U.S. News
Virginia Governor’s Racist Yearbook Photo Sparks Demand for Resignation
Editor Amber Howle
On Friday, February 1st, a 1984 yearbook photo depicting a man doing “blackface” and another man wearing a KKK uniform surfaced in an article written by the Virginian Pilot. One of the men was claimed to be Virginia governor Ralph Northam. The photograph went viral after the article came out, and now many politicians are calling for his resignation.
This photograph came from Northam’s 1984 Eastern Virginia medical school yearbook page, and has sparked an outrage among many politicians. Northam apologized Friday, February 1st after admitting that he was in the photo. He recognized that the photo was “clearly racist and offensive,” and stated, “I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo.”
This resulted in an uproar from the political body, and in the community. The Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez spoke on the matter saying, “ Virginians and people across the country deserve better from their leaders, and is is clear that Ralph Northam has lost their trust in his ability to govern.” Democratic Presidential Candidate Julián Castro said, “My perspective hasn’t changed. He has clearly lost the confidence of his delegation and many people he serves.”
Northam said after speaking on the phone with family and friends that he decided to reverse the story because he concluded that it wasn’t him in the photograph. Even after his denial of the photo, more calls came in for the resignation of virginia's governor. Northam’s refusal to step down from the position has caused political turmoil through the week between politicians and Ralph. The country’s top Democratic Presidential Candidates and House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, have issued calls for the governors resignation.
Despite the loss of almost all political allies, Northam is refusing to step down and plans to finish off the three years left in his term. “He’s not leaving”, said Republican Senator Richard Stewart, “He understands he has to stand up and face this. He knows what he has to do. He’s staying.” Northam is trying to regain political support in Virginia, but local politicians and groups think they will have trouble trusting him again.
As new scandals come about with the governor's counterparts, Northam is planning to move forward and meet with black leaders. He invited two black leaders to the governor's mansion to speak about moving forward.Virginia’s governor reached out personally to Dr. Charles Steele Jr., the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. “The fact that he invited me said a lot to me - that he was open to receiving me, and that he wanted to talk about moving forward.” Dr. Steele spent an hour with the governor and his wife Wednesday, February 6th. After the meeting, Steele was asked if he had forgiven Northam, “I think time, time will take care of all of this. I believe more so than anything,” Dr. Steele said.
The governor has caused a wave of political disorder and shown how racism is still alive in the streets of Virginia. Ralph Northam has refused to step down and will continue to govern Virginia until his term is fulfilled.