Identifying as... another color

Rachel Dolezal « identifies as black » and therefore felt justified to claim to be bi-racial and check the visible minority box on applications. The issue of her self-image and identification belongs to her. But the bare truth is that she’s white. So she lied. Did she do awesome work for the NAACP? Yes. Does it make it ok to pretend to be black because one feels like it? No.

Will a white student apply on a Chinese study grant because “I really feel like I am Chinese deep down”? Cut the crap.

When will we hear “I was born in the wrong body. My body is black but I’ve always been white inside. I identify as white.”? Just because you wish it doesn’t make it true.

I have compassion for Rachel Dolezal having a messed-up racial identity. But don’t build anything on a lie. It’s the lie I object to.