The Legacy of Jim Crow Persists in Modern America

Are there some actions that are just so hurtful — so rooted in evil — that a public official shouldn’t be forgiven?

Ferris State University

The governor of Virginia still hasn’t resigned, neither has the attorney general.

Both have admitted to wearing blackface in the 1980s, setting off a storm of controversy and demands they resign.

The governor argues, and many agree with him, that it was a mistake made in his young adult life, and that he now fully understands how hurtful it is and has changed his ways.

Are there some things that are just so hurtful — so rooted in evil — that a public official shouldn’t be forgiven?

And what do these things say about the persistent legacy of Jim Crow in Modern America?

Dr. David Pilgrim is the founder and curator of the Jim Crow Museum — a 12,000 piece collection of racist artifacts located at Ferris State University. He joins Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson to discuss that question.

Click on the audio player above to hear that conversation.

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