Virginia State Sen. Tommy Norment edited yearbook with racist photos in college
By Emily Tillett
/ CBS News
Two of Virginia's top leaders remain mired in controversies over the use of racist images, and another is now joining them. Republican State Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment was the managing editor of the Virginia Military Institute's (VMI) yearbook in 1968, which featured a variety of racist images and slurs. The Virginian-Pilot first reported Norment's role in the publication of the yearbook, known as "The Bomb."
The book, which can be found in its entirety online, shows photos of upperclassmen with derogatory nicknames, some of which are racist in nature. In one photo of a student from Thailand, the young man is referred to as "Jap" and "Chink," with another referred to as "The China Man." Another photo features the description of a student being a "Barracks Jew."
Other pages contain racist epithets for African Americans, with one featuring a photo of students in blackface and another referring to student walking through a "stoop-n***** arch."
Beside a photo of Norment as the yearbook's managing editor, the future state senator is quoted as saying, "It has been the objective of this year's Bomb staff to concentrate on the VMI as it exists in actuality, not in theory."
He added, "There is an ever-broadening chasm between the two positions. With the completion of this editorial and the 1968 Bomb, I regretfully leave behind the theme 'Honor Above Self' and the loyalty of a few selected Brother Rats. Work on the Bomb has permitted me to release four years of inhibitions. And now, I am sorry our work is completed. It is a feeling only genuinely understood by those of us who labored in the 'den of inequity.'"

The yearbook's revelation comes in the wake of Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's own racist yearbook photo scandal. Among the pictures on Northam's page is one in which a man in blackface is standing next to another in a Ku Klux Klan costume.
Northam initially apologized for appearing in the photo but later denied he was one of the two figures in the picture. He did, however, admit to putting shoe polish on his face when he dressed up as Michael Jackson for a talent show in 1984. Northam also attended the same military school. Northam's VMI yearbook page included the racist nickname "Coonman."
Northam's scandal was quickly followed by that of state Attorney General Mark Herring, the second in line to the governorship, who stepped forward and admitted to also dressing in blackface when he was a college student.
When pressed about the yearbook's entries on Thursday, Norment told reporters "the only thing I'm talking about today is the budget," according to the Virginian-Pilot.
Norment is not in the line of succession to the governorship in Virginia.
Rob Legare and Grace Segers contributed to this report
First published on February 7, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Emily Tillett
Emily Tillett is a politics reporter and video editor for CBS News Digital
Ikea exploring first foray into renting furniture
Housewares giant will test rental program this spring as it looks to attract new customers and adapt to changing habits
updated 3M ago
Frank Robinson, first black manager in MLB, has died at 83
Robinson hit 586 career home runs and won the Triple Crown while leading the Baltimore Orioles to their first World Series championship in 1966
updated 1M ago
Woody Allen sues Amazon over scuttled four-movie deal
The director is seeking $68 million from the tech giant, which refused to distribute Allen's latest film
updated 22M ago
Understanding the "legacy of oppression" behind blackface
The practice became popular in mid-1800's minstrel shows, when white performers darkened their faces to depict African-Americans in prejudicial and offensive ways
updated 44M ago
Vet sentenced for using puppies to smuggle heroin
Prosecutors say the man worked with drug traffickers and "betrayed a veterinarian's pledge to prevent animal suffering"
updated 49M ago
Virginia state senator edited yearbook with racist photos in college
The images are just the latest in a string of racist imagery resurfacing for Virginia state politicians
updated 9M ago
South Carolina lawmakers propose criminalizing abortion
It's the latest state-level push to restrict access to abortion as politicians prepare for a potential overturn of Roe v. Wade
1H ago
White House pushes global women's initiative
President Trump signed a memo Thursday launching the "Women's Global Development and Prosperity" initiative
1H ago
Whitaker refuses to testify unless Dems drop subpoena threat
The House Judiciary Committee empowered chairman Jerry Nadler to issue a subpoena to Whitaker
1H ago
Fairfax accuser told congressman about alleged assault over a year ago
Vanessa Tyson claims that the incident took place during the 2004 Democratic National Convention
updated 24M ago
Discovery of WWII-era bombs temporarily shuts down Rome airport
Italy's Defense Ministry said experts had to remove the three bombs, which weighed more than 300 pounds
updated 59M ago
Global lawmakers try again to get Zuckerberg to testify
A Facebook vice president sat next to an empty chair reserved for CEO Mark Zuckerberg when the committee met in London last year
1H ago
Mexico presents plan to find thousands missing amid drug war
"Our territory has become a huge clandestine grave," government official says as he announces multi-million dollar investment
3H ago
ISIS' territory nearly gone, but is U.S. leaving job "halfway" done?
One Kurdish commander said ISIS has already established an underground network of terror cells preparing to regroup and strike back
7H ago
Venezuela's Maduro tries to block humanitarian aid from U.S.
If U.S. manages to get desperately needed food and medicine into the country, it could boost the opposition, but it may not be easy
6H ago
Woody Allen sues Amazon over scuttled four-movie deal
The director is seeking $68 million from the tech giant, which refused to distribute Allen's latest film
updated 22M ago
Download Oscar ballot for your office pool or party
Planning an Academy Award office pool, or an Oscar-watching party? Download our ballot of nominees (pdf)
1H ago
Cast of "My Best Friend's Wedding" reunites
Forever and ever, they'll stay in each other's hearts
2H ago
"Mobituaries": Mo Rocca on the enduring popularity of Audrey Hepburn
In her 1951 debut for American TV audiences, the actress re-enacted her wartime experience during the Nazi occupation of Holland
4H ago
Jay-Z offers legal assistance for detained rapper
"In addition to being a successful recording artist, 21 deserves to be reunited with his children immediately," Jay-Z said via Roc Nation
4H ago
Global lawmakers try again to get Zuckerberg to testify
A Facebook vice president sat next to an empty chair reserved for CEO Mark Zuckerberg when the committee met in London last year
1H ago
NASA and SpaceX reset Crew Dragon test flight for March 2
The Crew Dragon and Starliner spacecraft are the centerpieces of NASA's drive to resume launching U.S. astronauts aboard U.S. rockets from U.S. soil
19H ago
Earth could be headed for warmest period on record
The next five years could be even hotter than 2018, which was already near record territory
6H ago
Snap reports record revenues, but struggles to add users
Struggling social media company gets a badly needed boost in growth, while its losses narrowed
Feb 5
Dinosaur that used spiny back to defend itself found in Patagonia
The new species of dicraeosauridae, christened Bajadasaurus pronuspinax, was revealed in scientific journal Nature
Feb 5
Ozzy Osbourne hospitalized after flu complications
"His doctors feel this is the best way to get him on a quicker road to recovery," tweeted his wife Sharon
17H ago
Pet owners report dog deaths from recalled food
While one company is facing rash of unhappy consumers, it's one of at least 10 that distributed potentially toxic food
20H ago
New moms hit especially hard by opioid crisis
Research shows new mothers with opioid use disorder are at a higher of overdose due to lack of resources, shame and stigma
4H ago
Dad travels to Canada for son's medicine that would cost $53K in U.S.
In his State of the Union address, President Trump said his next major priority is lowering the cost of health care and prescription drugs
Feb 6
Fact checking Trump's State of the Union
Here's a look at the president's claims on foreign and domestic policy
22H ago
Ikea exploring first foray into renting furniture
Housewares giant will test rental program this spring as it looks to attract new customers and adapt to changing habits
updated 3M ago
Woody Allen sues Amazon over scuttled four-movie deal
The director is seeking $68 million from the tech giant, which refused to distribute Allen's latest film
updated 22M ago
Three tips for entrepreneurs with late-paying customers
More than two-thirds of small business owners can't pay themselves and nearly one-fifth can't invest in their businesses as a result
1H ago
BlackRock president: "You cannot invest for the future in the future"
A new survey by the investment giant suggests tens of millions of Americans still haven't started saving for their retirement
1H ago
Denver teachers planning first strike in 25 years
Thousands of educators poised to walk out as labor actions continue to roil school districts around the U.S.
1H ago
Body found stuffed in suitcase identified as missing woman
Her body was found in a large suitcase roughly 20 feet off a busy roadway
4H ago
Feds open inquiry into billionaire's sex abuse plea deal
Jeffrey Epstein reached a deal in 2008 to secretly end a federal sex abuse case involving at least 40 teenage girls
5H ago
Questions persist in county's third Taser-related death
Family members say they have seen "shocking" videos that contradict the police account of Chinedu Okobi's death
6H ago
Caught on video: Man shooting school bus driver in head
Driver's wounds aren't life-threatening but police say incident's recklessness was "mind-numbing
11H ago
Man accused of kidnapping Jayme Closs appears in court
Jake Patterson faced a judge in person for the first time
Feb 6