General Discussion

I don't speak Danish and I've never actually been to Denmark. Yet, to all who would inquire, I am Danish! It's just the major part of my ancestry that I can relate to, but don't ask me what they eat or how they dress... Truth be told, I'm Heinz 57 American: Danish, English, Irish, Scottish and a magical drop of Cherokee.

Race and culture are things I've never had a strong grasp of. I grew up in a Mormon society but I'm not a Mormon. I went to all white schools where cultural background was just not that obvious or important. I remember one student who always showed up on St. Patrick's Day with her Irish pride and a green shamrock pinned to her lapel... What a maroon!

"...as much a tourist as the next person." That's me!

Black people... Native American people... Brown people of every hue, have cultural history that white people envy. I'm one of those white people that have no cultural background to speak of or to celebrate... If you were to ask me what it's like to be Danish, our conversation would come to a screeching halt.

Rachel Dolezal grew up around African American culture and she learned to love and appreciate it, and to adopt it as her own. More power to her for celebrating the cultural diversity that she grew up around, and her decision to support and become closer to her African American siblings.

Her entire resume supports her commitment to black culture and the background that she grew up around, as a result of choices that her parents made. Embracing black culture, especially when your adopted siblings are African American, would seem the obvious and admirable thing to do.

Attacking Rachel Dolezal for embracing black culture, as a member of a mixed race family, seems cruel to say the least. I hope she's able to rise above this onslaught of internet cruelty and continue to advocate on behalf of people of color everywhere.

This attack on her has been heartless and beyond belief. Who, in their right mind, would possibly support the online bullying that Rachel Dolezal is now being subjected to? I can't imagine it.

My hope is that the black community, in her city and at large, will reassess the situation and come to her defense like she has done for them for so long.

TYY