Spokane NAACP Chapter President 'Grew Up White,' Says Her Brother
— -- An adopted brother of the NAACP chapter president in Spokane, Washington, who has been questioned about her race claimed she asked him "to not let anyone find out where she was actually from."
Ezra Dolezal said his sister Rachel had "the best intentions" while she publicly identified herself as African American for years. Questions surrounding her race began surfacing when she applied for a spot on Spokane's Police Ombudsman Commission -- of which she is now chairwoman -- and identified herself as white, black and American Indian, ABC affiliate KXLY-TV in Spokane reported.
"She took me aside and told me to not let anyone find out where she was actually from," said Ezra Dolezal. "And for me not to blow her cover."
Ezra added that his sister "grew up white and she was really privileged growing up.”
“She had the best intentions and she did some good,” he said. "But she didn't go about it the right way."
Her parents, Ruthanne and Lawrence Dolezal, previously told ABC News that Rachel is their biological daughter and they are both white. Their daughter refused to comment on their race in an earlier interview with KXLY-TV.
A photo of Dolezal at a Martin Luther King, Jr. rally in January shows her sporting long dreadlocks extensions. It appears different from the blonde girl born in Montana and seen in pictures released by her parents.
Her brother Zachariah said Rachel's physical transformation started a few years ago.
"It started out with the hair,” he said. “Then she'd have probably a little darker tan and it was very progressive."
In a statement emailed Friday night, Rachel Dolezal said she will make a statement Monday evening at the monthly membership meeting.
"There are many layers to this situation," she wrote. "The Executive Committee would like to open up to paid members the opportunity to have questions submitted by email. The Executive Committee would vet and then choose which questions to address after my personal statement. My sons and I would appreciate your thoughts, prayers and support during the interlude."
James Wilburn, Dolezal’s predecessor as chapter president, said he had no idea she might be white.
“It just didn't matter with me really,” he told ABC. “I went by what she said. She said she was African American.”
A phone call to Dolezal was not returned.
