Gov. Ralph Northam reveals he used blackface for a talent show in which he danced like Michael Jackson

Steve Helber/AP

• Virginia Governor Ralph Northam said on Saturday that he once painted his face with shoe polish as part of a Michael Jackson costume. 
• Northam denied he was in a photo of two people wearing racist costumes after earlier apologizing in a statement and video.
• In the photo, one person is wearing Ku Klux Klan-style robes, while the other's face is painted black.
• White actors routinely used blackface in the 19th century to create mocking depictions of slaves on stage.   

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has denied appearing in a 1984 yearbook photo of two men wearing racist costumes, walking back his earlier admission that prompted resignation calls. 

However, Northam disclosed that when he was 25, he darkened his face with shoe polish as part of a talent-show costume in which he moonwalked like Michael Jackson.

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See Also:

• Republicans urge Gov. Ralph Northam to resign after racist photo from 1984 surfaces
• 'No defense for that shockingly racist photograph': Democrats are calling for Gov. Ralph Northam's resignation after he appears in racist 1984 yearbook photo
• Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam admits he appeared in 1984 yearbook photo featuring 'racist and offensive' blackface costume

SEE ALSO: Republicans urge Gov. Ralph Northam to resign after racist photo from 1984 surfaces

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