‘Investigators’ to Announce Findings on Northam’s Racist Yearbook Photo Tomorrow
Shane Trejo
|
An investigation into how Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook page contained an image of a man in Klan regalia and another in blackface has officially concluded and the findings will be announced on Wednesday.
#BREAKING @EVMSedu will release findings of their independent investigation into @GovernorVA's yearbook page tomorrow morning. @WAVY_News pic.twitter.com/eavtEeC6tS
— Brett Hall (@BrettHNews) May 21, 2019
This investigation, conducted by the EVM and a law firm, is happening despite the fact that Northam admitted that he was in the individual wearing blackface and apologized shortly after the story was broken by Big League Politics.
“Earlier today, a website published a photograph of me from my 1984 medical school yearbook in a costume that is clearly racist and offensive,” said Northam, who was called ‘Coonman’ by his EVM peers. “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.”
“This behavior is not in keeping with who I am today and the values I have fought for throughout my career in the military, in medicine, and in public service. But I want to be clear, I understand how this decision shakes Virginians’ faith in that commitment,” Northam added.
Despite the fact that Northam said that “the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now,” this investigation was launched into their whereabouts after Northam refused to resign in an apparent attempt to re-write history in broad daylight.
The law firm McGuireWoods, led by former Attorney General Richard Cullen, has been tasked with the investigation. A press conference will take place on 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday to announce the findings. Cullen will be joined by McGuireWoods partner George Martin and EVMS President Richard V. Homan to address reporters.
It is possible that this suspicious investigation may endorse Northam’s flip-flop. During his backtrack, Northam did admit to wearing blackface on a separate occasion while appearing at a dance contest in San Antonio.
Northam says he did blackface at a dance contest in San Antonio that same year "as part of a Michael Jackson costume," but insists he isn't in the yearbook photo pic.twitter.com/T9SUeRqv0m
— jordan (@JordanUhl) February 2, 2019
He explained that he put shoe polish on his face to depict a crude caricature of Michael Jackson, and dawned the deceased singer’s trademark moonwalk dance to win the contest.
Northam explains that his actual blackface incident was at a dance contest where he dressed as Michael Jackson and put shoe polish on his face.
He says he won the contest because he learned how to moonwalk. pic.twitter.com/BXFC4wVJDq
— jordan (@JordanUhl) February 2, 2019
Northam has theorized that the photo ended up on his page because of a publishing error and hopes that the use of facial recognition software by these government-affiliated lawyers will somehow clear his record.
Regardless of what is announced at tomorrow’s press conference, the damage is already done. Northam is already a national laughingstock, and official declarations to the contrary will likely only add to the embarrassment.
Share: