The desire to be, well, somebody else... I guess.

A professor out in California is coming under fire for claiming to be a Cherokee Indian, according to Inside Higher Ed:
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/07/06/scholar-who-has-made-name-cherokee-accused-not-having-native-american-roots

The article recalls a recent controversy involving another academic who apparently has falsely claimed African American blood.

In a prior post, I wrote about that case, as well as those of Ward Churchill --- the controversial Colorado professor who got in trouble for suggesting the 9/11 victims deserved what they got, and then got fired ostensibly for shaky scholarship--- as well as the even earlier case of the Holy Cross historian who falsely claimed Viet Nam combat experience and got himself suspended without pay for a year.

I can full appreciate the temptation to present yourself to your students and colleagues as... well, frankly... something more than we are.  There is a little bit of fame seeker in ever good teacher, I suspect.  We are performers in the front of classroom, and at conferences as well.  Not exactly Broadway or Hollywood, but it feed an appetite for many of us.

And who doesn't feel at least some temptation to guild our own lilly?  Yeh, I speak with authority about the war in Southeast Asia because I was there.  Yes, my writings on African American women or Native Americans deserves special attention because I am one of them.

There may be a sympathy factor... empathy (is that a better word?)... in identifying with the subjects of our scholarly writings.  Perhaps is assuages the guilt some of us may feel as we research and write about social injustices.

At any rate, I find this recurring issue a fascinating one and deserving of a second commentary.  Hope you agree.