Page 12 - HOH

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 4 september 2019

Alabama governor doesn’t plan

to resign over blackface skit

By KIM CHANDLER lic apology last week, Ivey ernor Ivey needs to do the
Associated Press reiterated that she was right thing and resign as
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) wrong to appear in the skit Governor and let someone
— Alabama Gov. Kay over 50 years ago and that lead the people of Ala-
Ivey said Tuesday that it does not reflect who she bama into a brighter and
she should not have worn is today. The Republican more inclusive future, not
blackface in a college governor said she has no the status quo,” Benard
skit decades ago, but she plans to quit. Simelton, president of the
does not plan to resign “Heavens no, I’m not go- Alabama NAACP, said in a
over something that hap- ing to resign. It’s something written statement.
In this Nov. 6, 2018 file photo Republican Gov. Kay Ivey speaks
to supporters after she won the election at a watch party in pened so long in the past. that happened 52 years The organization said if Ivey
Montgomery, Ala. In her first public appear- ago and I’m not that per- is serious about racial rec-
Associated Press ance since issuing a pub- son. My administration onciliation, she should con-
stands on being inclusive sider policies such as Med-
and helping people,” the icaid expansion to “level
Republican governor said. the playing field in areas
Ivey last week apologized of education, and health-
after a 1967 college radio care.” Alabama Senate
interview surfaced of her Minority Leader Bobby
then-fiance Ben LaRavia Singleton, who is African
describing her wearing American, said last week
“black paint all over her that he appreciated Ivey
face” in a skit called “Cigar “owning” the incident and
Butts” at skit night at the apologizing for it. litician to
Baptist Student Union. Her face scrutiny over wearing
office released the record- blackface decades ago. A
ing after university officials racist photo in the medical
discovered it while working school yearbook of Virginia
on a project to preserve Gov. Ralph Northam led
old university records. to calls for his resignation.
Her admission of wearing Virginia Attorney General
black face came after Mark Herring also acknowl-
she had told The Associ- edged wearing blackface
ated Press in February that in college.
she had never done so. The skit, which appeared to
Ivey said Tuesday that she have taken place in 1967,
doesn’t remember the skit. came three years after the
“I didn’t remember be- first African American stu-
ing at the Baptist Student dent entered Auburn and
Union in any kind of skit like six years after segregation-
that for sure. But I’ve apol- ist Gov. George Wallace’s
ogized for it. I should not infamous stand in the
have done that. I know it’s school house door to try to
important to apologize to block the entry of two Afri-
the people of Alabama,” can American students at
Ivey said Tuesday. the University of Alabama.
Ivey’s public apology drew In the radio interview,
a mixed reaction. LaRavia brought up the skit
The Alabama NAACP on when asked to share their
Tuesday repeated a call “most hilarious moments”
for Ivey to resign. The group from the skit night. LaRavia
pointed to some of her ac- said if they ever forget their
tions as governor, including college days, “all we’d
signing legislation to pro- need to do is come back
tect Confederate monu- to the Auburn BSU and look
ments and other historic at some of those pictures
statues from being torn they took that night and I
down. understand we would be
“The NAACP believes Gov- quite humbled at this.”q