Some people just live to cause as much trouble as they can, and this 'black' American is almost certainly one of them.

The answer in the case of the person pretending to be black when she clearly is not, is that she is ill.

In his final words, the writer has his the answer to his question: "...self-identity is taken very seriously by some people, and non-acceptance can result in an emotionally charged reaction.

People who cannot come to terms with who and what they are become sick and unhappy.

Agreed, look at all the pseudo 'lesbians' and 'feminists' in modern society . . . they are usually just looking for something vaguely radical to identify with.

Hi there CODY & TTBN...

I couldn't agree with you both more ! There's something quite psychologically awry, when an individual goes to such inordinate lengths, merely to find a cause in which to rally for or against ? There are many more laudatory charities or ideals, where a loud voice of support, would do so much positive good ? Still these 'ideals' rarely make the headlines, or even a media mention.

THERE"S A DNA test that not only identifies your ethnic origins, but the locality with which they are most strongly identified with?
Rhrosty.

Why do some people adopt an ethnicity that does not appear to be their own?

Stupidity might play a big part.

Yes, stupidity and psychological problems associated with incredible inadequacy.

Did you know that if you identify yourself as Aboriginal you can be considered to be Aboriginal. & you can get a 2% loan for any amount & never have to pay it back.

Rhrosty,
Yes, there are such tests and the boffins have done studies where they had people fill out a questionnaire about their ancestry before taking their DNA test and it's proven to a highly accurate. So if a person has reliable information that their family is from, say Bekaa or Somerset or Kalimantan that can be proven or disporoven up by comparing their DNA to others from that locale.

Cody, O'Sung, ttbn,
Yes but Rachel Dolezal flip flopped around with her identity, when she married her husband she identified herself as White, when she sued her alma mater it was over perceived racial discrimination on the grounds that the university promoted the work of African American artists ahead of her own. her art is terrible by the way: http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/og4xsdbe5shasfqpr1eq.jpg
Trans-racialism is becoming something of a craze now, here's a Jewish girl pretending to be White to get attention:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ2b7woDYnw

The point is that "self identity" in this context is a form of neurosis in itself and when confronted with people who preface their statements with "I identify as (xyz)" sane people need to back away slowly without making eye contact. Neurotic self identification is what's caused Tumblr, the Men's Rights Movement, Atheism Plus and Gamergate, those online collectives are headed up by people with Asbegers and ASPD, some of them are outright sociopaths like Brad Spangler, Bernard Chapin and Davis Aurini.

Being Jewish is identifying with a Religion. It's got nothing to do with Race. Moslem is not a race either, neither is being a Hindu, Buddhist, Catholic or a Southern Baptist.

Jayb, nooooo, that's where you're wrong, Jewishness is all of the above rolled into one, culture, language, genetics, religion, it's a bona fide identity as opposed to a purely political one like "European", "White" or "Mohammedan" . Jessie Kahnweiler doesn't even look remotely White but she impersonates, as she puts it "a White bitch" for professional purposes just as Rachel Dolezal presented as "Black" to advance her career.
DNA ties Ashkenazi Jews to group of just 330 people from Middle Ages.
http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-ashkenazi-jews-dna-diseases-20140909-story.html

JOM: Jayb, nooooo,

Basically there are four recognised Races, Caucasian, Negroid, Mongoloid & Malay. By the way, if you are interested, Australian Aboriginals are a Sub-set of Caucasian. Nothing to do with Religion.

Why do some people adopt an ethnicity that does not appear to be their own?

1. Power

2. Money

3. To get street cred and bragging rights as a moral bullsh1tter.

- Similarly in the Eighties it was hip for the would-be feminist columnists and gurus to claim they were raped, had aborted 'a child', had a sorry past all the fault of their father, etc. Heaps of feminist street cred as a claimed victim and the creative storytelling that went with it.

4. Weak willed, poor self image and self-loathing. For example, Robert, 'Robert's Date' from Everyone Loves Raymond,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CCly6U0EAg

100% correct onthebeach.