Defining Identity

 By now we have all heard of Jessica Krug https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/05/jessica-krug-george-washington-university-cancels-classes-white-black?ocid=uxbndlbing "... a professor who claimed to be Black when in fact she was a white Jewish woman from suburban Kansas City." 

Her story is reminiscent of that of Rachel Dolezal, now known as Nkechi Amare Diallo, which came out a few years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Dolezal.

Of course they are not the first people to assume an alternate identity. But they have committed the additional social mortal sin of cultural appropriation.

I have known women who married into a different ethnic group, and who basically have been absorbed into that group.  For instance, marrying a Hispanic husband, learning Spanish, and learning how to cook like Abuela. But they didn't make up a false story about who they were prior to that.

There have been a couple of instances of people locally who left their spouses and children, assumed another name, and basically vanished off the face of the earth. And the truth came out later, after their death. They may have escaped a troubled past, but also left a wake of abandonment, especially harmful to their children.

I think most of us have fantasized about being someone else, in an alternate universe. Or had times when we wished we had done things differently. But in the end, I never wanted to change any of the big pieces in my life. And the little pieces are usually connected to the big pieces.

Both Jessica Krug and Rachel Dolezal appear to have had some mental health issues, and family problems in the past. The sad part is that both had considerable talents and accomplishments which now seem to be sidelined.  They have burned bridges with both their past and the communities they were advocating for. They wouldn't have had to become minority members to advocate for social justice.