The president of an NAACP chapter in Washington came under fire Thursday for allegedly falsely portraying her race as African American. But according to the Georgia NAACP, Rachel Dolezal's true racial background doesn't matter.
The Georgia NAACP released a statement Friday afternoon backing the Spokane, Wash., chapter's continued support of Dolezal, who was accused of misrepresenting herself as a black woman by her mother Ruthanne Dolezal. She said their actual family background is Czech, Swedish and German, and that Rachel Dolezal has been lying about her race ever since she adopted four African-American children eight or nine years ago.
When asked about her mother's allegations, Rachel Dolezal, a part-time professor of Africana Studies at Eastern Washington University, has avoided answering the question directly, according to the Seattle Times. But according to the Georgia NAACP, she shouldn't have to, stating "One's racial identity is not a qualifying criteria or disqualifying standard for NAACP leadership" and "we encourage Americans of all hues to become members and serve as leaders in our organization" in Friday's release.
“While race has no real biological or scientific meaning; racism as a theory and discrimination impacts the quality of life for women of color around globe and in this country,” said Georgia NAACP President Francys Johnson in the release.
Social media reactions to the accusations have ranged from merely humorous to blatant outrage, with some comparing being "transracial" to being transgender.
The Georgia NAACP said they support the Alaska-Oregon-Washington NAACP, "who stands behind Ms. Dolezal's advocacy record," according to the release.
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