Commentary

COMMENTARY: Governor Northam Starts Black History Month with Photo of Blackface

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “The governor can apologize, but the damage was done decades ago, and everyday he is a reminder of bigotry, racism and White Supremacy. He has created a crisis in the Democratic Party in Virginia and the country, and it cannot be resolved without his resignation.” — Roger Caldwell

Published

5 years ago

February 12, 2019

Oakland Post

By Roger Caldwell, NNPA Newswire Contributor

When the Republicans are calling for a Democratic governor to step down from his office because of a racist photo, something must be horrific and shocking. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, during Black History month (February 2nd, 2019), acknowledged that a photo in his 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical College yearbook was him dressed in a KKK robe and hood or blackface.

Most Americans of any race or culture would consider this offensive, and someone must be held accountable for this breach of trust. Many would expect anyone connected in any way to this despicable display of sickness would automatically resign from office. But in the state of Virginia, they must operate on a different set of principles.

On Friday Senator Tim Kaine made a statement that read, “The racist photo from Governor Northam’s 1984 yearbook is horrible. This causes pain in a state and a country where centuries of racism have already left an open wound. I hope the Governor – whose career as an Army officer, pediatrician and public official has always manifested a commitment to justice and equality for all – now takes the time to listen to those he has hurt and reflect on how to move forward.”

Even though Senator Kaine acknowledged that this act was despicable and horrible, he did not ask the governor to resign. He and his fellow senator of the state of Virginia, Senator Mark Warner, released statements that called for the governor to listen to the people, and consider the communities he hurt.

It is obvious that the community that this picture impacted the most was the Black community, and the Black community leadership was very vocal, and they expect the governor to resign. This is not a situation that the Black press will allow to be swept under the rug, and there is no excuse that can be made to justify this behavior from the governor.

The subject of racism is very difficult to discuss in 2019, and it appears that our president has gotten away with many derogatory racist statements.

When President Trump continues to get away with calling Mexicans and Latinos people with problems, drug dealers, criminals, or rapists, he creates division in the country. By continuing to demonize a race and people of color in America, these ridiculous statements from the White House get Trump supporters to believe these lies.

When racism is uncovered or exposed by anyone a change must take place.

The NAACP’s president and CEO, Derrick Johnson, immediately called for Governor Northam to resign on the day the event was exposed. The list [calling for the Governor’s resignation] continues to grow in the state and the [state’s] two senators have joined the Virginia Congressional Delegation, led by Rep. Bobby Scott, who believes the governor cannot effectively serve in his position with this cloud hanging over his record.

On the next day, which was Saturday, Governor Northam changed his statement and denied being in the medical school yearbook photo but admitted to wearing Blackface while dressing up like Michael Jackson at a dance contest. At the time of the writing of the article, the governor has vowed to remain in office despite widespread calls for his resignation.

As the list calling for the governor’s resignation continues to grow, it makes no sense for him to continue to fight for his political career. The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, Eric Holder, Tom Perez, Hillary Clinton, Rev. Jessie Jackson, Joe Biden, every Democratic presidential candidate running for office, U.S. Rep. Karen Bass, (Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus), and singer John Legend, have all called for his resignation.

The governor can apologize, but the damage was done decades ago, and everyday he is a reminder of bigotry, racism and White Supremacy. He has created a crisis in the Democratic Party in Virginia and the country, and it cannot be resolved without his resignation.

Pass the baton to the Lt. Governor, Justin Fairfax, a Black man, and the Virginia Democratic Party can move forward with no regrets, and a breath of fresh air.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

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Commentary

Opinion: Lessons for Current Student Protesters From a San Francisco State Strike Veteran

How the nation’s first College of Ethnic studies came about, bringing together Latino, African American and Asian American disciplines may offer some clues as to how to ease the current turmoil on American college campuses over the Israel-Hamas war. After the deadline passed to end the Columbia University encampment by 2 p.m. Monday, student protesters blockaded and occupied Hamilton Hall in a symbolic move early Tuesday morning. Protesters did the same in 1968.

Published

3 days ago

May 3, 2024

Oakland Post

iStock Photo

By Emil Guillermo

After the deadline passed to end the Columbia University encampment by 2 p.m. Monday, student protesters blockaded and occupied Hamilton Hall in a symbolic move early Tuesday morning.

Protesters did the same in 1968.

That made me think of San Francisco State University, 1968.

The news was filled with call backs to practically every student protest in the past six decades as arrests mounted into hundreds on nearly two dozen campuses around the country.

In 1970, the protests at Kent State were over the Vietnam War. Ohio National Guardsmen came in, opened fire, and killed four students.

Less than two weeks later that year, civil rights activists outside a dormitory at Jackson State were confronted by armed police. Two African American students were killed, twelve injured.

But again, I didn’t hear anyone mention San Francisco State University, 1968.

That protest addressed all the issues of the day and more. The student strike at SFSU was against the Vietnam war.

That final goal was eventually achieved, but there was violence, sparked mostly by “outside agitators,” who were confronted by police.

“People used the term ‘off the pigs’ but it was more rally rhetoric than a call to action (to actually kill police),” said Daniel Phil Gonzales, who was one of the strikers in 1968.

Gonzales, known as the go-to resource among Filipino American scholars for decades, went on to teach at what was the positive outcome of the strike, San Francisco State University’s College of Ethnic Studies. It’s believed to be the first of its kind in the nation. Gonzales recently retired after more than 50 years as professor.

As for today’s protests, Gonzales is dismayed that the students have constantly dealt with charges of antisemitism.

“It stymies conversation and encourages further polarization and the possibility of violent confrontation,” he said. “You’re going to be labeled pro-Hamas or pro-terrorist.”

That’s happening now. But we forget we are dealing not with Hamas proxies. We are dealing with students.

Gonzales said that was a key lesson at SF State’s strike. The main coalition driving the strike was aided by self-policing from inside of the movement. “That’s very difficult to maintain. Once you start this kind of activity, you don’t know who’s going to join,” he said.

Gonzales believes that in the current situation, there is a patch of humanity, common ground, where one can be both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel. He said it’s made difficult if you stand against the belligerent policies of Benjamin Netanyahu. In that case, you’re likely to be labeled antisemitic.

Despite that, Gonzales is in solidarity with the protesters and the people of Gaza, generally. Not Hamas. And he sees how most of the young people protesting are in shock at what he called the “duration of the absolute inhumane kind of persecution and prosecution of the Palestinians carried out by the Israeli government.”

As a survivor of campus protest decades ago, Gonzales offered some advice to the student protesters of 2024.

“You have to have a definable goal, but right now the path to that goal is unclear,” he said.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. A veteran newsman in TV and print, he is a former host of NPR’s “All Things Considered.”