Alabama governor Kay Ivey apologises for wearing blackface but refuses to resign

Critics say the apology 'rings hollow' in a state known for its long history of violence towards African Americans

(REUTERS)

Kay Ivey, the governor of Alabama, has apologised for wearing blackface during a skit in college more than 50 years ago, but says she will not resign.

Ms Ivey, a Republican, said she did not recall the incident, but that she believed it must be true after a recording in which she discussed the skit surfaced.

In the recording, Ms Ivey’s then-fiancé, and future first husband, Ben LaRavia, can be heard discussing the sketch with Ms Ivey.

“Even after listening to the tape, I sincerely do not recall either the skit, which evidently occurred at a Baptist Student Union party, or the interview itself, both which occurred 52 years ago. Even though Ben is the one on tape remembering the skit — and I still don’t recall ever dressing up in overalls or in blackface — I will not deny what is obvious,” Ms Ivey said.

She continued: “As such, I fully acknowledge — with genuine remorse — my participation in a skit like that back when I was a senior in college.”

In the recording, a college radio appearance with Ms Ivey and Mr LaRavia in 1967, the two can be heard discussing a sketch titled “cigar butts”, which they said “did not require a lot of talent, as far as verbal talent, but did require a lot of physical acting, such as crawling around on the floor looking for cigar butts and things like this, which certainly got a big reaction out of the audience.”

Ms Ivey is the latest American politician to be caught in a blackface scandal. The Democratic governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, was accused of wearing black shoe polish on his face while dressing up as Michael Jackson for a dance contest.

Mr Northam originally admitted to wearing blackface in an image from his medical school yearbook, which also showed the man in blackface next to an individual wearing a Ku Klux Klan robe. He later denied that either man was him. The attorney general of Virginia, Mark Herring, soon after admitted to wearing blackface while dressing as a rapper in college.

Blackface is considered to be a racist practice in the US, and has its roots in minstrel shows, a form of entertainment from the early 19th century in which white people depicted African Americans in skits, variety acts, musical performances, and the like.

Even with her apology, Ms Ivey’s history with the issue has drawn intense scrutiny and criticism in her state, which is infamous for the violence and racism towards African Americans there during the era of slavery and the subsequent civil rights movement.

Representative Terri Sewell, the only Democratic House member from the state, was among those to criticise Ms Ivey, tweeting that the apology “rings hollow”.

“Racism – in any of its forms – is never acceptable, not in the 1960s and not now,” Ms Sewell wrote. “Governor Ivey’s actions were reprehensible and are deeply offensive. Her words of apology ring hollow if not met with real action to bridge the racial divide.”