Los Angeles: A US civil rights activist resigned today from the leadership of a leading African American advocacy group, amid a "firestorm" over allegations that she was a white person who masqueraded for years as black.
The Washington state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), posted Rachel Donezal's resignation letter on its Facebook page.
In itm, she writes that her commitment to the "racial and social justice movement" is undiminished but that "the dialogue has unexpectedly shifted internationally to my personal identity in the context of defining race and ethnicity."
Dolezal, 37, built a career as an activist in the black community of Spokane, Washington.
She rose to become the president of the city's branch of the NAACP and served as an independent mediator for the city's police force.
Neither position required that she be black, but media reports said Dolezal identified herself in application forms as black.
She apparently resigned under pressure from the civil rights group.
"I have always deferred to the state and national NAACP leadership and offer my sincere gratitude for their unwavering support of my leadership through this unexpected firestorm," Dolezal wrote.
Her parents, who are both white, said their daughter is as well, providing local media with a birth certificate and photographs of a Dolezal -- who now appears tawny skinned and dark haired -- as a blonde, fair-skinned child.
The Washington state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), posted Rachel Donezal's resignation letter on its Facebook page.
In itm, she writes that her commitment to the "racial and social justice movement" is undiminished but that "the dialogue has unexpectedly shifted internationally to my personal identity in the context of defining race and ethnicity."
She rose to become the president of the city's branch of the NAACP and served as an independent mediator for the city's police force.
Advertisement
She apparently resigned under pressure from the civil rights group.
Advertisement
Her parents, who are both white, said their daughter is as well, providing local media with a birth certificate and photographs of a Dolezal -- who now appears tawny skinned and dark haired -- as a blonde, fair-skinned child.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Polish Billionaire Plans to Sue Meta Over Fake Advertisements on Facebook, Instagram Facebook Apologises For Mistakenly Censoring Iconic Photo Of Bleeding Donald Trump Meta Removes 63,000 Accounts Involved In "Sextortion" Scams From Nigeria Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death Two Sisters Returning From Court Run Over By Car In UP: Cops India Sends 1,400 kg Anti-Cancer Drugs To Syria In Humanitarian Assistance Police Arrest Suspect In Bihar Dalit Girl Kidnapping, Murder Case Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.