Rachel Dolezal's Hair
In August of 2006, while attending an extended-family function, I was seated next to a retired FBI investigator. In an attempt to make “small talk,” I asked him if he thought that John Mark Karr, a strange character being featured on all the news, had actually murdered JonBenet Ramsey? After he stopped laughing, he explained to me why he believed Karr had nothing to do with the crime.
He said that as a rule, when the media gives such extensive coverage to a case such as this, it means that something else that is far more important nationally escapes notice. This isn’t to suggest that violent crimes against children is unimportant; rather, he explained, the media is appealing to the public’s uncanny ability to be distracted by what “shocks” or “outrages” them.
While I recognize that everyone has the right to view -- and judge -- this for themselves, it has made me question the reasons certain news stories are given such a high profile in the media. In a sense, I view the coverage of Rachel Dolezal in this light. This is not to suggest that issues of “race” are not extremely important in our society. They are. And they always have been. Our society has difficulty in discussing them in an open manner. Hence, while the topic of police violence against black citizens is very important, and deserves our attention, we benefit from hearing what organizations such as the NAACP has to say.
Yet, that is distinct from the issue of the confusion, or even dishonesty, of how Ms. Dolezal -- who has a connection with the NAACP --identifies herself. Indeed, there is a long and curious history of people in America who purposely, for a variety of reasons, attempt to identify themselves as something other than what they are.
It is something that has taken place for different historical reasons. In his powerful autobiography, Malcolm X spoke of the attempts by segments of the black community to appear white. Interestingly, around the same time that his former friend Muhammad Ali’s first biography -- “Black Is Beautiful” -- was published, a growing segment of the white population began to claim an Indian ancestor; Cherokee, Mohawk, and Sioux were the most popular tribes to claim a distant association with.
In 1961, an important book, “Black Like Me” by John Howard Griffin, was published. It detailed the author’s experiences passing as a black man in America. Yet, unlike Dolezal, Griffin always understood who he really was.
While progress has been made in “race relations,” this country has yet to come to terms with many of the realities of racism in modern times. In some of her activities, Dolezal was no doubt sincere in her efforts to deal with racism. Yet, there are some curious aspects to her approach. These appear to be related to some underlying dynamics in her family of origin. And they include a semi-tragic sense of not liking herself as she actually is.
Some media analysts are asking if this is much the same as with the transgender population. I think that this confuses a biological issue with a cultural one. However, in Dolezal’s case, there could be a genetic predisposition towards depression, which could have played a role in her choice to identify herself with a group she considered superior to her own. This is, of course, merely speculation upon my part.
What isn’t speculation is that the nation had been focused on the issues involving police violence being directed towards black people, and that the Dolezal issue has distracted people from that. Rather than more reports about incidents such as the brute who assaulted the 15-year old girl from the swimming pool party, the media is currently saturated with the Dolezal case. I don’t think it’s a coincidence, and I know that it’s a shame.
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In the late 1990's, we were subjected to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, not to mention the intentional relaxation of antitrust regulation ever since Ronald Regan took office (AT&T being the exception, note: look at AT&T now), day to day citizens are subjected mistruths from supposed regulated corporations.
Malcolm X had it correct about our media, there is no doubt about it.
Now as of 2012, we have this:
On 12/29/12, President Obama signed HR 4310, the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act. Section 1078 (thomas.loc. gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.4310
of the bill authorizes the use of propaganda inside the US, which had previously been banned since 1948 when the Smith-Mundt Act was passed.
Read about it at this link: http://www.maxkeiser.com/2013/06/first-time-since-1948-propaganda-is-now-legal-in-the-u-s/
As far as Nixon goes, he really did nothing that any other president did, right or wrong. What he did do: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Endangered Species Act, endorsed the Equal Rights Amendment. Most of all, in 1972 put an end to conscription for the Vietnam War and changing to a volunteer army, thus, bringing to an end of all wars in South East Asia. In the end, he pissed off the masters of the establishment at the time. The nation was heading into the wrong direction according to the silent majority to coin a phase...
What did we get?
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This is correct.
Our corrupt press is like the accomplice of a pickpocket, but a pickpocket does less damage to society than the destructive institutions the press supports.
This is the distraction from further incidents like this, a cop fracturing a 12 year old girl's jaw and fracturing a few of her ribs:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026851803
Because 12 year old girls wearing swimsuits are dangerous!
If any middle or high school teacher behaved like a cop they'd be thrown in prison for at least a decade. Teachers are expected to deal with stuff a lot scarier than teenage pool parties without resorting to violence, and it ought to be the same for cops.
I absolutely agree with you. The media is not attempting to shed light on this situation -- for it is really about one family's pathology, and the classic roles that children in "dysfunctional" homes play. It's about how wounded people attempt to get their needs met, in this instance, in an unhealthy way. (Ms. Dolezal could be another student in "The Breakfast Club."
It is a purposeful distraction from police brutality; an attempt to discredit the NAACP; and an attempt to divide good people, and unite the ignorant and hateful.
I'm glad that you mentioned teachers; like the NAACP, public school teachers are one of the resources for "good" that our society still has. And the media is actively involved in the 1%'s attempts to damage public education. (I'm getting ready to head out to my third -- of four -- school board meetings this week. I recognize public schools as the foundation stone in building our constitutional democracy.)
Next one of the hacks will tell us the police weren't being racist because they thought the teenaged girls were 'white' 
