A photo of a man who appears to be in blackface and dressed as a woman was in the same 1984 yearbook as the photo of a man in blackface standing next to a man in Ku Klux Klan robes that caused a furor for Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat.
The second photo, found by the Virginian-Pilot in a copy of the 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook, is captioned “who ever thought Diana Ross would make it to Medical School,” according to the outlet. It was not immediately apparent who the photo was of.
Another photo in the 1984 EVMS yearbook pictures a man who appears to be in blackface and dressed as a woman with the caption: “who ever thought Diana Ross would make it to Medical School!” https://t.co/ahpjoZhShu pic.twitter.com/0IVMHSthi1
— The Virginian-Pilot (@virginianpilot) February 2, 2019
Northam said in his Saturday press conference he believed the photo on his page was not the only photo of someone in blackface in the yearbook.
Eastern Virginia Medical School President Richard V. Homan said in a statement the photo behind the scandal “is shockingly abhorrent and absolutely antithetical to the principles, morals and values we hold and espouse of our educational and research institution and our professions. Racism and discrimination in any form is not acceptable.”
Northam, 59, said Saturday he will not be stepping down in the wake of the photo scandal, the second time this week he has faced criticism. Northam, a pediatric neurologist, had earlier drawn the ire of conservatives for his comments about legislation that would weaken abortion restrictions in the state.
Members of his own party on both the local and national levels have called for him to step down over the photo.
