Why I Don't Support the Actions of Rachel Dolezal

Racism is more than a white person coming up to you and yelling a racial slur, it's a daily struggle and a constant fear. No, I've never been called a n*gger, but I'm forced to but I can't change my blackness when it's convenient. And it's not fair that she can choose something we can't.
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Rachel Dolezal has become a household name in a matter of days. With her very own trending topic (#AskRachel) and a plethora of high profile interviews, if you aren't fully caught up on her story I have no choice but to assume you have been residing under a small boulder.

As a black woman, I'm offended that she lied and attempted to pass herself off as an African American. She boldly spoke of troubles she doesn't understand and racism she can opt out of. Fortunately for her, her lie is not written across her forehead so she can easily straddle the racial line. In the face of a life or death situation, I'm willing to bet my last dollar that she'll be white again to save her life. I can think of a few people who wish they had the same option.

Rachel doesn't have to be plagued with the looming fear of bringing a child into this world where Black children are dying without reason. When a cop pulls her over, her license says "white" or they'll probably assume she's white unless she tells them different. I thank her for contributions to the Black community but it's a mockery to what I truly have to go through on a regular basis to consider yourself black just because you like our culture.

She has the support of many because of her positive contributions to our race. While I thank her for that, one can help without being an imposter. As we deal with racial relations in America, we welcome the support of other races. If anything, we need their support. The NAACP is not the KKK. We are an organization fueled by the uplifting of our race and culture, not the hatred of another.

I walk into a room full of white people and the reality is about 1/3 of these people probably dislike or are currently judging me because of the color of my skin. I worked for a site where I wasn't allowed to use images of black people. She is comforted with the fact of knowing that, in reality, she is a white woman. She can identify with whatever she wants but the pain of racism will never hit her in the way it hits other races. She never has to question if her black is beautiful. She chose this life so any hardships she has to go through are an option and will never cause any real pain.

Racism is more than a white person coming up to you and yelling a racial slur, it's a daily struggle and a constant fear. No, I've never been called a n*gger, but I can't change my blackness when it's convenient. And it's not fair that she can choose something we can't. I love my blackness, but I can admit it's hard sometimes. Im not here for Rachel, regardless of her positive contributions.

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