The head of the N.A.A.C.P. chapter in Spokane, subjected to national scrutiny and ridicule after it appeared she lied about her own racial background, announced Monday that she was quitting that post.
“It is with complete allegiance to the cause of racial and social justice and the N.A.A.C.P. that I step aside from the presidency and pass the baton to my vice president, Naima Quarles-Burnley,” Rachel A. Dolezal said in a statement that was posted to the chapter’s Facebook page.
It was not clear whether she would also give up her part-time teaching position in African-American studies at Eastern Washington University, or her membership on the Spokane police ombudsman’s commission.
Rachel was elected president of the N.A.A.C.P. chapter last year, and had been credited with lifting its finances, visibility and membership.
N.A.A.C.P. officials and other community leaders said she had represented herself as being of partly black ancestry, and she checked boxes for white, black and Native American on her application to the city for the ombudsman commission, where she was appointed by the mayor.
My two-cents: I just don’t think turning away a worker in our community is the right answer. This decision makes my heart heavy. I get she stretched the truth but beyond saying “I’m black” what is the real crime… & she’s giving far more back that most “real” black citizens. This is a mess.
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