Virginia looks at scrapping defunct, racist laws still on the books

[SummerMadness]

Virginia looks at scrapping defunct, racist laws still on the books

One law in Virginia declares that “no child shall be required to attend integrated schools.” Others dictate that white and black Virginians live in separate neighborhoods, and that the races be kept apart on trains, playgrounds and steamboats.

Those are among nearly 100 antiquated and mostly defunct laws that the former capital of the Confederacy needs to wipe off its books to move beyond its fraught racial history, a state commission announced Thursday in a report.

The Commission to Examine Racial Inequity in Virginia Law was created six months ago by Gov. Ralph Northam (D), who was struggling to save his governorship after a racist photograph was unearthed from his 1984 medical school yearbook. Northam survived near-universal calls for his resignation by refusing to step down and pledging he would devote the rest of his term helping the state reckon with race.

 

[Dave-W]

Its about time.

 

[PloverWing]

Refreshing news.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Virginia looks at scrapping defunct, racist laws still on the books

Good! It's been way overdue.

 

[durangodawood]

"Others dictate that white and black Virginians live in separate neighborhoods, and that the races be kept apart on trains, playgrounds and steamboats."

Wow. Creepy.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Meh...most places tend to have laws on record that are long since disregarded. For example....

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/f...=6883.&article=2.&highlight=true&keyword=frog

I'm pretty sure oral sex is still technically a misdemeanor in Maryland or Maine or something.

 

[Chesterton]

...a racist photograph was unearthed from his 1984 medical school yearbook

Who was reading a 35 year old yearbook?

 

[ruthiesea]

"Others dictate that white and black Virginians live in separate neighborhoods, and that the races be kept apart on trains, playgrounds and steamboats."

Wow. Creepy.

Today: creepy. Then: normal. It’s the country in which I grew up.