If you're reading this, you're probably aware of the controversy surrounding Ms. Rachel Dolezal, the leader of the Spokane, WA chapter of the NAACP. It seems Ms. Dolezal has for many years claimed she was black when, as it turns out, she never was. I won't list the details here but, suffice to say, it looks like she made up a lot of her history, and may have made several fraudulent claims of race-based harassment.
So, why would a white woman claim to be black? Before I answer that, allow me to say that I really dislike using these two words because I believe them to be inaccurate and a simplification. "Black" people and "white" people run a gamut of many different skin colors and shades. Also, I dislike the use of the word "race". The way I see it, there is only one race of people on this planet: the human race. I prefer "ethnicity" or even "racial sub-type." But maybe I'm just arguing semantics. For the sake of argument, I will use these words but with the caveats I just mentioned.
Why would she do it? I can think of a few possible reasons.
First, it has been reported that her parents adopted four black boys when she was a child. Perhaps she grew very close to them and wanted to be more like them. I don't know what the ethnic makeup of her neighborhood was but perhaps it was predominately black and she began to "act" black (see below) in order to fit in.
Second, depending on where you are, and what you are doing, being black is an advantage. Certainly if you want to advocate for civil rights and work to expand and secure them for minorities, being black provides you with experience and moral authority. A more cynical view would hold that she did it for her own personal benefit, knowing full well that, again, depending on where you are and what you're doing, it can convey a form of privilege, especially if you claim victimhood with respect to racial crimes.
Finally, and I think this is the least likely, she may actually be mentally ill. I am not a psychologist, psychiatrist, or medical professional of any kind, so I could be full of it but I'm reminded of cases of a condition commonly known as Munchausen Syndrome. If you've never heard of it, basically someone who suffers from this "feign(s) disease, illness, or psychological trauma to draw attention, sympathy, or reassurance to themselves." Perhaps she she wanted the attention that being black, and especially being a victim of race-based harassment brought and she got so wrapped up in it that it became her life. Again, I don't think this likely; it's simply something that occurred to me as a possibility.
Given what I know at this time, I think the second possibility is the most likely. Just as Ward Churchill and Elizabeth Warren claimed Native American ethnic heritage that they do not possess, she falsely claimed black ethnic heritage either because she thought it would help her do the work (which may certainly have been very good work) and/or because it provided an amount of power and authority that she otherwise wouldn't have had.
So, back to the subject of this post: What does it really mean to be black? I honestly can't answer that question, at least not completely. I, personally, am about as white as you can get, both in terms of the color of my skin and my culture. As far as I know, my ethnic heritage is German and Dutch, with a smidgen of Native American (either one sixty-fourth or one one-hundred-twenty-eight, I can't remember which), specifically Tuscarora. My aunt said I may have some Irish in there somewhere as well. But, more importantly, I can't answer that question because I believe it comprises far more than just the amount of melanin in your skin. Blackness is also cultural, and this is why I said "see below" when speculating that Ms. Dolezal began to "act" black. I think that, today at least, the cultural aspect of this is a far larger component than the physiological. I think most people will use both criteria to identify someone's race. If you "act" black, but are pale skinned with freckles and naturally red hair, you're not really "black". But, by the same token, if you're dark-skinned, with other physical characteristic that are typically associated with folks of African ethnicity, but you act in a typically "white" manner, a lot of black people are going to say you're not really black and may even criticize you or insult you (see: Herman Cain, Ben Carson, Justice Clarence Thomas, Condoleeza Rice, General Colin Powell (at least until he voted for Obama), and so on).
I think that it's the cultural differences that the biggest obstacles to racial harmony in this country. And, while I don't consider myself a racist, I do admit to being what I call a "culturalist." I believe that some cultures are objectively better than others. I believe that, for example, a culture that promotes education; that treats women equally to men under the law; that promotes solid, loving families (of whatever makeup) is better than cultures that don't (and I'm not referring to any particular culture here). Also, while most cultures adapt to changing circumstances, some can do so more readily than others. Those that adapt the best will, obviously, be more likely to survive.
I've basically run out of what I wanted to say. I can't think of a clever way to end this so I'm just going to end it by saying that, while my culture isn't perfect - far from it - I do think it's one of the better ones that has ever existed on this planet. Am I biased? Yeah, probably. But I also look at how many improvements in the human condition have come from my culture. Yeah, not everything has been an improvement but I think, on balance, it's done pretty well.
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