Passing for trans-racial?

This is an extremely short article written by a person who defines himself (I think it's a “him”, but it's never spelled out) as trans-racial. In this context, trans-racial does not refer to transracial adoptions, but to Whites claiming to be colored, usually for political reasons. The most commonly mentioned example of a trans-racial is Rachel Dolezal, a White woman who “passed for Black” and even headed a NAACP chapter in Oregon. (However, I'm not sure whether Dolezal defines herself as trans-racial or simply claims to be Black, period.)

Trans-racialism is, of course, extremely controversial, since members of “minority” races or ethnicities usually refuse to accept the concept. However, it will probably become more widespread in the near future. Thus, the British National Union of Students apparently has a “Black division” headed by an Arab and open even to Whites if they declare themselves “politically Black” (whatever that means exactly).

The writer of this short article, S J Jones, is a White who claims to have experienced systematic harrasment after declaring himself to be Hispanic. Interestingly, he was attacked by both Whites and actual Hispanics. Jones sharply criticizes Barack Obama for claiming to be Black, feeling that he should declare himself to be White instead. The gist of the author's argument is a kind of purely subjective individualism, where everyone should be allowed to choose what race or ethnicity they belong to regardless of skin color, birth, language skills, etc. Jones points out that liberals accept transgenderism, so why not trans-racialism as well?

Personally, I consider trans-racialism to be a new form of White skin privilege: at the very moment when Blacks finally get equal opportunity (or something like it), Whites invade their spaces claiming to be Black! It's also an extreme form of individualism. In reality, of course, we *can't* always choose who or what we are. This sounds trivial, but there is entire layer of liberal activists who just don't get it. I wonder if S J Jones supports Otherkin, who claim to be animals? What about personality type? Genes? Physical or mental handicaps? Where does the author draw the line? He is intensely jealous of the borderline cases who, for some reason or another, *can* choose their identity. (I could, at least hypothetically, choose between three or four ethnic identities and two racial ones, so I suppose I'm the envy of every Left Coast liberal. However, I think most people would de facto consider me “politically Swedish”. I admit I'm perfectly fine with that!)

And yes, sometimes an oppressive society “chooses” for us. Barack Obama (who is of mixed "race") can't pass for White by contemporary societal standards and therefore has no other choice than to fight back as Black. He seems to be quite good at it! Many other Blacks are still at the bottom. By contrast, Dolezal and Jones can always revert back to being White (and hence privileged) if they ever get tired of being “minority”...

I don't know whether S J Jones is Hispanic or not. At one point, he suggests that his father is Hispanic, so I suppose that would make him half-Hispanic. So am I. There's nothing inherently wrong about that, either, brother!