Fairfax should fulfill current administration’s promises to Virginia HBCUs

Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax delivering the commencement address at Norfolk State University on May 5, 2018

Ralph Northam is under pressure to resign as the governor of Virginia following news stories that showed a racist picture on his page in his 1984 yearbook for Eastern Virginia Medical School.

According to CNN report on February 3rd, “The original photo in question depicts one person in blackface and another in a KKK outfit, and although Northam said Saturday he did not believe he was either person in the photo, he told reporters that he had once darkened his face to look like Michael Jackson for a dance competition.”

The denial that he was in the photo appeared to be in conflict with a statement Northam made on February 1st.

“Earlier today, a website published a photograph of me from my 1984 medical school yearbook in a costume that is clearly racist and offensive,” Northam said. “I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now.”

The House Democratic Caucus in Virginia, Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and numerous prominent Democrats across the nation have called on Northam to step down.

If Northam resigns, then Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax will become the 74th governor of Virginia and the second black governor in the history of the state.

The governor and lieutenant governor in Virginia are elected separately, so Fairfax didn’t have to agree to all the campaign promises that Northam made in the 2017 election. But Fairfax should fulfill the promises that Northam made to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Virginia has two public HBCUs: Norfolk State University and Virginia State University. The state has three private HBCUs: Hampton University, Virginia Union University, and Virginia University of Lynchburg.

Fairfax talked about supporting higher education during his 2017 campaign. But HBCUs were not mentioned on a "Justin on the Issues" FAQ posted on his campaign website on June 10, 2017, a “Fairfax for Governor” flyer uploaded to his campaign in June 2017, his responses to a Ballotpedia survey, or his Q&A with Thunderdome Politics.

Northam made promises to HBCUs while he was one the campaign trail. His “Plan for Higher Education” said he would “continue to support our HBCUs.” The plan said: “According to recent SCHEV data, the needle hasn’t moved on the number of African Americans that earn a college education in Virginia. The Northam administration will continue to promote HBCUs by financially supporting pathways through the universities to high-demand job opportunities.”

Northam also talked about HBCUs at a Gubernatorial Forum at Virginia University Union that was hosted by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

He was asked “How will your administration expand and support the African American students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)?”

According to a recap, “Northam answered that higher education is important and so are HBCUs. He acknowledged that funding for higher education has fallen short. However, he asserted that ‘Everyone should be able to live the American Dream’ and that college should be affordable so that students can be prepared for 21st Century jobs.”

Fairfax should fulfill the promises to boost support for HBCUs in Virginia if he becomes the next governor of the state.