Rachel Dolezal Says She Is “Doing Braids And Weaves To Make Ends Meet"

Since the story broke about the white woman who identifies as black working as a leader in one of the most prestigious black organizations the N.A.A.C.P, most of have found it hard to wrap our heads around Rachel Dolezal.

Despite how we might feel, her life is still pretty much the same, she is a “black” woman born white and nothing is going to change that.

In an interview with Vanity Fair Rachel admitted that since she is no longer working with the N.A.A.C.P she has had to rely on her skill of braiding and doing weaves* for clients weekly to make ends meet:

As she figures out where she’ll land next, Dolezal says she is surviving on one of the skills she perfected as she attempted to build a black identity.

At Eastern Washington University, she lectured on the politics and history of black hair, and she says she developed a passion for taking care of and styling black hair while in college in Mississippi.

That passion is now what brings in income in the home she shares with Franklin. She says she has appointments for braids and weaves* about three times a week. She says that a previous custody agreement with her ex-husband mandates she stays in the Spokane area, but that now her ex may approve a move given recent circumstances.

“I would like to write a book just so that I can send [it to] everybody there as opposed to having to continue explaining,” she says. “After that comes out, then I’ll feel a little bit more free to reveal my life in the racial social-justice movement. I’m looking for the quickest way back to that, but I don’t feel like I am probably going to be able to re-enter that work with the type of leadership required to make change if I don’t have something like a published explanation.”

This braiding and weave* thing might just work out for her and if she can get the book written things will look up as well.

But do not cry for her yet Argentina, my opinion is that Rachel is a very smart and accomplished woman and she will work this angle to her benefit. There are many black women who did not ‘choose’ to be black who might not be deemed as so interesting.

When was the last time Vanity Fair came knocking at your door because you are a black woman who identifies as white?

I think Rachel can identify with whatever she sees fit, but at the end of the day, how other people view her is what will eventually shape her life.

She will forever be the white woman who identifies with black culture while benefiting from the privilege of being white. Too much? Well her braids are cute too!