Va. Gov. Northam weighs resignation as Lt. Gov. Fairfax faces sex assault allegation
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"I will not excuse the content in the photo, it was offensive, racist, and despicable," is what Virginia Governor Rob Northam called the photo under his name in his medical school (Eastern Virginia Medical School) yearbook.A couple days ago, a picture of Governor Northam of Virginia was discovered in his medical school yearbook that had two figures: one wearing black face and the other wearing a Ku Klux Klan costume. The photo was from the year 1984. Both Republicans and Democrats are asking for his resignation, but the governor has yet to make a final decision.
I am horrified that a governor and a trained physician would be in such a photo. A person whose role is to represent the citizens of Virginia, yet acts in such a discriminatory manner, should be ousted from his role, even if it did happen over 30 years ago. Furthermore, I find it cowardly that he does not take responsibility: he had seen the photo under his name 30 years ago and has not asked the yearbook to remove the photo until his position as governor is threatened by it.
To get an understanding of the situation, I highly suggest watching the second video below the first one.
Discussion Questions
1. Do you believe that Northam should resign?
2. How do we prevent people from offending other people of color?
3. What are your reactions to this story?
In the name of consistency and fair treatment, governor Northam should absolutely resign after many others have been forced out of their positions for similar offenses. I do also find some of this other actions rather disturbing. I don't really think there's a way to prevent people from offending those of color, or of any race for that matter. What's offensive is very much subjective, some have thicker skin than others. I don't think it's possible to prevent offense because as long as there is debate, disagreement, and even comedy, someone somewhere will become offended it the crossfire. A comment does not have to be malicious or directed to offend someone in our current landscape. I also don't think this question is perfect for the situation Northam is facing; while the act he committed is less than upstanding, he did commit it thirty years ago and there's no way he would have had the foresight to ask the yearbook to remove it. I don't think Northam is truly racist and as a result he probably forgot the photo was ever taken in the first place. My reactions are therefore pretty lukewarm. Were it not for other controversy surrounding this governor, I wouldn't be so hasty in advocating for his resignation. I'm not at all surprised this exists, the governor probably forgot it existed, so my reaction isn't one of outrage similar to others.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely do not believe that this incident should force Northam to resign as governor. The photo was from year 1984, which is 35 years ago. The way people behave and the way a person carries themselves can change dramatically over the years. I think people should consider governor Northam to effectively be a different person than he was before. Perhaps some racist sentiments carried over, but even then he would never be able to act out of such sentiments because others would inevitably prevent him from doing so. Therefore, he should not be punished so harshly for an action that his past self did in a completely different environment than he is in now. The best way to prevent people from offending other people of color is to add more accuracy to statements. Discrimination against people of color is the same problem as discrimination in general and it can be solved with more information on both sides. Instead of generalizing actions and characteristics to an entire race, it would be better if everyone stated the facts.
ReplyDeleteThis incident is very complicated, for many have been forced out of their positions for similar offenses. However, in my opinion, it is unfair to completely judge someone based on their past. People change and ruining someone's entire career over one photo may be excessive. Instead, this should be a warning to Northam and should make people more skeptical towards him. It is his decision if he wants to resign; either way I don't have much of an opinion. However, as a society, we should approach those with a racist background with caution. Even Lincoln was a racist initially, then evolved in his thinking. As long as Northam disapproves of racism today, then I think it is okay for him to keep his position. We can't stop people from offending other people of color, but we can bring attention to it and try to change their mindsets in the first place. I think this type of story is way too common and we need to continue promoting equality and educating the ignorant.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Virginia Governor Northam shouldn't have to resign if he regrets it and admits that it was an honest mistake. It was an honest mistake and we shouldn't base a person's current position based on past mistakes. Though it is important to know how we shouldn't offend minorities (or majorities). One way to prevent this can be workshops designed to address racial biases and protocols to do stricter background checks. I was shocked but since it was a long time ago (as the governor was still in college which was many years ago), I wouldn't hold the incident against him as long as it isn't repeated.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Governor Northam should not have to resign from his position. Although what he did in the past was unacceptable and extremely racist, it happened 35 years ago. If he would like to keep his position, he should genuinely apologize for his past and for offending anyone with his past actions. We cannot prevent people from offending people of color, our nation has freedom of speech meaning anyone can say basically anything they want and get away with it. People will be continue to be racist and as Daniel said previously, "what's offensive is subjective". However, this obviously does not make racism right in any way, there is just no way to prevent racism as a whole. I am honestly very surprised that he did not think this picture would come back to hurt him and his professional career even though it was over 30 years ago and the fact that he has yet to take responsibility on this subject.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Governor Northam should not have to resign from his position as long as he acknowledges and apologizes for his mistake. Although his past actions were offensive and disturbing, I believe that people can change, especially after 35 years. I do not think it is legally possible to prevent people from offending people of color without it being unconstitutional. However, I believe it is very possible to educate others and ourselves so that such offensive remarks and actions do not occur as frequently. Such changes should occur during youth as well since that is the time when we are developing and learning what is socially correct. My reaction to this story is unfortunately not too shocked. There have been many incidents, especially this past year, in which similar racist and offensive actions/remarks have occurred. With Trump as president, these actions do not seem to be rare for a political figure as well. However, hopefully such blatant ignorance will cease in politics in the near future.
ReplyDeleteThe acts that he committed are by no means a good thing. However, I believe the public shame he has endured is already more than enough punishment. Although it is right to punish people for being very offensive, doing so to the extreme removes incentive for people with past misdeeds to change and improve. It is like the zero-tolerance policy, in which no matter who starts the fight, both students are punished for fighting. In this situation, someone who has been punched may well thing "I am going to get a detention anyways, might as well get my money's worth" and reply in earnest. Allowing forgiveness over time trades some amount of justice in return for a great deal of redemption.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that Northam should have to resign. The photo was obviously highly offensive and racist, but it does seem to be an honest mistake that occured over 30 years ago. Northam has recently received an enormous amount of public backlash for the yearbook photo, and I think that Northam has probably learned his lesson about the severity of his past actions. To address the second question, it is difficult to change people’s perceptions about others. But I think the first step to preventing people from offending people of color is to educate them about the need to be careful with the words they speak and their actions in order to not offend others. It is extremely important to teach people to not perpetuate racial stereotypes, since I think that racial stereotypes are what continue to make racism persist.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jessica. He shouldn't have dressed in blackface in the first place. However, society was a little different back then and unfortunately, black face was more accepted in certain communities. Obviously, it was still horrible, but he shouldn't have to resign for it. He has learned from his actions and he has been punished by essentially public humiliation. Also, the other candidates have their issues too, including sexual harassment. For the second question, it's all about communication and experience. People need to know how people feel, so voicing what makes one uncomfortable because it educates others on how to act. I feel like most people don't mean to offend people, they just don't realize they are. Additionally, people need to have experiences that are different from their own so that they can start to understand what it is like to live a life like others.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that his past actions are a correct justification for his current character. While I understand the widespread public outrage over the current photo that has surfaced. I do believe that his actions are inappropriate, inexcusable and insensitive, but I do believe that we need to take in account his actions in the time that it was committed, the 1980s, where it was more accepted during that time frame He shouldn't have dressed up like that in the first place, but I don't believe how this one actions warrants a resignation.
ReplyDeleteAlthough my first instinct thought was that Northam should resign, however because it was more accepted at the time, I now believe that it is not necessary for him to resign. His actions still are inexcusable and it would be best for him to respond and apologize for his action. It is important to know that people do make mistakes, and as long as they learn from them and it isn't a reoccurring problem. Northam has already received public humiliation and understands what he did was "offensive, racist, and despicable," and now will not make this type of mistake again.
ReplyDelete