Virginia Governor Ralph Northam: Racist Yearbook Picture Controversy

By Yousuf Ali

An investigation into Eastern Virginia University’s 1984 Medical School yearbook yielded revelations about Virginia’s government which has left him clinging on for his political life. On Ralph Northam’s (D-VA) personal yearbook, there is an image of a man wearing a KKK costume standing next to another dressed in blackface, both outfits with a highly racist history against the black population in the United States.

This provoked a strong reaction against Northam across the political spectrum, and according to CNN he initially apologized for the photo but now insists that the photo does not actually picture him. Even within his own party, Northam has faced consistent calls for resignation event amongst previous political allies.

Figures from all levels and wings of the Democratic party have called for Northam to resign as governor. This sentiment exists at both the state and national levels with a previous democratic lieutenant governor calling for his resignation. According to CNN, calls for his resignation snowballed after his press conference intended at clarifying the situation.  

For example, both of Virginia’s Democratic senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, have called for his resignation. Even presidential candidates are getting involved with several joining the chorus calling for Northam to make his exit from the governorship.

This sentiment is found across the ideological spectrum with both Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes and Hillary Clinton calling for his resignation. Despite this growing sentiment, Northam may be remaining in office due to developments concerning his Lieutenant Governor.

Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax has recently been accused of sexual assault in 2004. Consequently, this has put his own political future into consequence with Virginians being forced to have either a possible racist and a possible assailant in their governor’s mansion. According to the BBC, Fairfax has questioned the timing of the accusations without directly mentioning Northam. In any case, Virginia’s political future remains unclear amidst the media storm.