There was an uproar last week when we discovered the governor of Virginia had an odd picture in his 1984 medical school yearbook: a caricature of a black man and a KKK member, both seemingly smiling and clueless. Nothing in the photo or its caption explains why the photo was on his page.

The governor was apologetic and remorseful but refused to resign. He still has the support of many of the state’s black population, according to polls, although a significant number are upset. Understandably so. The picture was racist, offensive, discriminatory and in very poor taste. It was 1984 Virginia...