WASHINGTON: An activist who claimed she was black but was "outed" as white by her parents has resigned as president of a branch of her civil rights group.
Rachel Dolezal, 37, was president of the the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in the city of Spokane, Washington State, but found herself caught in a whirlwind of controversy after it was revealed that she had spent years pretending to be black.
Ms Dolezal's parents told a local media outlet they were "puzzled" and "sad" at their daughter's deception. The furore deepened over the weekend when Mrs Dolezal's adopted brother, who is black, accused her of "living in blackface". "It's kind of a slap in the face to African-Americans because she doesn't know what it's like to be black," said Ezra Dolezal.
"She's only been African-American when it benefited her. She hasn't been through all the struggles. She's only been 'African-American' the last few years."
Ms Dolezal was scheduled to address the controversy on Monday, but abruptly postponed a press conference.
She then announced her resignation on Facebook: "In the eye of this current storm, I can see that a separation of family and organizational outcomes is in the best interest of the NAACP," she wrote.
In announcing her resignation, Ms Dolezal said she maintained "complete allegiance to the cause of racial and social justice".
