A Southern Governor’s view of Virginia’s Governor, Ralph Northam
By Don Siegelman
Governor of Alabama, 1999–2003
What the Governor of Virginia did by ridiculing Blacks and extolling the image of a Klansman in his college yearbook showed he was playing to a racist audience. He was trying to win racists over at the expense of decency and concern for African Americans.
The excuse: he was in college and college students do stupid things. That was 1984. When I was in College in 1964, I encouraged the formation of
The African American Society, I worked for Charles Evers, Medgar’s brother, when he ran for governor of Mississippi and I joined with the SGA Presidents to end the playing of “Dixie” at Alabama football games. See any contrast here?
I went on to work in the Dump Johnson movement in 1968, the Viet Nam Moratorium in 1971, worked against the Dixiecrats and George Wallace in 1974, pushed to expand voting rights in 1978, and was still elected Governor of Alabama. While I’m a white man, I was known by African Americans as “their” governor.
What we do, how we treat others throughout our lives, in my experience, remains constant. We remain true to our moral compass.
The people of Virginia have elected some of the nation’s most talented and compassionate public officials. Governor Northam is just not in the same league. However, I don’t think the governor should resign, I think the people of Virginia need to make better choices next time around.
Don Siegelman
Governor of Alabama, 1999–2003
Lt. Governor, 1995–1999
Attorney General, 1987–1991
Secretary of State, 1979–1987
DonSiegelman.org
GovSiegelman@gmail.com
