Rachel Dolezal first made headlines in 2015 when it was discovered she had been masquerading as a Black woman while serving as president of the NAACP’s chapter in Spokane, Washington. Shortly after that, she came out as bisexual and compared herself to Caitlyn Jenner, who is trans.
Since then, Dolezal has changed her name to Nkechi Amare Diallo (but she still sometimes goes by Rachel), published a book, been charged with second-degree perjury and felony theft by welfare fraud, and more or less fallen into obscurity.
Until earlier this week when she reemerged to appear on Tamrom Hall’s show to discuss what her life has been like these past six years.
Turns out, it hasn’t been great. Or even good. In fact, things have been kind of bad for the 43-year-old mother of two.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Dolezal told Hall that she’s experienced unending financial troubles after more than half a decade of being unable to land a job based on what she calls being “misunderstood.”
“I started with applying for all of the things I was qualified for, and after interviews and getting turned down, I even applied to jobs that didn’t even require degrees,” she said.
This included jobs like “being a maid at a hotel, working at a casino. I wasn’t able to get any of those jobs either.”
Dolezal went on to say that she wishes people would see her for “who” she is rather “what” she is: “A mother, an activist, and an artist… that’s really who I am.”
“When it comes to race and identity, I’ve always identified racially as ‘human’ but have found more of a home in Black culture and the Black community, and that hasn’t changed.”
To make ends meet, Dolezal has had to take odd jobs here and there, but it’s been “tough for sure.”
“Not having a job for six years, having to create my own job and find my own ways to provide for my children through braiding hair, through grant writing to bring funds into marginalized communities and Black-owned businesses and non-profits, through painting, through doing pep talks on Cameo.com.”
“It’s definitely been a long six years,” she continued. Then she added, without any hint of irony, “I really strongly believe that as a person, you have to just continue to be who you are. And you can’t change who you are.”
Watch.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Donston
With that messy ass title, I knew we were likely dealing with Graham.
griffin87
With that snide remark, I knew we were dealing with Donst…. see you next Tuesday.
Donston
U were born the same year as me? Cute.
The headline was unnecessarily hyperbolic and incendiary. But that’s par for the course from this site, especially when it comes to Graham.
UlfRaynor
For once we actually agree about something Donston, this is some text book classic Foucaultian post modern deconstructionism taken to it’s penultimate delusion.
Transracial, really?
Graham should have saved his money on he’s intermediate queer interpretive studies course because we already have an effective terminology for what Rachel is, a liar.
Sometimes Graham, cultural appropriation is just that.
Cam
Did she really try to get a job as a motel maid? Because I cant imagine that if a place needed one they’re going to turn down an applicant. And many many many people are not going to recognize her if she shows up.
Weird story.
BaltoSteve
Considering her history of lies, I am not sure I believe a single word that comes out of her mouth.
Cam
@BaltoSteve
I agree, motels that need a cleaning crew aren’t going to say no. It sounds like she’s either making it up, or she blew the interview by showing up and acting crazy.
Openminded
I don’t think she would have to “act” to be considered crazy. Just as she asked for, she was probably seen for who she was.
sfhairy
She made her bed, now she can lay in it.
corktownboy
…without the maid job, that’s the only bed she will be making….
marshal phillips
She can’t help who she is: liar.
Essie
Unless you are a convicted serial killer, no motel in this country is going to turn you down for a cleaning job. This woman is, as usual, a liar.
missvamp
She’s psycho- that’s why she can’t keep or get a job. She probably got the job as a maid & then bitched about the uniform, the pay or what the tasks were. This bitch is beyond fake.
Den
I’m confused. Does Mr. Gremore actually believe that such a thing as being “transracial” exists? Not putting it in quotes or italics in his title implies he does.
Bizarre, and not too bright.
Openminded
Obvious clickbait. Gotta wonder what the pronouns for a transracial person would be.
Kevan1
Why is this even a story on Queerty?
Kangol2
She’s bisexual, i.e., a queer woman, that’s why.
Kevan1
She will use any ruse to get attention. oh well. Thanks@ Kangol2 missed that.
Kangol2
The deepest irony of all is that for years she appropriated a Black identity and got quite far, yet now that she’s been unmasked as a White woman passing as Black, she’s being treated like real Black people and denied jobs and opportunities. The fact that she’s a confirmed liar doesn’t help. Her story should be a topic for a US history, sociology or even philosophy class. Yet another irony is that if she changed her name to Gretchen Mueller, bleached her hair, highlighted her blue (or green?) eyes, and got minor plastic surgery, she could probably get hired faster than you can say John Waters.
Kevan1
@Kangol2 LOL! You are probably right.
mastik8
She’s an enormous risk no matter the job. Something goes wrong on her watch and her entire history will be brought up then that will be used against whoever hired her.
HankHarris
‘White woman wearing racial cosplay’ – there, I fixed it for you.
curiobi
I don’t appreciate this. There is no such thing as quote transracial unquote, and by not putting it in speech marks you are essentially validating her insulting masquerade, her cultural appropriation and taking up spaces that belong to black people with her nonsensical and continual whitesplaining. Enough is enough.
-And since when exactly is she Bisexual? There has not been a SINGLE report I am aware of with her so much as going on a date with a woman yet alone being in a relationship with one. -Now I am not saying that that is the only way she can be bisexual or prove that she is one, I am saying that with her hstory of lying and appropriating groups she is not a part of, it is entirely possible she’s saying she’s bisexual when she’s not!
Terrycloth
She put herself in the spotlight. She’s 100% white. Nobody takes her seriously. Even her parents which she would come back to earth. She is craving attention.she got it .her 15 minutes is up. And people didn’t forget the white girl who wants to be ( she isn’t ) black..was/ is it worth it ?
Tombear
There are nut cases on both sides of the political spectrum. She may be a Democrat but their are MORE nut cases who are Republicans.