Virginia governor Northam (edit: and now Lt Gov Fairfax)

02 February 2019, 08:58 AM

quote:
A photo from Gov. Ralph Northam’s medical school yearbook shows him and another person in racist costumes — one wearing blackface and one a Ku Klux Klan robe and hood, though it was not clear which person was the future governor.

Hours after the 35-year-old photo came to light Friday, Northam apologized for his decision to appear in it. Elected officials and activist groups from across the political spectrum called for him to resign.

But in a video posted to Twitter Friday evening, Northam said he had spent the past year “fighting for a Virginia that works better for all people” and he would continue to do so throughout the rest of his term, which ends in January 2022.

“I accept responsibility for my past actions, and I am ready to do the hard work of regaining your trust,” he said.

Friday night, calls for resignation came from some within his own party, including former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, under whom Northam served as lieutenant governor.

The photo, which The Virginian-Pilot obtained a copy of Friday from the Eastern Virginia Medical School library, comes from the 1984 yearbook, the year Northam graduated and turned 25.

On the half-page set aside for Northam, there is a headshot of him in a jacket and tie, a photo of him in a cowboy hat and boots and a third of him sitting casually on the ground, leaning against a convertible.

The fourth photo on the half-page has two people, one wearing white Ku Klux Klan robes and a hood, the other with his face painted black. The person with the black face is also wearing a white hat, black jacket, white shirt with a bow tie and plaid pants. Both are holding canned drinks.

In a statement Friday evening, Northam, a Democrat, confirmed he appears in the photo “in a costume that is clearly racist and offensive,” but did not specify which person is him.

“I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now,” Northam said. “This behavior is not in keeping with who I am today and the values I have fought for throughout my career in the military, in medicine and in public service. But I want to be clear, I understand how this decision shakes Virginians’ faith in that commitment. I recognize that it will take time and serious effort to heal the damage this conduct has caused. I am ready to do that important work. The first step is to offer my sincerest apology and to state my absolute commitment to living up to the expectations Virginians set for me when they elected me to be their governor.”

https://pilotonline.com/news/g...d1-c7ed70e09b50.html

02 February 2019, 09:01 AM

QuirtEvans

I don't know what to think. Even 30 years ago, that crap was unacceptable. I can't imagine dressing like that, let alone having it as a yearbook picture.

02 February 2019, 09:34 AM

CHAS

What is his record on matters of race since?

02 February 2019, 10:51 AM

Nina

In my opinion, the real issue here is the assumption that such a costume would be "funny." At the risk of sounding overly woke, that's the cultural change we need to see.

I've been to plenty of costume parties where the goal in some people's eyes was to be as offensive as possible. It's not anything I would do, but obviously it's what many people do. But at some point, a tasteless costume crosses the line and becomes unacceptable. Blackface and KKK costumes need to go into this category. But we're not there yet (and may not be for decades in certain areas of the country, like Virginia).

CHAS asks a good question.

02 February 2019, 11:09 AM

jon-nyc

A klan costume in 1984? Forget Northam for a second, Where was the editor?

02 February 2019, 11:13 AM

Piano*Dad

Do we know that Northam is in the disguises? Do we know if Northam asked for that picture to be posted next to his? Do we ...

Yes, that behavior in 1984 would have been thoughtless, crude, boorish, and obnoxious. Has he done stuff over the last 30 years to indicate that he is a truly a closet racist?

02 February 2019, 11:17 AM

jon-nyc

In the late 70s, when I was maybe 11, my buddy and I were going to dress up as klansmen for Halloween. My mom said NFW. I tried to tell her it was just a costume. She wasn’t convinced.

02 February 2019, 11:22 AM

wtg

quote:
Originally posted by Piano*Dad:
Do we know that Northam is in the disguises? Do we know if Northam asked for that picture to be posted next to his? Do we ...

Yes, that behavior in 1984 would have been thoughtless, crude, boorish, and obnoxious. Has he done stuff over the last 30 years to indicate that he is a truly a closet racist?

To the first part, yes he has admitted to being in the photo. He didn't identify which one he is but somehow I doubt it matters.

https://pilotonline.com/news/g...d1-c7ed70e09b50.html

02 February 2019, 11:30 AM

Piano*Dad

No, he has actually not admitted to being in the photo. Nor is there any evidence (yet) that it was taken (of him) while he was in medical school.

I'm not justifying that kind of behavior. I'm just getting sick of the instant political death sentences we pass on people.

BTW, for the whataboutists, this isn't a well-supported (but denied) accusation of attempted rape, and we have thirty years of the rest of his life (including his political life) to judge him by.

02 February 2019, 11:44 AM

wtg

Here's his statement:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/01...cial-read/index.html

I am equally concerned about the instant political death sentences.

02 February 2019, 11:50 AM

Piano*Dad

He is not admitting to being in the blackface photo, just to being in the yearbook spread. That may be a distinction without a difference.

02 February 2019, 12:03 PM

wtg

quote:
Earlier today, a website published a photograph of me from my 1984 medical school yearbook
in a costume that is clearly racist and offensive.

I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that
decision caused then and now.

To me, he is clearly stating that there is a photograph in his medical school yearbook (I'll give you that it didn't have to be taken while he was in medical school), that he is in it, and that he is dressed in a costume.

I am totally baffled as to how you and I can be reading the same statement and coming to different conclusions.

02 February 2019, 12:07 PM

Steve Miller

quote:
Originally posted by jon-nyc:
A klan costume in 1984? Forget Northam for a second, Where was the editor?

I wondered that as well.

02 February 2019, 12:18 PM

Piano*Dad

quote:
Originally posted by well-tempered gardener:
quote:
Earlier today, a website published a photograph of me from my 1984 medical school yearbook
in a costume that is clearly racist and offensive.

I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that
decision caused then and now.

To me, he is clearly stating that there is a photograph in his medical school yearbook (I'll give you that it didn't have to be taken while he was in medical school), that he is in it, and that he is dressed in a costume.

I am totally baffled as to how you and I can be reading the same statement and coming to different conclusions.

Because the banner right above the article was proclaiming "Northam will speak later today ... says it might not be him in the photo."