The NAACP Spokane chapter seeks quiet “closure” of the controversy over their outed Caucasian leader, rather than be faced with the embarrassing prospect of appearing to have fired her for the color of her skin -- or lack thereof.
White chapter head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Washington state, Rachel Dolezal, canceled today’s much awaited meeting and related press conference in which she was to finally (and fully) address the matter of her race selection.
Nevertheless, the debate about Dolezal’s racial identity “problems,” which were first brought to light by her disgruntled kin, continues to rage behind the doors of the NAACP.
Mutiny at its Spokane hub has already undermined Dolezal’s once unimpeachable leadership there, leaving little doubt that, despite her numerous contributions to the cause, she’s being pressured to step down by a suddenly self-conscious membership which now views her as their worst public relations gaff of all time.
"All the information hasn't come out completely," one particularly flustered black member told CNN today. But "we want to ask her, in a nice way and be respectful of the work she's done in the community, to take a leave of absence to take care of her personal issues so the work of social justice and equity can move forward."
The NAACP’s very public pursuit of an impeccable employee’s *voluntary* departure, however, isn’t “nice” or “respectful” though. Worse, this resolution could result in a far more difficult scandal for it to manage than just the mere awkwardness of a nonblack woman’s lofty position in the predominantly African American civil rights group.
Especially since agency heads have repeatedly acknowledged that, black, white, or none of the above, activist Rachel Dolezal has flawlessly administered her duties to the national organization.
And throughout this growingly absurd hullabaloo over what race she is or isn’t -- and if it’s something she’s entitled to choose, or should be prosecuted for -- a glaring hypocrisy is beginning to emerge which is now causing many a curious onlooker to ask: Would the NAACP actually fire someone because they aren't really black?
