Relationships
Introduction and Summary of the article
The issue chosen for today's hot topic discusses Rachel Dolezal a woman who was born to white parents but identifies as black, though both of her biological parents are black. A few years ago Rachel was outted by her parents, and then attacked by the media. Dolezal has regained the spotlight by releasing new memoir titled In Full Color: Finding My Place in a Black and White World. The fact that Rachel identifies as black affects her relationship with her parents, other white people, and black people. I found the story about Rachel's childhood and her failed marriage on USA today and People magazine. The title caught my eye, "Rachel Dolezal Says She Was ‘a Little Too Black’ for Her African-American…show more content… In the article on people.com, Dolezal talked about the reason why she identifies as black and her feelings growing up. She also talks about the inner struggle and her outside relationships. The dynamic of all of the relationships in her life changed, for the worst when people found out she identifies as black. Her relationship with her husband, her biological parent (who are white), and her relationship with her friends black and white. Significance of the topic for African American Communication
To tie this story of Rachel Dolezal to African American communication, Rachel struggles with negotiating her identity and not feeling like she belonged. "although it did make her feel more “distant and isolated” from white people as she started to embrace more elements of African-American culture"(Dolezal). When people found out that she identified as black she was attacked by the media and was not truly accepted by anyone. “People wanted me to explain myself to them. They said they felt shocked and betrayed. They were confused. They were angry. A few of my friends reached out to
