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

7 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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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

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3 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

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Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

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