3rd Candidate For Governor .Virginia Attorney General Admits to Wearing Blackface in College
- Thread starter Don Diego
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RICHMOND, Va. – In a statement Wednesday, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring admitted to wearing blackface while dressing up as a rapper at a college party in 1980.
This is the latest scandal as Virginia’s top leaders, Gov. Ralph Northam and Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax are under fire for separate scandals, one involving racism, and the other involving an alleged sexual assault.
“In 1980, when I was a 19-year-old undergraduate in college, some friends suggested we attend a party dressed like rappers we listened to at the time, like Kurtis Blow, and perform a song. It sounds ridiculous even now writing it,” Herring said in a statement. “But because of our ignorance and glib attitudes – and because we did not have an appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of others – we dressed up and put on wigs and brown makeup. This was a onetime occurrence and I accept full responsibility for my conduct.”
In the statement, Herring says “this conduct is in no way reflective of the man I have become in the nearly 40 years since.”
CBS 6 reporter Jake Burns reports that Herring called an emergency meeting with more than a dozen members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus Wednesday morning.
The members would not comment on the meeting, but Delegate Lamont Bagby (D-Henrico) said to “pray for the Commonwealth” and that he has faith in
Virginia.
The scandal comes after Herring, who is third in line to the governor’s office, called for Governor Ralph Northam’s resignation after a racist picture in his medical school yearbook was uncovered.
“It is no longer possible for Governor Northam to lead our Commonwealth and it is time for him to step down,” Herring said Saturday afternoon.
This is the latest scandal as Virginia’s top leaders, Gov. Ralph Northam and Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax are under fire for separate scandals, one involving racism, and the other involving an alleged sexual assault.
“In 1980, when I was a 19-year-old undergraduate in college, some friends suggested we attend a party dressed like rappers we listened to at the time, like Kurtis Blow, and perform a song. It sounds ridiculous even now writing it,” Herring said in a statement. “But because of our ignorance and glib attitudes – and because we did not have an appreciation for the experiences and perspectives of others – we dressed up and put on wigs and brown makeup. This was a onetime occurrence and I accept full responsibility for my conduct.”
In the statement, Herring says “this conduct is in no way reflective of the man I have become in the nearly 40 years since.”
CBS 6 reporter Jake Burns reports that Herring called an emergency meeting with more than a dozen members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus Wednesday morning.
The members would not comment on the meeting, but Delegate Lamont Bagby (D-Henrico) said to “pray for the Commonwealth” and that he has faith in
Virginia.
The scandal comes after Herring, who is third in line to the governor’s office, called for Governor Ralph Northam’s resignation after a racist picture in his medical school yearbook was uncovered.
“It is no longer possible for Governor Northam to lead our Commonwealth and it is time for him to step down,” Herring said Saturday afternoon.
Herring’s statement:
“The very bright light that is shining on Virginia right now is sparking a painful but, I think we all hope, important conversation. The stakes are high, and our spirits are low.
“I am sure we all have done things at one time or another in our lives that show poor judgment, and worse yet, have caused some level of pain to others. I have a glaring example from my past that I have thought about with deep regret in the many years since, and certainly each time I took a step forward in public service, realizing that my goals and this memory could someday collide and cause pain for people I care about, those who stood with me in the many years since, or those who I hoped to serve while in office.
“That conduct clearly shows that, as a young man, I had a callous and inexcusable lack of awareness and insensitivity to the pain my behavior could inflict on others. It was really a minimization of both people of color, and a minimization of a horrific history I knew well even then.
“Although the shame of that moment has haunted me for decades, and though my disclosure of it now pains me immensely, what I am feeling in no way compares to the betrayal, the shock, and the deep pain that Virginians of color may be feeling. Where they have deserved to feel heard, respected, understood, and honestly represented, I fear my actions have contributed to them being forced to revisit and feel a historical pain that has never been allowed to become history.
“This conduct is in no way reflective of the man I have become in the nearly 40 years since.
“As a senator and as attorney general, I have felt an obligation to not just acknowledge but work affirmatively to address the racial inequities and systemic racism that we know exist in our criminal justice system, in our election processes, and in other institutions of power. I have long supported efforts to empower communities of color by fighting for access to healthcare, making it easier and simpler to vote, and twice defended the historic re-enfranchisement of former felons before the Supreme Court of Virginia. I have launched efforts to make our criminal justice system more just, fair, and equal by addressing implicit bias in law enforcement, establishing Virginia’s first-ever program to improve re-entry programs in local jails, and pushing efforts to reform the use of cash bail. And I have tried to combat the rise in hate crimes and white supremacist violence that is plaguing our Commonwealth and our country.
“That I have contributed to the pain Virginians have felt this week is the greatest shame I have ever felt. Forgiveness in instances like these is a complicated process, one that necessarily cannot and should not be decided by anyone but those directly affected by the transgressor, should forgiveness be possible or appropriate at all. In the days ahead, honest conversations and discussions will make it clear whether I can or should continue to serve as attorney general, but no matter where we go from here, I will say that from the bottom of my heart, I am deeply, deeply sorry for the pain that I cause with this revelation.”
“The very bright light that is shining on Virginia right now is sparking a painful but, I think we all hope, important conversation. The stakes are high, and our spirits are low.
“I am sure we all have done things at one time or another in our lives that show poor judgment, and worse yet, have caused some level of pain to others. I have a glaring example from my past that I have thought about with deep regret in the many years since, and certainly each time I took a step forward in public service, realizing that my goals and this memory could someday collide and cause pain for people I care about, those who stood with me in the many years since, or those who I hoped to serve while in office.
“That conduct clearly shows that, as a young man, I had a callous and inexcusable lack of awareness and insensitivity to the pain my behavior could inflict on others. It was really a minimization of both people of color, and a minimization of a horrific history I knew well even then.
“Although the shame of that moment has haunted me for decades, and though my disclosure of it now pains me immensely, what I am feeling in no way compares to the betrayal, the shock, and the deep pain that Virginians of color may be feeling. Where they have deserved to feel heard, respected, understood, and honestly represented, I fear my actions have contributed to them being forced to revisit and feel a historical pain that has never been allowed to become history.
“This conduct is in no way reflective of the man I have become in the nearly 40 years since.
“As a senator and as attorney general, I have felt an obligation to not just acknowledge but work affirmatively to address the racial inequities and systemic racism that we know exist in our criminal justice system, in our election processes, and in other institutions of power. I have long supported efforts to empower communities of color by fighting for access to healthcare, making it easier and simpler to vote, and twice defended the historic re-enfranchisement of former felons before the Supreme Court of Virginia. I have launched efforts to make our criminal justice system more just, fair, and equal by addressing implicit bias in law enforcement, establishing Virginia’s first-ever program to improve re-entry programs in local jails, and pushing efforts to reform the use of cash bail. And I have tried to combat the rise in hate crimes and white supremacist violence that is plaguing our Commonwealth and our country.
“That I have contributed to the pain Virginians have felt this week is the greatest shame I have ever felt. Forgiveness in instances like these is a complicated process, one that necessarily cannot and should not be decided by anyone but those directly affected by the transgressor, should forgiveness be possible or appropriate at all. In the days ahead, honest conversations and discussions will make it clear whether I can or should continue to serve as attorney general, but no matter where we go from here, I will say that from the bottom of my heart, I am deeply, deeply sorry for the pain that I cause with this revelation.”
Yo Mama
...the sweeter the juice.
Hmmm...
Is there a video, pictures or whitnesses that can "come forward" on his behalf?
Is there a video, pictures or whitnesses that can "come forward" on his behalf?