Rachel Dolezal's appearance is 'blackface,' brother says

CNN ^ | 6/14/15 | Ray Sanchez and Ben Brumfield

[markomalley]

(snip)

It wasn't until around 2007, her parents said, that Dolezal began identifying herself more with the African-American community, according to her mother.

Her parents say Rachel Dolezal "has chosen to distance herself from the family."

According to court documents obtained by CNN, Rachel Dolezal's adopted brother, Izaiah -- who is black -- sought emancipation from Ruthanne and Lawrence Dolezal in 2010. The adopted brother, now 21, said the Dolezals used "physical forms of punishment" and had sent his brother and sister away to group homes because they didn't cooperate with the couple's religion and rules.

'Slap in the face'

The adopted brother wanted to live with Rachel Dolezal "in a multiracial household where black culture is celebrated and I have a connection to the black community," the court papers said. The papers did not specify Rachel Dolezal's race.

Ezra Dolezal said the accusations of physical punishment were false. They divided the family. He said he never confronted his adopted sister when she asked him not to blow her cover because he didn't want to make the situation worse.

His adopted sister was always interested in African-American culture but it wasn't until about 2011 that he started to notice physical changes.

"There was the gradual darkening of the skin and the hair," he said. "She started molding herself into who she is today."

He said Dolezal's transformation was tantamount to living in "blackface."

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