Ralph Northam Has Donald Trump — and Everyone Else — Talking About Racism Again

#politics

The 35-year-old photo on his yearbook page of a person in blackface and another person in a Ku Klux Klan robe has brought about a stunning reversal of fortune in Northam’s political career and laid bare for the nation just how deeply racist behavior remains interwoven in American culture, institutions and politics. In rejecting calls to step down, the 59-year-old white son of Virginia came across too many African Americans as displaying a sense of white privilege.

In 2019, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam faced a scandal involving a racist photograph in his medical school yearbook. The image depicted men in racist costumes—one person in a Ku Klux Klan robe and hood, and another in blackface1.

Despite calls for his resignation, Northam chose not to step down. Instead, he committed himself to reconciliation and became one of the most consequential governors in Virginia’s history. His redemption story unfolded against the backdrop of Virginia’s racial history, and he demonstrated tenacity and self-determination in weathering the storm.

Older Black Virginians stood by him, emphasizing the importance of forgiveness and goodwill1.