To be clear, I find Dolezal's argument to be facetious, not to say stupid. Of course she's not black, which is not to say that she was not doing a good job for the NAACP in Spokane. She may well have been, but apparently, that's not what the issue is. The issue is her race, and what/whom determines it.
Perhaps in a year of 'change', Dolezal simply assumed that it was what one thought of oneself that determined what one was. Case in point, Bruce Jenner, former Gold Medal Olympian, the biggest man's man going, and one of the most famous athletes in the world back in the day. Jenner decided that he was a woman, and the world, for the most part, went along with it. ESPN went so far as to give Jenner the Arthur Ashe Courage Award stating in part:
This year, we are proud to honor...Jenner embracing her identity and doing so in a public way to help move forward a constructive dialogue about progress and acceptance.In light of that Award, it might be easy to understand why Dolezal could think that one only had to put forth what they 'believed' they were, and they would be universally accepted.
If that was the case, she would have done well to examine the case of Riley Weston, who in 1998 lost her writing gig with Touchstone Television when it was revealed that she was 32, not the 19 she had claimed to be. Weston was genetically blessed enough that this ruse was easily accomplished, until her star began to shine too brightly.
It's also possible that Dolezal was taking her lead from former President Bill Clinton, who identified as the nation's 'first black' President. In fact, Clinton was honored by the Congressional Black Congress for being just that. At the ceremony Clinton said "I am happy in Harlem and I am honored to be thought of as the first black president." Congressman John Lewis said of Clinton "He understands the hopes and dreams and the frustration of African- Americans. We identify with him and he can identify with us."
So perhaps the big mistake that Dolezal made was not getting an important enough person to give her permission to identify as black. If that had occurred, then she may not have all the problems she is currently going through.
Then again, in a year in which a CAT wins the National Hero Dog Award, anything and everything is on the table. Unfortunately for Dolezal, her story is not compelling enough, and it doesn't fit any storyline that the media or politicians are trying to force down our throats.
This
year, we are proud to honor Caitlyn Jenner embracing her identity and
doing so in a public way to help move forward a constructive dialogue
about progress and acceptance. - See more at:
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jack-coleman/2015/06/04/espn-defends-decision-give-courage-award-jenner-lieu-someone-deserving#sthash.FKIG8x9z.dpuf
his
year, we are proud to honor Caitlyn Jenner embracing her identity and
doing so in a public way to help move forward a constructive dialogue
about progress and acceptance. - See more at:
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jack-coleman/2015/06/04/espn-defends-decision-give-courage-award-jenner-lieu-someone-deserving#sthash.FKIG8x9z.dpuf
his
year, we are proud to honor Caitlyn Jenner embracing her identity and
doing so in a public way to help move forward a constructive dialogue
about progress and acceptance. - See more at:
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jack-coleman/2015/06/04/espn-defends-decision-give-courage-award-jenner-lieu-someone-deserving#sthash.FKIG8x9z.dpuf
