Racist photo of governor surfaces

Picture of Virginia governor Ralph Northam in blackface found in medical school yearbook

Amy Inkrott / News Editor / The USD Vista

February was punctuated by a surge in news coverage surrounding the practice of blackface. Reports of past scandals have surfaced involving elected officials in the Virginia statehouse, as well as a controversial product rollout from the designer brand Gucci. The resurgence of this topic in the national dialogue came as the USD community kicked off a month of events to celebrate Black History Month. 

First-year student Chidi Okaru works in the Black Student Resource Center (BSRC) and played a role in planning events for Black History Month. She said that while the month is meant to be a celebration, it is also impossible to ignore the difficult topics which have defined many moments in African American history.  

“It’s annoying that these awful sorts of details are dominating the news during a time when we are trying to celebrate our history and culture, but at the same time these discussions are important,” Okaru said. “We definitely need to be talking about it, and I believe good can come from it.” 

On Feb. 1, reports surfaced of a photo contained on one of the pages of Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s 1984 medical school yearbook depicting an unidentified person in blackface and Jim Crow-style minstrel garb. This figure was pictured standing next to another unidentified person in the familiar white hooded robe of the Ku Klux Klan. The initial release sparked a firestorm of controversy across media outlets nationwide, and led virtually the entire Democratic establishment to call for Northam to resign from office. 

Later that same day, Northam made a public statement apologizing for having appeared in what he called a “clearly racist” photo. Then, on the following day after the pressure for him to step down had mounted significantly, the embattled Southern Democratic governor turned his previous statement around, instead insisting that neither of the individuals were in fact him.

In the same press conference, Northam also admitted to having done blackface as part of a Michael Jackson Halloween costume he put together in the mid-1980s. When a reporter asked Northam if he could still “do the moonwalk,” he chuckled and turned as if to look for the room on the stage to dance, only to be cut off by his wife who leaned into the shot and whispered, “inappropriate circumstances.”  

These conflicting statements combined with Northam’s defiance in the face of overwhelming resignation demands have left many confused, frustrated, and disillusioned by Virginia’s handling of the messy scandal. For Okaru, the governor’s refusal to give up his power in the wake of these revelations is unacceptable.  

“It’s really a problem for me that he acknowledged these mistakes but then didn’t resign,” Okaru said. “This sort of thing should really be a career killer. Our history is so tainted that if there aren’t consequences for this sort of thing, it’s only going to increase mistrust in our politicians.”

Northam’s administration has postponed a Black History Month reception planned for this week, during which he was scheduled to make remarks about the progress of civil rights in the state.  In the midst of all of this controversy and political strife, the USD community looked to promote a spirit of awareness and celebration through a series of events. 

Okaru, who is now in her first spring semester as a USD student, said she has enjoyed her time in the BSRC planning events for February and is eager to attend more of the programming.  

“It’s been really exciting, and this center has really been a positive space for me on campus,” Okaru said. “It’s really great to see people celebrating blackness in different spaces on campus and showing up to the events we’ve been putting together.” 

Sophomore Tyler Holdsworth, who often frequents the BSRC, also considered the role of these recent controversies in shaping the public dialogue. Like Okaru, Holdsworth has mixed emotions about both the circumstances and the timing of these controversial headlines, given the significance of the month of February.  

“It’s unfortunate that this horrible stuff is all over the news right now, but at the same time I think it’s important to remember that this month is also a time to reflect on all of dark moments in African American history and culture,” Holdsworth said. “We can’t be afraid to revisit the negative aspects. These moments serve as important reminders of what the African American community has been through.” 

For Holdsworth, the value of Black History Month isn’t just in the events and the discussions that happen within those short 28 days, but also the reminders which stay with us throughout the year.  

“I remember when I was at a Lakers game with my dad around the time of MLK Day a little while after Obama had been elected back in 2009, and he mentioned how if it weren’t for Dr. King’s leadership, that election win never would have been possible,” Holdsworth said. “For me that’s the meaning of Black History Month. As long as we take things like this with us and extend them outwards, we can make a better future in the long run.” 

It seems clear now that despite all of the intense pressure, Governor Northam will likely not resign from his position as the Governor of Virginia. Regardless of what happens, this news event will likely continue to serve as a reminder of the nation’s troubled racial past well beyond the end of this month.