Update: I posted this 666 days ago but blue eyed devil Rachael Dolezal is back in the news with her snake oil version of racial identity. She got a book deal and all I have is this blog so I’m reposting this in hopes someone may share it with her and read educate this white woman-Rachel, please have several seats, and be humble.
Busted: Rachel Dolezal, Howard Graduate, Head of the NAACP in Spokane, and outspoken black community activist is white. Outed by a local reporter and mercilessly–and hilariously–taken down on twitter Rachel has sparked lots of chatter about what is race and who can be which one. Passing points to the essential function of race–that it structures power, not color. People who pass are not trying to look different, they are trying to change their status.
Race is not in our DNA, it’s a social construct. That means, despite what your eyes see, there are not different races of people. In fact, there is no gene for race in the human genome. Biologically, humans are all part of one family.
So, if race isn’t real, then we can just say racism is dead, yell, “Black President!” and get on with it right? Wrong. I mean, have you read this blog before? Since the birth of America, race has been used to structure, economic and political relationships. Prior to the 1600’s race really wasn’t a thing. People had and still have different cultures, but not different racial categories. The first time the word race even appears in the English language is 1508, so the Ancient world did not have the concept of different races.
With the conquest of the Americas and a fresh addiction to sugar, European conquerers needs many hands to make the hard work of sugar, tobacco and cotton farming light. But, since the America’s were little more than a handful of rough outposts, they couldn’t attract a voluntary workforce with crazy benefits like being allowed to live free and get paid. Thus begins the transatlantic slave trade, one of the darkest events in all of human history.
Race as a social construct was created essentially to protect this labor force. Many laws–not just one–over hundreds of years were used to keep one class of people–black people–enslaved. Politicians traded power for allowing the perpetuation of the institution of slavery, even our conflicted founding father Thomas Jefferson. He wrote all men were created equal, but could not build the country he desired without those free hands to do the work.
What would get good God fearing people to support the systematic violent oppression of their human brothers and sister? A story, a narrative that normalizes terror as truth. At the center of the narrative was the concept that blacks were not humans, and therefore did not deserve human rights. While the institution of slavery ended 7 generations ago, America still struggles to shake this narrative.
Racism is supported by personal prejudice. Individual beliefs about different groups of people perpetuate the kind of thinking that allows police to kill young people unchecked by the electorate. But even if every person in America woke up tomorrow firmly antiracist in their heart, the laws that structure education, housing, economics, justice and other systems would still have racial bias in them. Like a zombie–we may be the body, but if the zombie brain of racism lives, terror ensues.
Over the centuries, hundreds if not thousands of people have tried to game the system by “passing”–taking on the identity of a race other than their own–mostly white. Whites were able to be free, vote, own land–and slaves–and a host of other privileges that came with whiteness. These privileges–which still exist in different ways today–helped keep people bought in to systems of oppression. Black people willing to give up their culture and their ancestry could take on all the benefits of whiteness as long as they stayed hidden.
In a country where whiteness is too often invisible to white people, Rachel wouldn’t be the first white girl to long to have a (different) culture. No boring suburbia for her, Rachel takes cultural appropriation to a whole new level. No matter how many Mileys and Iggys try to beg ignorance, appropriation is real–and real simple to understand.
Imagine culture is an iceberg. Certain parts of it are visible–food, dance, dress, festivals–while the foundation of what makes a culture are buried deep below the surface–beliefs, values rituals, shared lived realities and ways of being. Millions of people of African decent, shipped abroad during the slave trade or settled here in America carved out a way of surviving , a way of being in the face of unstoppable cruelty, a way of thriving within a system built to destroy them. The soul food, and the blues and the style and hip hop are the visible parts of the legacy of this ongoing struggle, but the deeper elements are essential to making sense of those expressions. Cultural appropriation is when you break off the top of the iceberg and wear it around like a costume. You can dress up, dance, and even bite the rhymes of a culture….
But when you do, you leave behind the larger, more important part of culture: the deeply help beliefs, shared experiences, values, ancestry and destiny-the truth of what it means to be part of that group. This part of the iceberg can’t be pulled out of the water and worn to the VMA’s. They can’t be weaved onto your ends like Hawaiian silky. They can’t belong to you, Rachel, or you either, Iggy.
All of these women cover themselves in a carcass they call blackness made out of stereotypes, stolen hairstyles and narratives that they’ve nicked to make themselves feel cool, beautiful, feel like they are a part of something. At the same time their white privilege gives them entrance into public spheres often denied actual black women, taking their voice and supplanting it with a white fantasy version.
And Rachel was a teacher, someone paid to tell other people how to think about and construct black femininity. This is not how you love a culture–this is how you erase it. Far from helping the community as some–including the NAACP–have suggested, her actions show the worst kind of white privilege–the privilege to define blackness with a white voice.
(Be sure to read upcoming part 2 about the difference between transgender and transracial)
Susan X Jane 
It was meant to be “what race you attach yourself” not white race.
Reblogged this on vidasreais203.
HMM…WIERD
Indeed
The thing I find disturbing about this lady is she felt the need to lie to everyone.Why lie about being a race you are not? If she longed for a different culture then take part in that culture, lying about her race just got her publicly ridiculed. If she had said ‘I’m a white female who feels welcome and a sense of belonging in the african american culture’ it’s completely different. Just my viewpoint and I must say this is a very well written article.
I agree. Saying that couldhave mafe her a powerful ally, not to mention an honest person. Thanks for your kind words!
Your welcome, it is sad that this lady could have been a amazing force in bringing together all cultures with her honesty. Her lying has taken away her opportunity to do this.
hey there..
Just want to say how refreshing it is to read something with a real soul to it. I love the way you write. It’s very inspiring if you don’t mind me saying I would love to be able to write with the same feeling as you do. Thank you for this very informative piece and I cannot wait to read more of your work on here..
thanks for the great compliment!
No worries.. I wanted to ask you a question.. If you think some ppl are beyond changing then how do we go about changing attitudes? I understand that there will always be ppl in this world who have their own ideas on the race issue but for me we are all the same. Personally I think that the generations to come are who we need to work with but that work has to come from their family, in the home.
I have seen black families being bullied and picked on, their homes spray painted and their lives made a misery, and we as a community had to show those thugs that we stood with our neighbour. This family doesn’t deserve to be treated like this and we made it clear that it would not be tolerated. The family were a lovely and very friendly Christian family from Africa, Nigeria to be exact and we are all good friends now. Our children stand together and we hope that this family will feel part of our community for years to come. I believe we as parents, uncles, aunts, and older relatives must help educate our young ppl better. This idea that it’s somehow funny or hilarious to spray paint the N word on another human beings front door is disgusting. It makes me sick that racism exists in my country, Ireland. I’m ashamed to say it but it does and it’ a battle trying to change opinions everyday.
It’s up to this generation to start to change ppl’s opinions, and hopefully within time we can make a difference. I sincerely hope so anyways.
What happened to our brothers and sisters in Charleston was a tradegy. I have great regard for the ppl who marched after that because they showed no anger, only love for their fellow human beings. It was a massive statement to all those who said that the sickening events in tge church would start a summer of so called “Race Riots”.. The media and politicans were so quick to jump on this tradegy and spin it to their own ends. That’s very frustrating for me personally. The media plays a huge part in all this. It’s a shame we don’t have more ppl like your good self writing for the mainstream media. Then we may get some real feelings and truth out there and I believe ppl would change their opinions…
Keep writing my friend.. It’s beautiful
I forgot to thank U for following me.. Sorry fir all the comments, one after another..I’m new to this so plz be patient with me.. 😉 laters!
(…) a race (…….) that no loner a factor…
follow me!
Reblogged this on Marilyn Grando.
Reblogged this on Peace, Love and Happiness!.
Race is an epidenmic of disgust.. i personally cant undertand why people see color rather than culture.. i am a child of mixed culture and color.. therefore i have been a product of racism and prejudicial events… why is the world so color orientated
The comment ive gotten the most asks why we cant be human/-thinking this will be my next long peice–look for it this weekend!
This was really interesting to read (especially as I recently finished reading ‘Passing’ by Nella Larsen).
As a writer, I thought that this paragraph was especially good:
‘All of these women cover themselves in a carcass they call blackness made out of stereotypes, stolen hairstyles and narratives that they’ve nicked to make themselves feel cool, beautiful, feel like they are a part of something.’
Thank you do much–love the feedback!
“Blackness” is in style right now. Being white is not popular at this point in time. Is it any wonder why someone would change something about themselves to appeal to a wider audience and have more cultural relevance?
I don’t think lying about it was a good move, but I can totally understand why she would have wanted to BE black, rather than just being a white girl who feels most comfortable in black culture. The former would carry authenticity/weight while the latter might have earned her the label of “poser”. Poser isn’t the worst thing one could be called, but for someone whose livelihood hinges on cultural relevance and being accepted as someone who understands the struggle first hand… being a “white girl / black advocate” just wouldn’t be as respected as a “black girl / black advocate”.
All of us do this to one degree or another… trying to fit in or maintain relevance. Or we try not to fit in… because being different is super in style right now, too! Whether it’s sad or just the way things are… I can’t fault her reasoning… it makes sense to me… lies and all.
Finally, some honesty surfaces . . . . Even with this author’s analysis, what if Rachel really did subscribe to all that is beneath the iceberg? On one hand, we want to argue there’s nothing genetic about race and yet, we refuse admission to one race or the other because of genetics.
The issue i take with that kind of to-the-white-meat cultural appropriation is that only whites can make that choice consequence free, and can renig-pun intended-anytime they choose to revert. SO saying anyone can be anything is incorrect–only whites can choose to be what they want, making race-switching a part of white privilege than an actual thing.
Michael Jackson became white. (or at least I think that’s what happened) He changed his skin color at the least, but I am not sure if he was trying to pass as white.
As to smntks… Rachel Dolezal tried to be black. Now she’s facing consequences. I think the average response that a white person gets when they “act black” or even if they go to the degree of altering their skin color is … they will generally be considered to be or outright called a “poser”. No matter the degree to which the average person will react towards them.. it is certainly not consequence free, as you’re suggesting.
So maybe they get some push back–though the overwhelming amount of comments to this post suggest that anyone cam=n be what they choose. Rarely are they met with violence or ostracization. Artists are sometimes met with large bags of money for their appropriation. Rachel was running things until she was caught and was ousted not for passing, but for lying. That has not been the case with blacks trying to get over.
I would say that the comments suggesting that anyone can be anything… are saying so out of hope or speaking for the ideal. I guess I would be among them as well. There is something very happy about the idea that people could be whoever or whatever they choose to be. Limitations opening up to the skies.
You feel indignant over this issue, and for that feeling to be legitimate, it must be true. I can tell you right now, however, that my family, coworkers, and friends… would not quickly nor easily accept my change if I were to permanently change my skin color and attempt to pass for black. I would be ostracized… not because I had become black, either… but because I was trying to be something I never was.
Have you read The Human Stain by Philip Roth? Very interesting book about a black man who passes as white to get ahead and then is accused (by two college students at the University where he teaches) of being racially biased in how he awards grades. He finds himself in the position of having to take a fall because he cannot defend himself with the obvious.
Ooo, never heard of it, but I will look it up and possibly add it to my list of books to read!
Going back towards her teen years she switched races back and forth for convenience. She did good work from what I’ve heard about her, but unfortunately that does not matter in today’s society. She claims black to get into Howard, then she cries being white in her lawsuit against Howard and now goes back to being race. Also she did not have to grow up being black and her going back to cry about being black just cheapens the black people with real problems. I am white who has family of every racial group on the planet, but if I were to go back and claim to be American Indian (I am actually around 1/8th to 1/16th Creek Indian) it would not make me one who grew up with the stigma (depending where one grew up). Her problem is she continues to deny and continues to lack integrity of one who in a leadership position should have. If she said you know you were right, I grew up white and that’s what I am and sorry for misleading and now let’s work together to build the advancement of bringing all people together. If she said that she could run for political office and win, but she’s “too proud” to admit it. People should just own up to mistakes and move on, until that happens she will continue to be the national ridicule of a continual punchline.
Word. Well said!
Good read. But however I would like to state that if race is a social construct how can we be mad at Rachel or iggy? These two women happen to fall in love with black culture as many white people do around the world. Look how hip hop started out in the Bronx and is now world wide. In places where you may not know exist. See the problem is with the world we all are quick to say who is and who isn’t. We all know black, white, Latino and whatever else was made up to separate each other. I think people have the right to identify themselves with any culture they feel fit to. Culture doesn’t have a color. Culture is and embodiment of everything that is around you. Culture is away of life. Every white person or black person doesn’t live the same. I’m black and I don’t live the same way as the jay z and Beyoncé. But we both are black. And what makes us black is the shared love and respect for the same culture. Rachel accepted that she wanted to be a part of a dominantly black culture. She wasn’t trying to pass for anything. She simply was find herself and made good use of her findings. We live in a world today where we are quick to establish the difference between one another. It’s not always black and white. Black and white has never been able to explain what goes on in the inside. My question to you is this if we know that race is something made by humans why perpetuate it? Why not revert to just culture explaining who you are? Rachel chose to be Rachel. She chose to look apart of the culture she wanted to be apart of. It’s us black and white people making it a race issue. When in reality it’s issue about love and respect for a culture. Ultimately everyone wants love and respect for their cultural. Rachel Dozal was probably as “black” as they come because she knew her stuff. Was good at teaching the black thought and culture. Because the fact of the matter is the culture is all around us. And we have to stop coining new terms every time something happens “racial erasing”. You can’t erase a race. Black people are to deeply rooted to America for the American narrative to be told with out blacks. Another question what is it called when blacks are literally erasing others from the earth through violence? Have we coined a term for that? We need to get our culture together before we destroy ourselves.
I appreciate your very thoughtful comment but I did want to point out that Rachel Dolezal did, in fact, try to pass, and that’s why what she did was offensive. She lifted the “look” and the background wholesale from other’s experiences and passed them off as her own – to add insult to injury she presumed to lecture on what it means to be black and she frequently made derogatory jokes about white people. Not only is that dishonest on several levels, it diminishes the value of life experience within a culture and I would argue that life experience within a culture is vastly more important & meaningful than accumulating book knowledge. Having said that (and in a slight shift of topic), I find all this “diversity” off-putting. We are all the same race, our similarities are far greater than our differences and we will be far better people when we keep personal cultural pride in its proper place – which is behind the greater pride of just people together.
This is so so brilliant. I haven’t the time to read and absorb it all now but thank you.
#whitecurriculum #educationalrepair
Keep on writing.
I promise to; please keep reading!
Yeah sure hehe im your fan.
“Race is not in our DNA”
Yes it is: http://bit.ly/1GywDH1
mitochondrial DNA does track our biodiversity, but still there is only one human. Watch the full documentary Journey of Man where they track mDNA!
That second paragraph though, Wowed me for a moment before I continued reading. In my country its mostly tribal and religious sentiments which often shows itself in every facet of our society. I will love to come back to your post over and over again. I love every part of it.
Blog: duasedemais.wordpress.com
You generated some serious discussions on this blog. Interesting and respected perspective.
You are a brilliant writer. Thank you for giving me so much to think about. I look forward to part two!
Thanks! Find part 2 here
My Dear…Well written Article! Two points -the idea of Race has been a part of human culture since the scattering of Noah’s three sons: you will find it embedded within words like “Nations or Tribes or Seed”, these are the same ideaology as the later used term Race. Secondly, Slavery of the African Nation by Europeans was by choice, not neccessity of hands. They could have chose other means. When Hawaii was invaded, and hands were needed to work in the sugar fields and in the pineapple plantations, and the Hawaiians refused to become domestic workers…owners went to Japan China, and the Philippines and imported field workers with the promise of housing and a salary. To this day: The Japanese are the largest population of people on thd Island of Oahu, and the Filipinos/Asians are the second largest “Race” of people on the Island of Maui! To date, the Asian population fare better than the Hawaiians, who are mostly on public assistance. Other than these two tidbits, your Article is spot on…you are an intelligent Writer and abreasted on the truth hidden behind a false face. Thanks for the Read!
Thanks for your comment. The idea of white supremacy–that the white race–a combination of people from previous enemy nations–was better than Africans is a modern invention. The concept of race and the word origins are detailed here I agree the idea of tribalism and nations are as old as humans themselves. The bible refers to nations and tribes instead of white and black, no?
Sadly, theoretically early colonist could have cut workers in, but that’s how colonialism worked.
Yes, the English version of “tribe, nation” as it appears in the Bible is the beginning of usage as it refers to people groups based on a common ancestry, locale, or physical attributes; a classification which predates the distinctive physical attributes of the Caucasoid tribe of living organisms. “Black or White” today, during the time of Christ it was “Jew or Gentile” in terms of the “race” division. Thanks for the link…I can add that site to my bookmarks of online dictionaries! 🙂
Reblogged this on sun in the trees.
I find Rachel’s story quite surprising because why would a white woman live a lie as if she’s black??? She must be suffering image issues that causes her to lack self worth. I have nothing against her but I would like to know her thoughts as to what led her down this path? Her story leaves me curious.
I’m sure we have not heard the last from her. I think she felt like it gave her a sense of belonging and connection to a culture. Black is beautiful! 🙂
I agree with you!
Very well written article! Great dissection of the diff between race and culture and the history behind it. I have to disagree with a few points. 1: I have been through numerous life/death struggles and despite my “whiteness” I feel I can relate to anyone, black ppl, especially. Who’s to say she isn’t similar?
2: Iggy and other white rappers are different than Rachel because hip hop is a culture unto itself, though it was started in the ghetto.
Which begs the question, what gives someone cultural credibility….color of skin? Lineage (What if your grandparents were a mixed marriage)? Ability and social recognition (vanilla ice 👎 vs. eminem, who gets a pass), wealth (some black ppl are considered “white” if the are wealthy and educated.)
You made many great points but I think putting all the blame on this lady misses the point that if there is truly no such thing as race, she shod have the right to adopt whatever cultural attributes she wants.
Her downfall was purpatrating a
I am not shaming her, but she is responsible for the choices that she made, particularly the misrepresentation. Her issue runs deeper than just identifying with someone–she represented herself as something she’s not in order to gain a position and social status. Her lawsuit against Howard shows that she is aware of who she is, just a few years before moving to Spokane and telling her family to keep her secret. That seems sneaky, not just identifying with someone–which is perfectly fine. She even implied that her parents were not her parents in order to maintain her identity even where all the evidence pointed otherwise. I agree that Iggy is not lying about her race, but she is uses that stereotypical images associated with Hip Hop (in order to make money) without any understanding of the deeper elements of the culture of Hip Hop. Q Tip respectfully tried to help her understand more about the culture she wanted to be a part of but she would rather bite people’s rhymes than be a part of the culture in the way an Eminem did. There are definitely different points of view and I appreciate the comment!
Sorry, but race is in our DNA, it is not only a social construct. And at first: I’m not a racist, if I say so. I hate people, which have unreflected ressentiments against people only because their skin looks different or because their mentality is different. But the truth is really that the DNA includes also informations about the appearance of skin and hair etc. …
Yes there are genes connected to those traits, but there is not one that differentiates race alone. Many people may share hair color and be of different races.
Of course, our language, in particular, with the term “race” is not part of the DNA.
Reblogged this on PoweRx and commented:
Speak Truth to PoweRx
There’s quite a few frauds lately and amazing they aren’t questioned sooner.
Reblogged this on spoonfedignorance.
Excellent read!
The issue is not that she is interracial… It was her ethics. She was not honest about her life. She made up a false background about her life to move further ahead with her career.
I’m not sure why it’s ok for black people to pose as white but not for white people to pose as black – given it’s all social construct anyway.
Its not okay: black people caught “passing” usually suffer the loss of whatever status they tried to achieve and are sometimes met with violence.
But *should* that be the case?
jtteop,
You’ve asked the million dollar question I’ve posed to everyone on this topic. There’s no answer really. Again, excluding the lies, I argue that personal identity should not have czars keeping guard over it.
Thank you so much for this article. The fact that people were defending such a horrible act frustrated me dearly. You are not “appreciating” a culture, you are erasing it.
I just feel that there is more things in the world today that is going, which is more important than a women who was a different race made a difference. Isnt that what we want as American Citizens is to make a difference?
So if a doctor is not really a doctor, but he’s doing a good job, should he be allowed to continue without taking responsibility?
you can not compare apples to oranges. you are talking about someone who responsibility is to save a person life as much as possible with the knowledge of going to school over 8 years to understanding versus a woman who made a difference but she is being judged because she is not black…. BIG DIFFERENCE SWEETHEART.. you don’t have to have a license to be a advocate compared to a doctor two TOTALLY difference scenarios.
She was a professor, which does require schooling and credentials. The logical frame was that we choose not to invest trust in people who do not posses the credentials they say they do. This goes for many professions, and teaching is certainly one. She could have been an activist and not claimed to be black, so her ability to do work is not tied to her misrepresentation.
There are more important things, but there are also lots of less important things that we pay attention to. I would argue that defining what race means as the demographic of the country changes is worthwhile discussion.
Why break down a person who portrayed to be a race they weren’t …. When we have our own people refusing to wake up and see the light to help themselves as well as others ….like u said we as people pay attention to less important things.. Then the things that are more important which MAKING S DIFFERENCE …. everyone has their own opinion but we need to stop focusing on what small things people are doing and look at the big picture ….. nothing or no one in this world is pure and real…. We all have lied, cheated, or stole…. But who you are now and what you have became… Allowed ur past to not define you … We are one PERIOD!!! people get sex change, butt lifts, breast done and all to change who they so they can be happy… If wanting to be black makes her happy shouldn’t we let her be happy … Bruce Jenner got a sex change and is receiving a award for being COURAGEOUS ( he ain’t did shit) ….. this women changed her skin color and actually made a difference .. Look how she is being treated… Once again paying attention to less important things
Theforgottenonesblog.com
Reblogged this on ngochung991.
We all at times pretend that’s how we grow and find ourselves
Reblogged this on jasminedavisr.
“the privilege to define blackness with a white voice.” I loved the ending. It tells a lot about this issue and the article that you wrote.
Reblogged this on ITS A LONDON TING ROADSHOW HOSTED BY DJSTEVEO and commented:
Interesting
From my porch, WE are the defiant and eternal white race ; THEY are the thieves and parasites who live off public troughs
The emporer’s new clothes, (Marxism) and Jewish fables.
“They” want equality they neither earn nor deserve. Laws must be passed and brutally enforced to give these parasites more of our blood.
Distopia! Rule by deceit first, by force later!
Federal law bans giving black children I.Q. test.
I THINK YOU KNOW WHY!
Reblogged this on Unchain The Tree.
Great insight – I completely agree. The iceberg analogy and connection to Rachel was fantastic, well done. I have had many debates about this subject. Identifying with a certain group of people is one thing, but repeatedly lying about who you are, for your own personal gain, and then switching between identities when it is convenient, is deceitful and disrespectful. Race is just a social construct, but the reality is race is woven into every single aspect of our society, and the system we have created favors white skin. Lying about belonging to a less desirable group and understanding the struggle is a huge slap to the face.
http://itsbiggerthanracism.com/2015/06/17/what-exactly-is-black-enough/
Reblogged this on diploctor.
Leave iggy alone. Seriously. She knows she is Australian…..what cause she adopted a “black/Ebonics it shall I dare say ghetto ?” Way of rapping she is appropriating our culture ? I guess Big butts is only a black thing too….let her do what she does and make money…so much hate…..listen….Rachel is obviously crazy. Race is an issue. But black people need to stop scaring other people out of our circle. I don’t agree with what Rachel did. I think it brings up a much needed discussion. But I can’t be angry….cause I think it is clear she is NOT in her right mind. Why don’t people compare Michael Jackson ? I like Michael Jackson music but he clearly had a lot of self hate. Yet people still defend him…. Why didn’t he have any black kids ? Anyway…my two cents.
Iggy is charged with appropriation for not just speaking ebonics but also taking other rapers material and passing it off as her own. I can tell you that big butts is a new trend in fashion in terms of white culture–having a big butt is definitly a racialized trend….sure Rachel can head the NAACP and Iggy can take over hip hop–whites have the ability to co-opt blackness and make it their own. Michael was never white, no matter how much he did to himself he was always reminded of his blackness. Nobody said, hey, that’s great now Michael is the greatest white musician ever. People endlessly remarked on the bizarre white kids thing. I don’t see this as black people pushing whites out of our circle. White make and enforce the rules. Saying you don’t like the way rules are enforced is fair feedback if people intend to respect each other. The same system that enforces rules in style and music also enforces the boundaries of race in say–justice and politics. These systems of white supremacy are one, not disconnected. My point about appropriation is that cherry picking what you want and discarding or criminalizing the rest is a problem. Thanks for the convo!
So I was just looking for hairstyles on BGWLH blog and I just read that Rachel has to do weaves and braids to make ends meet, cause she is broke. I rolled my eyes. White women doing black hair is not bad but I would never let that crazy touch my hair. Why are people writing about this ? Just let her disappear. Everyone is so fame hungry. Iggy steals music ? That’s a new one….not heard that before. I don’t have the power to stop her. I already don’t buy her music or pay to go to concerts so it’s her followers that are to blame.
Ha ha! Quiet as its kept, her weave was doing most of the work. Imagine her with her weave out–people would have said “black? girl, bye!” Maybe it was all a cover to sell weave. After her 15 minutes of fame the C
harleston massacre happened and I thought we’d never hear about her again.
Wonderfully written! And your evidence… Well done
I kinda hate the ‘race is not in our DNA’ argument. We all know what we’re talking about when we’re talking about race.. I don’t like the idea that white people with the proper styling tools can appropriate the image of another peoples and claim to “share in their experience” for the sake of gaining social capital, or whatever other reason, because ‘race isn’t real anyway’. It’s crazy and insulting.
What she did was so insulting.. I couldn’t get over that she found it appropriate to try to explain herself and justify her actions instead of just sincerely apologising for the damage done by her insane misrepresentation, speaking for black people ‘as a black person’ when she had no right…