(ThyBlackMan.com) MsFourFiveSeconds from Wildn A.K.A Rihanna is singing more than hit songs these days. It seems my girl Rihanna is singing hero praises for the sociopath Rachel Dolezal, the N.A.A.C.P chapter president who impersonated the identity of black women claiming that she is “spiritually and metaphysically connected to black culture”.
Rihanna, who will appear on the November cover of Vanity Fair, spoke of Rachel Dolezal saying “I think she was a bit of a hero, because she kind of flipped on society a bit”.
Really, Rihanna?
I consider myself a true to heart fan of Rihanna from the “Good Girl Gone Bad” days when Rihanna released “Umbrella” and the catchy, dancefloor sensation “Break it off”. Music aside, Rihanna gained my loyalty when I learned about her BELIEVE Foundation, a charity she created in 2006 created to “inspire and protect children in need all over the world”.
In 2012, Rihanna appeared on “Oprah’s Next Chapter” and one of 
the themes of the interview was self-acceptance. Rihanna spoke on not always being comfortable in her own skin in addition to how she had to “fake” the level of self-esteem necessary until the experience of life taught her to fully love, embrace and accept who she was within as well as what was seen by others.
The Journey of Self-Love and Self-Acceptance is real for black girls as we are constantly bombarded with images of “successful” and “beautiful” women who do not look, think, dress or experience life as we do.
For myself, Rachel Dolezal is irrelevant and does not deserve the recognition that Rihanna gave her however, since Rihanna has reopened the door, perhaps setting Dolezal up for a December cover of Vanity Fair, one has to consider the negative effects of associating Dolezal’s behavior with that of a “hero”.
To look into the mirror and lie to one’s self about who you are or what you see reflects a lack of self-love. When Rihanna spoke to Oprah in regards to embracing who she was that concept included loving the skin she was in. To honor yourself is to honor your lineage.
Black girls and women have many hurdles to overcome dealing with race and gender. Often times we deal with oppression from white men, white women, black men and depending upon their job “title”, other black women.
This oppression isn’t imaginary, it is not something you can decide to become a part of merely because you feel connected to black culture. I’ve been told numerous times that we, black women, should be happy that someone wants to be ‘us’. Happy, I ask? That a fraud was able to infiltrate the black community because we have no rites or standards or perhaps happy that a sociopath is being applauded for “pretending” to have a life experience differently than the one given to her.
White privilege goes beyond excelling in the highest corporate positions, having access to the best education or being favored within the justice system here in America. White privilege is what allowed a white women to impersonate the identity of a black woman, reap the financial awards set aside for exceptional black students and be applauded by the people who should be most offended by her actions.
You are not allowed to impersonate a policeman which is merely a job title, how then do we applaud one for impersonating the identity of black woman?
Staff Writer; Dina Tuff
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