Rachel Dolezal (@racheladolezal Instagram)
Rachel Dolezal announced the name of her new book on Instagram last week, leading many to share their thoughts online.
Atlanta Black Star reported in April that the self-described trans-racial woman decided to move past criticism that she is not Black. During that time, Dolezal – who is white – revealed plans to release a book about racial identity.
On Oct. 27, the ex-Spokane, Washington NAACP head told fans her book, In Full Color, is available for pre-order.
The title’s Amazon.com description notes the memoir will explore “the path that led her from being a child of white evangelical parents to a NAACP chapter president and respected educator and activist who identified as Black.”
Dolezal will talk about “the deep emotional bond she formed with her four adopted Black siblings” and how she felt like she fit in while living in Black neighborhoods in Mississippi and Washington, D.C. In addition, she’ll open up about “the discrimination she’s suffered while living as a Black woman.”
“Her story is nuanced and complex,” the description continued. “And in the process of telling it, she forces us to consider race in an entirely new light – not as a biological imperative, but as a function of the experiences we have, the culture we embrace, and, ultimately, the identity we choose.”
The page also notes that Storms Reback, a white man, wrote the book – due March 28, 2017 – with Dolezal.
While Dolezal’s social media post has less than 40 comments, many praised her accomplishment.
A user by the name of Creole Gypsy congratulated the 38-year-old on her “beautiful cover,” which shows Dolezal tanned and wearing curly hair.
@thesethingsfirst expressed appreciation for Dolezal’s work for non-white people and said, “your heart is in the right place.”
Still, there were a couple of detractors.
@fangirlamanda demanded Dolezal “stop pretending” to be Black.
Then, @darkchocolatediva wrote, “You’ll NEVER know our struggles and I don’t care how much dark spray tan you put on.”
And even more opposing thoughts emerged on Twitter.
Camille BethuneBrown expressed her feelings about “the race faker” using a GIF.
So let me get this straight Rachel Dolezal the race faker wrote a book on her experiences being "black"?? pic.twitter.com/76otsU6aaL
— Camille (@CuratingCamille) October 30, 2016
Writer and blogger Shay Stewart Bouley tweeted about how Dolezal – a white woman who describes herself as Black – scored a book deal while Bouley, a Black woman, continues to produce content online.
Rachel Dolezal wrote a book and I'm still writing a blog. I'm a Black woman and she's a white woman playing at being a Black woman.
— Shay Stewart Bouley (@blackgirlinmain) October 29, 2016
Dorothy N. Charles shared the reaction of Black women upon reading In Full Color’s description.
Black women when Rachel Dolezal writes about "the discrimination she’s suffered while living as a black woman" in her upcoming book pic.twitter.com/28KifWF7Vg
— cyborg witch, MD (@dn_charles) October 30, 2016
