NAACP Leader Rachel Dolezal -- WHITE Parents Say ... She's Been 'Black' Since College (VIDEO)

Rachel Dolezal -- the NAACP leader who turns out to actually be white -- has everyone baffled ... including her own parents, who have no idea why she's been passing as black for nearly a decade.

Lawrence and Ruthanne Dolezal's say they first heard about Rachel's "black" exploits in Spokane, WA back in 2007. Rachel's risen to become the leader of the NAACP's Spokane chapter, while apparently representing herself as being black.

Her parents spoke to CNN this morning, and admitted Rachel's wanted nothing to do with them. They say they're only speaking out because a reporter contacted them to confirm their identity and Rachel's.

They say at first ... they thought Rachel was just expressing the fact she "identified" as black ... but it eventually took a more serious turn. They also say she started immersing herself in African-American culture as far back as 1995, when she was in college.

Watch ... it doesn't sound like they regret keeping their daughter's secret. For its part, the NAACP says it stands behind Dolezal and her advocacy record speaks for itself.

The whole bizarre story started with this clip ... when a Spokane reporter confronted Rachel with a photo of her father.