Let’s Leave Dolezal Alone: How Relying on Rachel Corrupts the Theoretical Debate on Transracialism

Rachel Dolezal, known for self-identifying as a Black woman despite her genetically white heritage, was one of the first to introduce “transracialism” to American society in 2015. The theoretical debate centers around whether society should accept those who identify with a different race than they were assigned at birth. Scholars from all backgrounds have attempted to evaluate such individuals, their motivations, and the consequences for racial communities.

Unfortunately for theorists, Dolezal is far from the perfect model to evaluate. For starters, her adult life has been littered with allegations of unsubstantiated racial hate crimes; while she was running the Spokane chapter of the NAACP, Dolezal filed multiple complaints to the police about nooses left at her home, an envelope containing racist messages mailed to her, and a swastika taped to the door of her workplace. In each case, police expressed doubts of legitimacy, ultimately finding no suspects and making no arrests.

In Dolezal’s memoir, In Full Color, she writes about a childhood shaped by her four Black adoptive siblings, and the abusive Christian fundamentalist parents who raised them. She describes a “baboon whip” used on the children—how her parents would “punish us by skin complexion” in their beatings. Essentially, Dolezal recounts living like a slave. Her parents and brother have denied that these events occurred.

Regardless of whether or not she’s honest, it’s clear that Rachel Dolezal suffers from a host of mental disturbances. Saying she has diagnosed PTSD herself, she is also speculated to have histrionic personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder, among others.

When Dolezal came into the limelight in 2015, little was known about her personal life. She was immediately met with scholarly attention, treated as the representative for 21st century transracialism. This is why Dolezal’s background, which has only been revealed in subsequent years, is important.

The debate around transracialism has dealt with a pathological model. If certain transracial people can be defended on theoretical grounds, Rachel Dolezal is not one of them. Her identity as a Black woman is a result of disordered psychology. With either side of the debate urging to cancel or accept her, there is little room for a third option: to sympathize with her.

A 2019 study focusing on transgender psychiatric patients found that recognizing gender dysphoria and affirming gender identity helps combat severe mental illness. Having a secure identity is integral to mental health. Dolezal is no exception.

We can affirm Dolezal’s identity without accepting transracialism entirely. It just requires that we view her with a more nuanced perspective—not just as an imposter, a shyster, a martyr, or a trailblazer. From a psychiatric viewpoint, she is a sufferer. She deserves treatment.

Dolezal will not be the last case of transracialism for scholars to pore over. In fact, numerous transracial individuals have received press since 2015, but few have been the subject of nearly as much attention. Why? These individuals are less exciting. They don’t present mysterious pasts rife with contradictions and convolutions for our collective entertainment. They aren’t Rachel.

To truly evaluate transracialism, we need to rip our attention away from Nkechi Amare Diallo (Dolezal’s new legal moniker).

Science propelled acceptance of transgender identities. Is it the only way that we can come to accept transracial ones?

When does the wish for individual freedom to tell one’s own story override the importance of shared communal narratives?

To openly wish to transition to a different race, without concealing or fabricating a past… Could this be a type of dysphoria?

We cannot accept transracialism as an identity if our only examples are of mental pathology. For a productive debate, we need a new model. The public cannot act as Dolezal’s collective jury if she pleads insanity. Let’s leave her to be treated, and start our trials elsewhere.