NORFOLK, Va. — As the 2019 General Assembly session ended, Sunday, Norfolk Delegate Jay Jones (D), 89th District, is speaking out about the crisis that consumed the Virginia Capitol and the state of race relations in the Commonwealth.
Revelations of blackface embroiled Governor Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring, which Jones said pointed to a painful history that he and other black Americans have endured for generations.
“I think the emotions turn into pain and anger and anguish and angst and I think every black Virginian and every black person around this country who is aware of what is going on has a different process to handle it,” said Jones.
Jones’ process came in the form of a passionate speech he gave on the House floor, Thursday. He recalled racist incidents he and his family faced, as something that sticks with him. He also recalled a childhood memory where the spouse of a lawmaker told her child not to play with him because he's black.
“I think it was really important for the people in the General Assembly and the people around Virginia who were watching or listening to know that racism and these struggles did not stop with the Civil Rights Movement and the 60's and 70's,” said Jones.
Discussing Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax’s comments, comparing his two sexual assault allegations to a Jim Crow era lynching, Jones said he’s still processing them in their entirety.
“I think Fairfax is speaking from his heart and speaking for himself and I think that over the course of these next several weeks or months certainly there will be, hopefully due process will run its course and we can find a resolution to that situation,” said Jones.
Jones added he believes racism is something that still pervades today but that he’s hopeful for the future.
“I think something like blackface is something… that’s why we’ve got to confront that today and I think that’s, you know, a major step towards our healing and reconciliation in Virginia,” said Jones.
At 29 years old, Jones is the youngest black lawmaker in the Virginia legislature and the son of former Norfolk Delegate Jerrauld Jones, who is currently a Norfolk Circuit Court Judge.
