I am a 56 year old white man. I grew up in the Civil Rights movement, literally. I was carried on my father’s shoulders in the march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965. Yet, I was not as “woke” as a child as I should have been.
At 10 years old (1972), I went to a Cub Scout Halloween party in blackface. I didn’t know what blackface was, nor the history behind it. My parents had divorced and my mother had no money for a costume. Having just seen a Tarzan movie (I said I wasn’t “woke”) on TV with lots of loin-clothed Africans. So, I thought I could go with charcoal darkened skin. Looking back, I cannot believe my mother let me go. I now know why the mothers hosting the party looked so shocked. The only African-American in our cub scout troop didn’t come. Now, I’m thankful for that since we were friends, but, then I was excited to show him. I was so clueless. Recently, my father sent a bunch of photos over to my house, and a photo of me “dressed” in a towel with charcoal on my face and skin from that Halloween was included. I had to explain this embarrassing photo to my daughters.
I have no idea what I would do if that photo ever appeared. It could conceivably wreck my career even now. So, my heart breaks for Gov. Ralph Northam (D-VA).
But he must resign, no matter which picture is him. I was 10 in 1972. He was in his mid 20s in 1984.
He simply cannot continue to be effective as governor. I believe him when he says that the photo doesn’t represent who he is now. He showed in his response to Charlottesville and in his opposition to the Civil War Confederate statues that he is different. His choice of Justin Fairfax as his Lt. Governor running mate shows his change. But he still must resign. If I were Governor of my state of Kentucky and the photo of my 10 year old self surfaced, I’d have to resign even though I went into blackface out of ignorance rather than malice. It doesn’t matter. Northam’s motivations or subsequent life doesn’t matter, either.
We whites have to own up to our racism and ignorance and all of our past actions. We have to take responsibility even when it hurts our careers—even when we are doing good after that. Northam has no path forward.