General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsVa. Gov. Northam's medical school yearbook page shows men in blackface, KKK robe
The image is in a 1984 yearbook from Eastern Virginia Medical School on a page with other photos of Northam and personal information about the future governor.
Northam, a pediatric neurologist, graduated from the Norfolk medical school in 1984 after earlier graduating from Virginia Military Institute.
The page is labeled Ralph Shearer Northam, along with pictures of him in a jacket and tie, casual clothes and alongside his restored Corvette.
It shows two people, one in plaid pants, bow tie and black faced, and the other in full Klan robes. Both men appear to be holding beer cans.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/va-gov-northams-medical-school-yearbook-page-shows-men-in-blackface-kkk-robe/2019/02/01/517a43ee-265f-11e9-90cd-dedb0c92dc17_story.html
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)Justin was elected Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia on November 7, 2017. Justin is only the second African-American in history, and the first in nearly 30 years since the tenure of Governor L. Douglas Wilder, to be elected to statewide office in Virginia. His Inauguration took place on January 13, 2018.
Justin, 39, has been recognized as one of the top young attorneys in the nation and a rising star in American politics. He is a prominent and highly successful lawyer, political figure, philanthropist, and a proud husband, father, and community leader. In 2013, at the age of 34, Justin was awarded the National Bar Associations Nations Best Advocates Award, which recognizes 40 top attorneys nationwide under the age of 40. He currently works as a Litigation Partner in the Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. offices of the international law firm Morrison & Foerster LLP.
He previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in the Major Crimes and Narcotics Unit of the Alexandria Division. During his tenure as a federal prosecutor, he was appointed to serve as the Deputy Coordinator of the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force. Prior to his service as a federal prosecutor, he worked as a litigator at WilmerHale, LLP in Washington, D.C., following his stint as a federal law clerk to United States District Court Judge Gerald Bruce Lee in the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division.
Justin received a scholarship to attend Columbia Law School where he was selected to be a member of the Columbia Law Review and earned his Juris Doctorate in 2005. He also received a scholarship to attend Duke University where he graduated in 2000 with a degree in Public Policy Studies and was selected as the class graduation speaker for the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy.
Fairfax Family
Justin went on to serve a three-year term on the Duke University Board of Trustees and is currently serving his third three-year term on the Board of Visitors of the Duke University Terry Sanford School of Public Policy.
https://www.ltgov.virginia.gov/
Demsrule86
(68,454 posts)onenote
(42,530 posts)He was 25 years old. A medical school graduate. Even in 1984, dressing up in blackface and KKK robes was dubious behavior at best.
I doubt you'd say the same thing if it was a Republican.
And for the record, I live in Virginia, donated to and voted for Ralph.
Demsrule86
(68,454 posts)I wonder who has a motive to discredit Northam? It won't work.
Demsrule86
(68,454 posts)our constant falling for their tricks.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)LBM20
(1,580 posts)Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)You don't get to decide the statute of limitations on being racist - whether it was 35 years ago or 15 years ago.
wasupaloopa
(4,516 posts)Purist in this thread make me sick. Go away with you pious righteousness.
Takket
(21,525 posts)Polybius
(15,328 posts)If he were older, and this was from 1969 it probably wouldn't have the same impact as 1984.
Response to Drunken Irishman (Reply #22)
InAbLuEsTaTe This message was self-deleted by its author.
Demsrule86
(68,454 posts)old picture and would result in a Republican Lieutenant governor...it is nuts.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)If this was a Republican governor, you all would be calling for his resignation.
Eko
(7,223 posts)If it was 20 years ago I wouldn't. If it was 10 years ago then I might especially if there were more evidence that their stance has not changed. The world has changed for the better, that doesn't mean we have to go back and punish people for mistakes they made when they were young and the world was different.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)Because we excuse acts like this as 'just being young'. The same thing will happen to those MAGA kids.
I don't recall ever wearing black face and being photographed next to a KKK costume when I was young. But curious I find no posts from you defending Michael Ertel, who resigned last week, for something that happened 15 years ago...
Eko
(7,223 posts)Pretty sure I also said the world was different then also, but you wanted to focus on one thing and then blame me for why racism continues to exist. Give me a break.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)Did the world really change THAT much between 2000 and 2005?
No.
Eko
(7,223 posts)Without a doubt. Did you ever call for President Obama to resign for his early views on same sex marriage?
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)How offensive.
Eko
(7,223 posts)Yeah, i am. I cant believe you don't think that is just as important if not more. I mean, one is pretty bad, black face is just straight wrong but believing that people that love each other should be denied the same rights as others is really bad. Your lover is dying,, too bad you cant see them as you aren't family. Are you really saying they are not at least equal?
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)Obama never supported any law that came out that would block gay marriage. He never said states shouldn't have the right to allowing for gay marriage. In 2008, when California was voting to block gay marriage, Obama came out against the measure. Equating that to black face, suggesting it's worse, is horrendous, racist, bigoted and shameful. Frankly, the fact you are so adamant about defending someone who wore black face, so actively got his photo taken standing next to a person in a KKK costume, tells me exactly what you think about racism in America. In fact, the fact you're so dismissing of this and are willing to put a fucking statute of limitations on someone's racism makes me wonder exactly what your feelings toward racism were twenty years ago.
They're nowhere near being equal. It's shameful that you'd even equate the two. But I'm sure in your warped mind, you probably don't find black face all that offensive anyway.
Eko
(7,223 posts)I never defended him for wearing black face at all. Lets get that straight. In fact multiple times I have said how bad I think it is as in this " black face is just straight wrong ". "But I'm sure in your warped mind, you probably don't find black face all that offensive anyway. " What? Dude, you should apologize for that. At no point anywhere did I say it was ok, at no point anywhere on my long time on here have I ever done anything other than fight racism, bigotry, and sexism. I have said that what he did was racist, I never argued against that at all. My entire point is that we shouldn't judge someone for a isolated indecent that happened so long ago while someone was young and stupid while they have done so much good since then.The fact that you are insinuating that I am racist and have a warped mind is unbelievable and extremely insulting. I supported Joy Reid for the exact same reason that people make mistakes when they are young and and evolve into good people afterwards.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)Your dismissal of wearing black face by comparing it to Obama's personal objection to gay marriage in 2008 is offensive. It trivializes the racism by equating it to something not even remotely similar. I'm appalled you even thought that would be an acceptable defense.
Disgusting.
Eko
(7,223 posts)Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)Eko
(7,223 posts)Someone running for office and they say gay people should not be able to get married because of their religion and someone wearing blackface are both pretty offensive. Apparently you don't think so and that is your opinion. Its interesting how easily you dismiss one as not offensive and it says a lot about you.
Thanks.
Eko.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)So, not only are you dismissing racism you're also a liar. Can you provide one quote where Obama said he wanted to ban gay marriage?
Eko
(7,223 posts)From this "Obama never claimed gay people should not marry.." to this "Can you provide one quote where Obama said he wanted to ban gay marriage? ".
I never claimed that he wanted to ban gay marriage, ever. Only that "Someone running for office and they say gay people should not be able to get married because of their religion,,, is pretty offensive ".
As to where he said that?
On edit, you called me a liar! Will you now take that back and apologize?
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)This is funny to me. So, you admit Obama never supported any type of ban or practice that would stop gay people from marrying and yet that's the exact same as wearing black face? Appalling. Tells me all I need to know about you.
To dismiss the racial history of Jim Crow-like character by equating it to Obama's stance on gay marriage, despite the fact he never advocated in any way for gays to not marry, is insulting to the racial injustice and history of black Americans. Shameful.
I'm done with this conversation. I'd hate to see what matter you dismiss next by stupidly comparing it to Obama - maybe the holocaust?
Eko
(7,223 posts)I never said Obama supported any type of ban, all I said was "Did you ever call for President Obama to resign for his early views on same sex marriage?".
The fact that you keep strawmanning me is all I need to know. Im done with conversation also.
Good day.
Eko.
Demsrule86
(68,454 posts)And that is what this is all about...the GOP gains a Republican Lt. Governor. Why would we do this...as for racism...I see no evidence that Northam is a racist now so let's be smart about this.
Polybius
(15,328 posts)We forgave some really past racists before. George Wallace was disgusting in the 50's and 60's. By the mid to late 70's, he actually won with African American support.
Robert Byrd in the 40's wasn't a good guy either, to say the least.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)Truthfully, Byrd would have never been elected in today's environment - or supported by the party.
But the fact he was already an established senator in a time actually being a bigot was acceptable in politics, there was no reveal. It may seem hypocritical but it is what it is. Hell, in today's environment I doubt Bill Clinton would ever win the Democratic nomination. Look at what happened with John Edwards. Was Clinton's actions THAT much more acceptable?
Response to Demsrule86 (Reply #70)
spooky3 This message was self-deleted by its author.
bdamomma
(63,788 posts)just deny and deny.
LBM20
(1,580 posts)snpsmom
(670 posts)Than Northam, and I have never even considered dressing in a KKK hood or doing black face.
NYC Liberal
(20,134 posts)And no, not everyone has dressed in blackface and Klan robes.
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)sprinkleeninow
(20,208 posts)Why did he issue an 'apology' and is now walking it back. 🤔 😏
He shoulda stuck with neither of those depicted is me.
Mb the other dude came forward and confirmed the photo.
I don't feel he is able to govern effectively after this.
Back in 1984 for God's sake.....
To the Lt. Gov.:-
"Step right up, Sir!" 😍
sprinkleeninow
(20,208 posts)Bettie
(16,058 posts)Or has he changed significantly since then?
35 years is a long time and if he has become a better person and is a good governor, then why should he have to resign?
Heck, I'd hate to be judged today on things I said and did in 1984 (which is when I graduated high school). I wasn't who I am today by a long shot.
Or am I really the only person here who wasn't born perfect?
wasupaloopa
(4,516 posts)onenote
(42,530 posts)and the legislature is controlled by Republicans (albeit by a small margin).
Demsrule86
(68,454 posts)ended up with a GOP type. Does it occur to you unless he was the editor he had nothing to do with it.
onenote
(42,530 posts)My statements reflect what is likely to happen if it turns out he was responsible for the photo being published.
And if he was, my bet is that he will step down, and quickly.
It won't result in a "GOP type" becoming governor. We'll still have a very good Democratic governor (current lieutenant governor Justin Fairfax) and a very good Democratic Attorney General, Mark Herring.
Response to Demsrule86 (Reply #17)
Post removed
Demsrule86
(68,454 posts)a 35 year old picture. We don't need to give a Republican a job for a stupid picture that is 35 years old.
MFGsunny
(2,356 posts)especially when Northam gave a clear pro-choice position in his comments about that bill.
Renew Deal
(81,842 posts)onenote
(42,530 posts)At least as far as I can tell, having quickly reviewed the state constitution and code provisions relating to filling a vacancy in the Governor's office.
It would create a rather large loophole in the "one term' only limitation on Virginia governors if a governor could resign a year into his/her term and be replaced by the Lt. Governor who could then run for re-election as an incumbent.
But it also would be absurd if a Governor resigned or died a month before the end of his/her term and in so doing disqualified the Lt Gov (assuming the Lt. Gov. didn't also resign to avoid becoming Governor).
Basically, it appears to be a mess.
hlthe2b
(102,100 posts)From the article:
Conservative news outlet Big League Politics first posted the photo at around 2:15 p.m. Friday with the headline YEARBOOK: Ralph Northam In Blackface & KKK Photo.
About an hour later, the Virginia GOP caucus Twitter page tweeted, @governorva needs to explain this immediately.
https://pilotonline.com/news/government/politics/virginia/article_67fdd682-2662-11e9-a7d1-c7ed70e09b50.html
LBM20
(1,580 posts)octoberlib
(14,971 posts)LBM20
(1,580 posts)harumph
(1,890 posts)book_worm
(15,951 posts)in black face or the robe? I'm just surprised that this didn't come out during the campaign? I'll take a wait and see attitude to see what the Governor's response is.
rogue emissary
(3,147 posts)I voted for him in the primary and the general election happly. Wouldn't have voted for him in the primary if this is real.
Do have to wonder why it's coming out now. Especially after the dust up about the abortion bill.
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)They're trying to bring him down because of the abortion stuff . If he steps down there's another good Dem to replace him.
rogue emissary
(3,147 posts)That they waited till now is really suspicious.
Demsrule86
(68,454 posts)Stop falling for the GOP nonsense. It was 35 years ago...so not worth getting another GOP.
Eliot Rosewater
(31,105 posts)Plus, wasnt this reported here in DU several times before this OP reported it?
This way the story is ALL OVER the site and maybe that is the point.
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)Demsrule86
(68,454 posts)be replaced by the Rethugs...why anyone on our side think this is a good idea is beyond me.
LBM20
(1,580 posts)BlueStater
(7,596 posts)NONE of his opponents thought to look through his yearbook for something to use against him until NOW? Not when he was running for governor?
oberliner
(58,724 posts)underpants
(182,579 posts)No consecutive terms here in Va.
I think he comes out and apologizes and says it was stupid - which it was.
msongs
(67,343 posts)OliverQ
(3,363 posts)This is very bad.
LBM20
(1,580 posts)AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)What are the cut off dates for horrible behavior...accusations or actual behavior?
What time frame do we end responsibility?
LBM20
(1,580 posts)AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)LBM20
(1,580 posts)should have sunk him. At least some of the high school age sexual impropriety surely happened. I have little doubt. But it was also sketchy and disputable stuff from decades ago. Notwithstanding, the CURRENT behavior of lying and acting like a total child in that hearing should have sunk him.
If Northam did something dumb 35 years ago, that was then and this is now. EVERYONE has done something stupid in his or her past. You too, no doubt. We have ALL said and done some dumb things when we were much younger, and for those us who are decades old, also in very different times.
AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)I've done/said nothing racist...ever in my 5 decades...
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)This is bad, but it's not the same.
AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)He admitted it
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)Don't try to equate the two situations.
AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)You may see an accusation as a crime...thank God we have a justice system where an unproven accusation dosen't land you in jail most of the time
snowybirdie
(5,219 posts)pesky Ruskies are at it again. Trying to bring down Democrats
Sugarcoated
(7,716 posts)Interesting and telling response
John Fante
(3,479 posts)Wikileaks was a giant nothingburger. This is anything but.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Not sure I'm ready to listen to a lecture on racism from a political party that insists on observing Lee-Jackson Day.
LBM20
(1,580 posts)BlueStater
(7,596 posts)Did Ed Gillespie's campaign do a totally half-ass job on their opposition research?
underpants
(182,579 posts)Gillespie did run a completely half assed campaign.
LuvNewcastle
(16,834 posts)If I was running a campaign, I would find everything out about the opponent(s). I'd have pictures of their colon cancer screening. How could this have been overlooked after all this time? It just doesn't add up.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)maxsolomon
(33,232 posts)if you have ANYTHING REMOTELY LIKE THIS in your past, DON'T RUN FOR OFFICE.
I thought I had skeletons!
malaise
(268,638 posts)He is history
LBM20
(1,580 posts)malaise
(268,638 posts)Virginia had an African-American governor in the 1980s. If this is his photo, he is history.
AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)When is the cut off time for piss poor behavior?
Renew Deal
(81,842 posts)jalan48
(13,836 posts)was problematic .
LBM20
(1,580 posts)jalan48
(13,836 posts)LBM20
(1,580 posts)Revanchist
(1,375 posts)If the info is from a right wing source I wouldn't put it past them
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)bearsfootball516
(6,373 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)for some eager reporter to start digging into the racist legacy of EVMS, which is something I've been wanting to read for years...
underpants
(182,579 posts)I've never heard that but then EVMS is really off the radar screen.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)octoberlib
(14,971 posts)To add to the shock, a page from Northam's yearbook at the Virginia Military Institute listed one of his nicknames as "Coonman," a racial slur. Story from @Grace_Segers https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ralph-northams-yearbook-page-shows-man-in-kkk-costume-and-another-apparently-in-blackface/
https://archive.org/details/bomb1981virg/page/90
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Even Maduro is watching CNN International saying "Holy fuck that dude's in serious trouble!"
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)So I will reserve judgement on this until I hear his response. If he shows sincere contrition, offers a real apology, this can be not a big deal since people screw up but grow and change. But if he gives some half-assed "I didn't mean it the way it looks but I'm sorry if anyone was offended" or, God forbid, goes into Kavanaugh territory on us, that would be an entirely different sichyashon.
That said, I do find the timing on this to be very odd and wonder why this never came up before.
And, Boo - I must say it's nice to see you finally found some apparently racist behavior that you're not "whatabouting" or demanding we need more information to find suspicious. Could it be I'm finally starting to rub off on you? Or is there something different about this particular matter?
FSogol
(45,431 posts)LBM20
(1,580 posts)octoberlib
(14,971 posts)EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)He has a narrowing window of opportunity to address this satisfactorily. If he doesn't, he'll need to go.
Downtown Hound
(12,618 posts)Sorry. It was a stupid thing to do but I'm done sacrificing our people over old stuff like this when the right continues to support people like Trump and King.
Demsrule86
(68,454 posts)lieutenant governor. This is madness.
Renew Deal
(81,842 posts)Demsrule86
(68,454 posts)does not warrant such a thing. They ran a neo-confederate for the governor's race so let's not dance to their tune.
backabby-blue
(144 posts)I was around 35 years ago. This was NOT ok. He needs to step down. We can not for any reason allow this to stay. People need to see the seriousness of this or be called out.
Downtown Hound
(12,618 posts)We're in a battle for our very survival and already sacrificed too many good people like Al Franken. Enough. It was 35 years ago. People change.
LBM20
(1,580 posts)who is in no way racist and who is a good man? My goodness. Where are we?
PS: Former Senator Robert Byrd was a good Democrat but who was in the KKK many years prior to being in the Senate. People change. People deserve forgiveness. We have ALL done some dumb things in life.
LBM20
(1,580 posts)her past? Who? Let those without sin cast the first stone. He is NOT a racist. This dumb moment from 35 years ago should not define the man's entire life. My goodness.
Renew Deal
(81,842 posts)walkingman
(7,577 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)wasupaloopa
(4,516 posts)a showing of "Song of the South" with a tar baby. I ate at Sambo's.
I should resign from everything.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)If so, did you include a photo of you doing that in your graduate school yearbook?
wasupaloopa
(4,516 posts)could find to hurt you with?
We are eating our own. I am sick of it!
oberliner
(58,724 posts)John Fante
(3,479 posts)But there's no way he can credibly govern the state of Virginia now. He needs to step down.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)He just posted a video statement:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211760123
Response to oberliner (Original post)
LongtimeAZDem This message was self-deleted by its author.
keithbvadu2
(36,636 posts)dpibel
(2,826 posts)You were, as is so often the case with similar items, first out of the box with this story.
Your diligence is amazing!
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Thought it probably means I spend too much time on the computer.
Catherine Vincent
(34,486 posts)This guy has been in politics for a while, am I right? All those time he ran for office, how come his opponents had never found this photo before? That should have been easy to dig up.