U.S professor: I’ve been lying about being black
AN American university professor whose work focuses on Africa has admitted she lied about being black.
Jessica Krug revealed she deceived students and fellow staff for years about her heritage.
The 38-year-old is, in fact, a white Jewish woman from Kansas City. In an article published online, Krug revealed the truth about claims she had black and Latina ancestry. And she apologised for her deceit.
Krug wrote: “I have eschewed my lived experience as a white Jewish child under various assumed identities within a blackness I had no right to claim, North African blackness, US rooted blackness, Caribbean rooted Bronx blackness.
“I have built my life on a violent anti-black lie.” She admitted her
“continued appropriation of a black Caribbean identity” was wrong, unethical and anti-black.
Krug, who specialises in the African diaspora, added: “I am not a culture vulture. I am a culture leech.” She blamed her lies on mental health issues and trauma experienced in her early years.
Krug lectures at George Washington University in Washington DC. Her confession stunned students. One, Anmol
Goraya, said: “From the moment she came into the classroom, I was in awe of her.
“I’m just shocked that such a complete lie.”
The university said it is aware of Ms Krug’s admission and is “looking into the situation”.
In 2015, white American race activist Rachel Dolezal confessed claims she was black were a lie. it was