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title: Virginia Governor Ralph Northam Denies Being in Racist Yearbook Photo | TIME
description: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam told reporters on Saturday that he does not believe he is one of the two people in a racist photo featured in his school yearbook.


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og:title: Virginia Governor Ralph Northam Denies Being in Racist Yearbook Photo
og:description: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam told reporters on Saturday that he does not believe he is one of the two people in a racist photo featured in his school yearbook.


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twitter:description: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam told reporters on Saturday that he does not believe he is one of the two people in a racist photo featured in his school yearbook.


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# Virginia Governor Ralph Northam Denies Being in Racist Yearbook Photo

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/8fc18QKE.m3u8" -->
## Video: Virginia Governor Ralph Northam Denies Being in Racist Yearbook Photo

[Watch (HLS stream): Virginia Governor Ralph Northam Denies Being in Racist Yearbook Photo](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/8fc18QKE.m3u8) (2:29)

![Virginia Governor Ralph Northam Denies Being in Racist Yearbook Photo](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/8fc18QKE/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2019-02-02. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam told reporters on Saturday that he does not believe he is one of the two people in a racist photo featured in his school yearbook._


---

Jul 28, 2023 3:12 AM UTC

---

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[Virginia Governor Apologizes for 'Racist and Offensive' Costume in 1984 Yearbook](/video/k8NEcmkI/)

### Virginia Governor Apologizes for 'Racist and Offensive' Costume in 1984 Yearbook

[Democrat Ralph Northam Has Won the Race for Virginia Governor](/video/WOOHRZuB/)

### Democrat Ralph Northam Has Won the Race for Virginia Governor

---


## Transcript

When my staff showed me the photo in question yesterday, I was seeing it for the first time. I did not purchased the EVMS yearbook and I was unaware of what was on my page. When I was confronted with the images yesterday, I was appalled That they appear on my page, but I believe them and now that I am not either of the people in that photo. In the hours since I made my statement yesterday, I reflect it with my family and classmates from the time and I found my conclusion that I am not the person In that photo. My belief that I did not wear that costume or attend that party stamps in part from my clear memory of other mistake I made in the same period of my life.

That same year I did participate in a dance contest in San Antonio In which I darkened my face as part of a Michael Jackson costume. I look back now and regret that I did not understand the harmful legacy of an action like that. It is because my memory of that episode is so vivid That I truly did not believe I am in the picture in my yearbook. Today, I am not ready to ask for [ UNKNOWN ] to grant me their forgiveness for my past actions. I also do not fully expect that they were immediately believed my account of these events. Right now, I am simply asking for the opportunity to demonstrate, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the person I was is not the man I am today.

I am asking for the opportunity to earn your forgiveness. I believe the agenda this administration is pursuing, Clearly demonstrates the progress both I and our commonwealth have made since the darkest chapters of our history. I promise to fight for Virginia that works better for all people and our commitment to economic justice, access to health care, criminal justice reform Educational equity and a clean environment reflect those priorities. As this conversation moves forward, I want to hear from Virginians from every walk of life, about how we can fight even harder to build the Virginia that they deserve.

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