISY
— king_ruckus (@king_ruckus) June 12, 2015
I’m not just gonna chill here after being oppressed for my skin colour and except the oppressors for transitioning into black #Transracial
— faye!!! (@ovomccann) June 12, 2015
I was going to check twitter before bed but then i saw the #Transracial hashtag. Launching out of this universe now, bye.
— Amanda A. Rhoades (@Moxie_Manda) June 12, 2015
#transracial created by White ppl for White ppl who can’t deal w/ not being allowed or welcome somewhere. #RachelDoelzal
— Floozy Carmichael (@SoSharpiSlay) June 12, 2015
White Privilege is actually believing #Transracial is real, like reverse racism.
— Nola Darling (@WESTCOASTSUMA) June 12, 2015
#Transracial let snoop be who he wants to be pic.twitter.com/cKI4Tf2K4M
— faye!!! (@ovomccann) June 12, 2015
And #AskRachel, filled with questions that would test Dolezal’s “blackness” with references to collective African-American experiences:
Who’s wearing these at a cookout? #AskRachel pic.twitter.com/MgeOw0izEA
— •Mєℓαηιη Mσηяσє❤️ (@_middleFingers) June 12, 2015
Can you identify the use of this product? #askrachel pic.twitter.com/AWlTETo1Wx
— Fatniss Collardgreen (@lexxaye) June 12, 2015
What’s REALLY in this can? #AskRachel pic.twitter.com/Qdq6bv9g9X
— Asha Kay B (@AshaKayB) June 12, 2015
How did it feel to go natural? #AskRachel
— Jouelzy (@Jouelzy) June 12, 2015
Did your grandma leave the plastic on the couch? Did you almost die when you fell asleep on it? #AskRachel
— Wilkine Brutus (@wilkinebrutus) June 12, 2015
Can you oil my scalp? #AskRachel
— britni danielle (@BritniDWrites) June 12, 2015
Do you eat sweet potato or pumpkin at Thanksgiving? #AskRachel
— Elizabeth Desnoyers- (@MOVEprofPHD) June 12, 2015
#AskRachel “See every time you come around, you got to bring Jim, James, Paul and ______.”
— Lauren Bouvier (@_Elle_Spencer_) June 12, 2015
how do you conduct libation for departed friends, relatives? #AskRachel
— Elizabeth Desnoyers- (@MOVEprofPHD) June 12, 2015
have you ever seen this painting before? #AskRachel pic.twitter.com/FynDUz08Vu
— muva jess (@jlojpg) June 12, 2015
Are these pictures in your grandmama’s house? #AskRachel pic.twitter.com/g32RqSElMu
— Goldie Taylor (@goldietaylor) June 12, 2015
what does red bone mean ? #Askrachel
— Elizabeth Desnoyers- (@MOVEprofPHD) June 12, 2015
Where is Hillman College? #AskRachel
— deray mckesson (@deray) June 12, 2015
Rachel, do you have a church home? #askrachel
— errin haines whack (@emarvelous) June 12, 2015
do you know all the words to teh good times theme song? #askrachel
— Tracy LaFway Clayton (@brokeymcpoverty) June 12, 2015
@brokeymcpoverty anybody help you comb your kitchen? #askrachel
— ProfB (@AntheaButler) June 12, 2015
has anyone ever eaten your potato salad at a bbq? #askrachel
— Tracy LaFway Clayton (@brokeymcpoverty) June 12, 2015
Bel Biv Devoe said never trust what? #AskRachel
— Lost Poet (@Nari_Monet) June 12, 2015
What does Deniece Williams want love to stop doing to her? #AskRachel
— Roni Burren (@Roni_Dean) June 12, 2015
#AskRachel Fill in the blank: “Pop, lock, and _____ it.” a. shoot b. open c. drop
— Janelle Motittáe (@Cater2Liz) June 12, 2015
RT @Haadiyah_M: What don’t we need in this dancery? #askrachel
— Sami (@samimonee) June 12, 2015
Finish this sentence: “Go home _____!!” A) James B) Tyrone C) Roger D) Will #AskRachel
— A. (@____Dinkleberg) June 12, 2015
Which Cinderella? #AskRachel pic.twitter.com/8CbNVqkrco
— Amber-Danielle (@Am6rielle) June 12, 2015
Wash day means? On my last pair of draws On my last bra Exfoliating Taming your mane? #AskRachel
— PS2 (@AiRBORNEBROAD) June 12, 2015
What flavor Kool Aid is this? #AskRachel pic.twitter.com/9jOOE6wdzr
— tiara. (@tiaramescudi) June 12, 2015
#AskRachel what do you use this on: A. Chicken B. Fish C.Everything pic.twitter.com/UrLrON3GbT
— Tariq Nasheed (@tariqnasheed) June 12, 2015
Is this picture in your house? #AskRachel pic.twitter.com/hnBgXPQ5Yv
— C.✨ (@ItsCourtneyyyy_) June 12, 2015
Which one is the imposter? Come on Rach, you should know this #AskRachel pic.twitter.com/HkfOWyUOdO
— Taylor (@tcaxo_) June 12, 2015
What is pictured here? A) Dumdums on a string B) “Click Clacks” C) Fairy balls D) Idk but it’s not good #AskRachel pic.twitter.com/NPodyIa5PB
— Patti LaHelle (@_maleficentt) June 12, 2015
When Twitter goes in. They. Go. In. #AskRachel
— Marcus Darrrrling (@DontCallTyrone) June 12, 2015
In short, it was a night to behold.
What do you think of this story? Give your opinions in the comments section below. Also, keep the conversation going on Facebook and Twitter.
Rachel Dolezal side-by-side from Twitter
Julian 