Rachel Dolezal
Rachel Dolezal | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 12, 1977[1] |
| Alma mater | Belhaven University Howard University |
| Occupation(s) | North Idaho College (2005-2013) Professor, Eastern Washington University (2007-Present) |
| Title | President, NAACP chapter of Spokane, Washington |
| Term | 2014-Present |
| Predecessor | James Wilburn |
| Board member of | Commissioner for the Office of the Police Ombudsman, Spokane, WA |
| Spouse | Kevin |
| Parent(s) | Lawrence Doleza Ruthanne Dolezal |
Rachel Dolezal is an American academic and civil rights activist. She is the president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) chapter in Spokane, Washington, as well as a part-time professor of African Studies at Eastern Washington University.[2][3] She is also the chair of the office of the police ombudsman commission in Spokane.[4] In June 2015, she came to media attention after her white parents publicly stated she falsely claimed to be African-American.[2]
Education and career
Dolezal received her bachelors' degree from Belhaven University and her masters' degree from Howard University.[5] From 2005 to 2013, she was an instructor at North Idaho College. She has been on the faculty of Eastern Washington University since 2007.[6] She was elected president of the Spokane chapter of the NAACP in 2014, replacing James Wilburn.[7]
Racial identity controversy
Dolezal has listed herself as black on at least one application.[2] In 2015, Dolezal's parents stated that their daughter had been trying to "disguise herself" as African-American.[3] They presented a "copy of [their] daughter’s Montana birth certificate."[8] They also said that although she is of German and Czech heritage,[4] she began to identify herself more with the African-American community around 2007.[1]
References
- ^ a b Brumfield, Ben (12 June 2015). "Race of Rachel Dolezal, head of Spokane NAACP, comes under question". CNN. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ a b c Victor, Daniel (12 June 2015). "NAACP Leader Rachel Dolezal Posed as Black, Parents Say". New York Times. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ a b Mosendz, Polly (12 June 2015). "Family Accuses NAACP Leader Rachel Dolezal of Falsely Portraying Herself as Black". Newsweek. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ a b Elgot, Jessica (12 June 2015). "Civil rights activist Rachel Dolezal misrepresented herself as black, claim parents". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ Selle, Jeff (11 June 2015). "Black Like Me?". Coeur D'Alene Press. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ "Rachel Dolezal, MFA". Eastern Washington University. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ Culver, Nina (23 November 2014). "Spokane NAACP elects new president". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/jun/11/board-member-had-longstanding-doubts-about-truthfu/
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
