This is bad for Spokane

Rachel Dolezal has given Spokane a bad name. We may be sure that Dolezal identifies herself to herself as black. But she is lying when she represents herself to others as black. A better description would be serial liar.

Her lies have been preposterous. She did not live in South Africa, as she said. She did not live in a teepee, as she said. She was probably not physically abused by her parents, as she claimed. Her father was not a black police officer either.

Dolezal may fairly tell others that she sees herself as black. But she has no right to represent herself to others as black. But this is exactly what she’s done. For shame.

Representing herself as black may have denied black students an opportunity they otherwise might have had. As a graduate student at Howard University, Dolezal had an art scholarship that otherwise might have gone to a black student. Spokane would be better off if she were to leave the area.

Lee Freese

Pullman