One of the top stories over the past few weeks has been the bizarre one of Rachel Dolezal. The startling claim—that the self-proclaimed black president of the Spokane chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was actually white—made headlines in mid-June when Dolezal’s parents came forward to CNN and provided proof of her ethnicity (mostly European with a trace of Native American). The fallout from this revelation has been extensive and controversial, sparking debate on a variety of topics.

Dolezal was born and raised in Montana. When she was in high school, her family adopted four black children (an event that, some speculate, started her fascination with African-American culture). She became involved in issues regarding racial injustice during her undergraduate years and attended Howard University, a historically black school, to get her Master’s degree in African-American art. After college, Dolezal became more deeply immersed in civil rights activism, eventually ascending to her position as president of the Spokane chapter of the NAACP. In her application for this position, she was reported to have identified herself as belonging to multiple ethnicities, including black. In a social media post, Dolezal uploaded a picture of herself next to a black man and identified the man as her father. Though the NAACP claims to place no importance on ethnicity of an applicant, there is speculation that Dolezal lied about her ethnicity in order to get the job, and, on a broader scope, gain credibility as an activist.

Many people were outraged to hear that Dolezal claimed to be black despite having no black ancestry. Their anger centered around the belief that she adopted the identity as a way to get ahead in her career, but she never had to deal with the racism, discrimination, and aggression faced by black people on a regular basis. As her adoptive brother, Ezra, said: “She’s only been African-American when it benefited her…I know what it’s like growing up as an African-American in this world. She does not.” Defenders of Dolezal argue that there is nothing wrong with her appropriation of black culture; after all, they say, black celebrities like Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé have dyed their hair blonde in order to look more white, and this is no different.

There is a definite discrepancy, though, between Dolezal’s actions and those of the black women she is compared to. Even if some black women lighten their skin or dye their hair blonde, they do not identify as white for the purpose of obtaining a particular status or position. They embrace their ethnicity, despite the discrimination they may face as a result. Rachel Dolezal changed her appearance, used it to identify as something she was not, and advanced in her career as a result. In some of her writing, she refers to the black demographic in the first person: as “we,” not “they.” As a white woman, she has no right to do this. It is one thing to admire a culture and its traditions, but to pose as a member is something else entirely.

What Dolezal did was wrong; this is difficult to deny. She said she was black when she knew this to be false. She did not simply adopt a hairstyle or imitate a manner of dress; she went so far as to mark herself as “black” on job applications and other official documents. On the other hand, she has done incredible work for the NAACP, breathing new life into the Spokane chapter and raising awareness for social issues. Although the recent revelations have cast doubt onto the nature of her character, her contributions to the African-American community as a proponent of its causes cannot be forgotten. It is said that the best way to change a system is from within, and perhaps Dolezal felt that honesty regarding her ethnicity would not allow her to reach her full potential as a spokeswoman and activist. Whatever the case may be, this issue has sparked a nationwide conversation about ethnicity that will no doubt lead to improved understanding and open discussion in the future.