While calling her out on her lies in the rest of her life, Rachel Dolezal’s family has praised her artwork. Some have criticized it as derivative.
Derivative is one word for the following. Plagiarism is another. You can decide.
Here’s her painting “The Shape of our Kind”:
Here’s the famous painting by J.M.W. Turner, “The Slaveship” from 1840:
She is selling the painting on her website for $5,100, marked down from $7,800. She does not make any mention of Turner’s painting from which hers is clearly taken.
The painting is also advertised as a part of a triptych with two other pieces, and including poetry by her biological brother, Dr. Josh Dolezal who is also a college teacher and a published author. This is pertinent because she has accused him and the parents of abuse, yet she is using his poetry with her art.
In addition to reiterating her hate crimes claims, she notes in her bio on her art for sale site that she is studying to be an M.D. and that she taught biology to middle school students in Idaho.
There is no indication in any background material I have seen so far on her that would suggest she had actually embarked medical studies or was in anyway qualified in any way to ‘teach biology’ to middle school students.
Brian Williams would be proud.