Author Topic: Virginia attorney general admits to wearing blackface at 1980 college party (Read 2481 times)

mystery-ak · « **on:** February 06, 2019, 05:56:24 pm »

Virginia attorney general admits to wearing blackface at 1980 college party
By Dan Merica, CNN

Updated 12:33 PM ET, Wed February 6, 2019

Richmond, Virginia (CNN)Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring admitted Wednesday that he appeared in blackface at a 1980 party, further plunging Richmond into chaos as Democrats here struggle to overcome a trio of scandals rocking their three top statewide elected officials.

Herring said Wednesday that he wore blackface as a 19-year-old to dress up as a rapper at a party. The admission comes days after the Virginia Democrat called on Gov. Ralph Northam to resign after he admitted a racist photo in his medical school yearbook featured him, a charge Northam later denied.

"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," Herring said in a statement. "It sounds ridiculous even now writing it. 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."

He added: "This was a onetime occurrence and I accept full responsibility for my conduct. 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."

more
https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/06/politics/virginia-attorney-general-blackface/index.html

verga · « **Reply #1 on:** February 06, 2019, 07:03:05 pm »

I must confess that When I was about 22 years old, and before we were married my wife and I dressed up as Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy. It was callous and Dollist of me and I regret my actions to this day. We have both attended sensitivity training about this to over come our obvious bias and disdain for people of cloth.

edpc · « **Reply #2 on:** February 06, 2019, 07:03:07 pm »

Quote

"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," Herring said in a statement.

These are the breaks.

DCPatriot · « **Reply #3 on:** February 06, 2019, 07:04:39 pm »

This is insane.

Blazing Saddles, anyone?

Wingnut · « **Reply #4 on:** February 06, 2019, 07:15:39 pm »

I dressed up like the Kingfish one year. On Old Time Radio I loved his schemes to get rich by duping his brothers in the Mystic Knights of the Sea Lodge. Classic stuff.

edpc · « **Reply #5 on:** February 06, 2019, 07:24:20 pm »

In 1982, I laughed hysterically, when inner city Baltimore residents made lemonade out of dish detergent. I guess Iâ€™m racist.

On July 15, 1982 the Maryland Poison Control Center in Baltimore reported that 33 adults and 46 children had consumed a brand new lemon-scented dishwashing liquid named Sunlight.

https://uselessinformation.org/1188-2/

Restored · « **Reply #6 on:** February 06, 2019, 07:29:13 pm »

I work with the family member of a House Delegate here in Va. Everyone in Richmond is just completely baffled by all this.

Frank Cannon · « **Reply #7 on:** February 06, 2019, 08:11:47 pm »

The VA AG at a recent press conference.....

Wingnut · « **Reply #8 on:** February 06, 2019, 08:26:17 pm »

Virginia's new state seal

IsailedawayfromFR · « **Reply #9 on:** February 07, 2019, 02:15:24 am »

He is getting out in front of it, unlike the sinking governor.

Wingnut · « **Reply #10 on:** February 07, 2019, 02:22:59 am »

Quote from: IsailedawayfromFR on February 07, 2019, 02:15:24 am

He is getting out in front of it, unlike the sinking governor.

How do you get out in front of a run away train/

IsailedawayfromFR · « **Reply #11 on:** February 07, 2019, 03:44:03 am »

Quote from: The Ghost on February 07, 2019, 02:22:59 am

How do you get out in front of a run away train/

You have a point. He believes it is stoppable by him, so he might be delusional.

Sighlass · « **Reply #12 on:** February 07, 2019, 04:04:27 am »

Good grief, liberals having to lie in the bed they made...

Listen around that time I dressed up as a girl/woman/SheThing for a church Halloween party. Glad no pictures survive of it cause I am sure I made a pretty ugly girl. All I remember is I plotted down and man spread one time and my mother knocked my knees together so hard it made my head swim. I was ticked she did this, and thought it was my dumbest costume decision ever. Will I apologize for dressing up like this way back when? Heck no, it was innocent.

Do I feel bad for this liberal AG? Not really, again this is the stupid PC crap they invented and they can choke in it for all I care. Jerks drowning in their own quagmire.

Wingnut · « **Reply #13 on:** February 07, 2019, 04:07:33 am »

Quote from: IsailedawayfromFR on February 07, 2019, 03:44:03 am

You have a point. He believes it is stoppable by him, so he might be delusional.

Don't stop him now

Sorry...

Frank Cannon · « **Reply #14 on:** February 07, 2019, 04:14:52 am »

Quote from: The Ghost on February 06, 2019, 07:15:39 pm

I dressed up like the Kingfish one year. On Old Time Radio I loved his schemes to get rich by duping his brothers in the Mystic Knights of the Sea Lodge. Classic stuff.

Wha? Do you wear a Racoon Coat when you drive around in your Stutz Bearcat?

Wingnut · « **Reply #15 on:** February 07, 2019, 04:21:54 am »

Quote from: Amb. Frank Cannon on February 07, 2019, 04:14:52 am

Wha? Do you wear a Racoon Coat when you drive around in your Stutz Bearcat?

I only have a coonskin hat.

Frank Cannon · « **Reply #16 on:** February 07, 2019, 05:35:34 am »

Quote from: The Ghost on February 07, 2019, 04:21:54 am

I only have a coonskin hat.

Those are all the rage in Ol' Virginie these days.

verga · « **Reply #17 on:** February 07, 2019, 10:49:12 am »

I must also confess that when I was in the Army there were several occasions that I wore Camo makeup. Since this was well after the draft in an all volunteer Army I did it of my own volition.

jmyrlefuller · « **Reply #18 on:** February 07, 2019, 03:38:21 pm »

The same people who cry "you're not allowed to tell people not to be offended by blackface" also cry "you're not allowed to be offended by Colin Kaepernick."

Frank Cannon · « **Reply #19 on:** February 07, 2019, 03:42:11 pm »

Quote from: verga on February 07, 2019, 10:49:12 am

I must also confess that when I was in the Army there were several occasions that I wore Camo makeup. Since this was well after the draft in an all volunteer Army I did it of my own volition.

Now that you disclosed that you can expect to lose your plant base.

QueenCatofAragon · « **Reply #20 on:** February 07, 2019, 04:11:02 pm »

Slight thread hijack, but I donâ€™t know where to ask this.

We had on the TV this morning before my husband went to workâ€”- local news morning show. They announced that theyâ€™d looked through Mark Herringâ€™s yearbook and found someone else who wore blackfaceâ€”now a practicing plastic surgeon. They made his name public and showed the building he works in.

Am I the only one who thinks outing a private citizen like that is beyond the pale?

Frank Cannon · « **Reply #21 on:** February 07, 2019, 04:13:42 pm »

Quote from: QueenCatofAragon on February 07, 2019, 04:11:02 pm

Slight thread hijack, but I donâ€™t know where to ask this.

We had on the TV this morning before my husband went to workâ€”- local news morning show. They announced that theyâ€™d looked through Mark Herringâ€™s yearbook and found someone else who wore blackfaceâ€”now a practicing plastic surgeon. They made his name public and showed the building he works in.

Am I the only one who thinks outing a private citizen like that is beyond the pale?

It is and people usually sue and win cases like this.

Wingnut · « **Reply #22 on:** February 07, 2019, 04:14:26 pm »

Quote from: Amb. Frank Cannon on February 07, 2019, 04:13:42 pm

It is and people usually sue and win cases like this.

May the force be with him.

edpc · « **Reply #23 on:** February 07, 2019, 04:20:38 pm »

Every person who has ever worn a mud mask should apologize.

IsailedawayfromFR · « **Reply #24 on:** February 07, 2019, 04:20:58 pm »

Soon we will be banning dark tan suntan lotion.

Guess you are a racist if you appear darker than you should be.