I have something in common with Ralph Northam. I have a picture of myself in blackface from 1984 also. I was 11 at the time and was in a 5th grade play where I and several other white students were dressed in blackface and portrayed slaves. I don’t remember what the play was called or what exactly my role was.
The local newspaper ran a story about it and included a picture of me and a couple of others. And the story wasn't a condemnation, it was more of an "aww, look at the cute kids doing a play" kind of story.
There were several actual black children in the play as well and at least one in the picture that the newspaper ran. I found the picture in a box of old stuff a couple of years ago, and was shocked and appalled by it and by the fact that I had completely forgotten it had happened. I don’t recall anybody at all objecting to it at the time, but obviously my memory of then is less than 100%.
I’m not saying this to defend Ralph Northam. He was a grown-ass man in 1984 and he, like my 5th grade teacher and the other adults around, damn well should have known better. It’s just amazing how much racist shit white people in little towns across America were getting up to in the 80s with no negative consequences. It makes me say thank God for the internet and “outrage culture” so that shit like this doesn’t fly anymore. And Northam should resign.