# Virginia gov. yearbook page has Klan and blackface pictures **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 1, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809 "2019-02-01T22:05:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/261 "2019-02-04T05:21:33Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > [https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/02/02/ralph-northam-twitter-statement-yearbook-photo-sot-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/](https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/02/02/ralph-northam-twitter-statement-yearbook-photo-sot-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/) > > He didnt admit it was him. He apologized for the photo and past indiscretions. That could well be he was sorry that the photo appeared on his page, not that he was in it. He admitted that it was him at first and then backtracked. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/262 "2019-02-04T05:30:34Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > He admitted that it was him at first and then backtracked. Nope, listen to what he said. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/263 "2019-02-04T05:49:15Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Nope, listen to what he said. > **[Gov. Ralph Northam admits he was in 1984 yearbook photo showing figures in...](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?noredirect=on&utm_term=.d310e802b0d4)** > > Northam, a Democrat, apologized as leaders from both sides of the aisle demanded his resignation. > [@](#): > > 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 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/264 "2019-02-04T12:14:37Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I dont know. Is it him? Or did they pull a prank on him? The [WaPo article](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/pressure-mounts-for-northam-to-resign-as-allies-press-him-on-national-tv/2019/02/03/572f4538-27c1-11e9-b2fc-721718903bfc_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.fe7bbdf7286d) linked to in post 248 has this quote from one of the guys who put the yearbook together: > [@](#): > > The question of how the photo could have turned up on Northam’s page in the 1984 yearbook from Eastern Virginia Medical School without Northam’s knowledge remained a central mystery. > > **William Elwood, who helped lay out the school’s 1984 yearbook, said each student was responsible for submitting photos for his or her page in a sealed envelope.** > > **“Every student would provide them — some big envelopes, some small — with their names written on the outside, and we would keep them sealed until it was time to design that student’s page,”** recalled Elwood, 68, a retired family practice and emergency room doctor in Mississippi. “I don’t remember exactly after, but I think they were sealed up and given back” to the students, he said. If that’s correct, doesn’t matter who’s in the pictures. He supplied them himself. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/265 "2019-02-04T12:19:12Z")
And another article explains why it came to light now: [A tip from a ‘concerned citizen’ helps a reporter land the scoop of a lifetime about Northam](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/a-tip-from-a-concerned-citizen-helps-a-reporter-land-the-scoop-of-a-lifetime/2019/02/03/e30762ea-2765-11e9-ad53-824486280311_story.html?utm_term=.d1240f8d724e) > [@](#): > > The source of the tip appears to have been a medical school classmate or classmates of Northam who acted as a direct result of the abortion controversy that erupted earlier in the week, according to two people at Big League Politics, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. > > “The revelations about Ralph Northam’s racist past were absolutely driven by his medical school classmate’s anger over his recent very public support for infanticide,” one of the two said. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/266 "2019-02-04T13:46:10Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > He admitted that it was him at first and then backtracked. I thought he might be clumsily saying “I am no longer the person who appeared in that photo”. But then he \*could \*have expounded. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/267 "2019-02-04T13:49:11Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I thought he might be clumsily saying “I am no longer the person who appeared in that photo”. But then he \*could \*have expounded. What he’s said has been so bizarre and contradictory that he really, really, REALLY needs to give a full and unfettered explanation of what the hell is going on. Maybe there’s some super bizarre version of events that mostly exculpates him. However, we’ve been awaiting that full explanation since Friday afternoon. And this isn’t the sort of explanation that needs advance crafting. At some point, it’s fair to conclude that he doesn’t plan to give a full unfettered explanation. And I think that point’s already passed. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/268 "2019-02-04T14:16:39Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Northam isn’t resigning because he doesn’t feel the need to resign. After all, it was “a joke” among (white) friends, and besides, look what he’s done for the Negro in the time since. Would you rather have had Gillespie as governor? Northam “protected” the Negro from the Republican party’s racism; therefore, people should be grateful. This deserves a Pitting, so [here you go.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=870154) ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/269 "2019-02-04T14:20:56Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > And another article explains why it came to light now: > > [A tip from a ‘concerned citizen’ helps a reporter land the scoop of a lifetime about Northam](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/a-tip-from-a-concerned-citizen-helps-a-reporter-land-the-scoop-of-a-lifetime/2019/02/03/e30762ea-2765-11e9-ad53-824486280311_story.html?utm_term=.d1240f8d724e) What I like is the juxtaposition of: > [@](#): > > “It’s very easy to explain,” Howley, 29, said in an interview Saturday. “A concerned citizen, not a political opponent, came to us and pointed this out. I was very offended [by the photo] because I don’t like racism.” With: > [@](#): > > In its short existence, the website has reliably boosted Trump Yeah, Howley, tell me more about how this is all about your hatred of racism. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/270 "2019-02-04T14:22:09Z")
“The Negro”? _Seriously_? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/271 "2019-02-04T14:30:55Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Yeah, Howley, tell me more about how this is all about your hatred of racism. :rolleyes: “See? The \*Democrats \*are the \*real \*racists!” ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/272 "2019-02-04T14:49:58Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > “See? The \*Democrats \*are the \*real \*racists!” Well we’ll see how the Dem rank and file react. Remember they ignored Mayor Michael Hancock sexually harassment of a women in his security detail that ended up transferring so we’ll see if they attack Trump as racist but condone this. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/273 "2019-02-04T14:53:28Z")
There isn’t much condoning going on right now, is there? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/274 "2019-02-04T14:57:57Z")
Now the [lieutenant governor is denying a charge of sexual assault](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/virginia-lt-gov-fairfax-denies-sexual-assault-allegation-amid-political-storm) back in 2004. I wonder how that will play with the #metoo movement/false accusations are rare/believe the woman. I don’t know anything about the alleged inconsistencies in the alleged victim’s accusation, but he claims the Washington Post says the accusation is not credible. If that’s a good enough standard, he’s home free. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/275 "2019-02-04T14:58:29Z")
You would think he would have known about this before running and went ahead and told people so it wouldnt have been brought up later. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/276 "2019-02-04T15:00:39Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > “The Negro”? _Seriously_? Huh? This is obviously supposed to be a parody of the way asahi perceives Northam is justifying what happened. I don’t think the parody contributes anything worthwhile to the debate, but I don’t see what the problem is in using “Negro” in a supposed parody of regressive attitudes. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/277 "2019-02-04T15:02:02Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Well we’ll see how the Dem rank and file react. Remember they ignored Mayor Michael Hancock sexually harassment of a women in his security detail that ended up transferring so we’ll see if they attack Trump as racist but condone this. The Dem rank and file have been saying that he should resign since the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/278 "2019-02-04T15:05:05Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > The Dem rank and file have been saying that he should resign since the beginning. This is new - about Fairfax now, the Lt Gov who would replace Northam. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/279 "2019-02-04T15:06:06Z")
It’s pretty obvious this is a witch hunt by the rabid anti-choice brigade, which only strengthens my resolve that the right thing to do is _not_ resign and reward those tactics. It might not be the politically wise thing to do, however. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809/280 "2019-02-04T15:10:51Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > It’s pretty obvious this is a witch hunt by the rabid anti-choice brigade, which only strengthens my resolve that the right thing to do is _not_ resign and reward those tactics. It might not be the politically wise thing to do, however. The defense “it was a witch hunt” is worthless if they discover an actual witch. The motivation for uncovering bad stuff is ultimately irrelevant - you have to simply weigh the evidence that’s uncovered on its merits. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-gov-yearbook-page-has-klan-and-blackface-pictures/828809.md?page=15)