In Light of Racist Photo, Virginia Governor Should Resign

Commentary

Published February 2, 2019

On Friday a racist photo emerged in the national media showing Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D), while a 25-year-old medical student, either in blackface or in a Ku Klux Klan (KKK) robe. The racist photo was found in the 1984 yearbook for Eastern Virginia Medical School. On Friday afternoon, Northam admitted he was in the photo, but did not distinguish if he was the blackface or in the KKK robe.

“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,” he said in a statement. “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.”

The NAACP was quick to call for Northam to resign. Native News Online concurs with the NAACP.

“Black face in any manner is always racist and never okay,” tweeted Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP. “No matter the party affiliation, we can not stand for such behavior, which is why the @NAACP is calling for the resignation of Virginia Governor @RalphNortham.”

Northam is one year into his four-year term as governor of Virginia, a state that is home to six federally recognized American Indian tribes: the Chickahominy, the Eastern Chickahominy, the Upper Mattaponi, the Rappahannock, the Monacan, and the Nansemond tribal nations.

In the course of conducting state government business, state governors interact with tribal officials in a government-to-government stance. With that in mind, the photo of Northam, who was an adult man when the photo was taken, is quite disturbing.

Racism is an evil that has been part of American history since the founding of the United States. Racism negatively impacts African Americans, Latinos and American Indians.

While Gov. Northam maintains the photo in no way reflects who he is today as a man, one cannot never sure when racism may rear its ugly face. Given Northam’s poor judgement as depicted in the racist photo as a 25-year-old man, he should resign for office immediately.

The post In Light of Racist Photo, Virginia Governor Should Resign appeared first on Native News Online.