Democrats Abroad Global Black Caucus adds its voice to those of the NAACP, Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Newport News), former Virginia governor L. Douglas Wilder, Virginia House Democrats and the Virginia Black Caucus, among many many others, calling for the immediate resignation of Virginia Governor Ralph Northam.
On February 1st, a right-wing online outlet run by former Breitbart staff published a 1984 photo from Gov. Northam’s Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook. The picture features two men, one in blackface, one in full KKK robe and hood. Initially, Northam took responsibility for the ugly, disturbing picture, apologizing for the image taken at age 24. He acknowledged his actions in a written statement and on video but then held a press conference and reversed course. He is now claiming that he does not recall taking the photo and that he isn’t one of the two men pictured.
A week later, after admitting to wearing blackface to impersonate Michael Jackson, and while still leaving unexplained how the racist photo was on his yearbook page in the first place, Gov. Northam has dug in and is refusing to step down. This is unacceptable. Blackface is unacceptable. As the director of the NAACP, Derrick Johnson said February 6, on the Rachel Maddow Show, the history of the KKK and the history of blackface, which is one of many vile social customs used to mock, shame, and oppress African Americans is the history of domestic terrorism. Every African American knows and recognizes this. It’s a history which school administrators, the editors of the Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook, and Ralph Northam knew and recognized in 1984. They were all in on the joke. It’s unacceptable.
The Black vote, specifically the Black woman vote---91%---put Northam in the Governor’s mansion. Gov. Northam cannot even bring himself to admit if he was the one in blackface or Klan regalia. Virginians nor the Democratic party continue to support him. He must resign immediately.
Written by GBC Contributor KC Washington in cooperation with the GBC steering committee.