Virginia Gov. Northam wanted to attend a historically black college's event—but was asked to stay away

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) had the idea of going on a "reconciliation tour" to help black people see that he's not as racist as his blackface/Ku Klux Klan yearbook photo would indicate.

The first stop? An event at Virginia Union University, a historically black school, honoring students who protested segregation in Richmond nearly 60 years ago.

Northam was apparently invited by the school's administration. The only problem: The students wanted no part of Northam's presence, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

And why would they? Northam's attendance would almost certainly overshadow the purpose of the event (which was student body president Jamon Phenix's concern), and Northam has not exactly been subtle about his attempts to use black institutions and leaders to get himself out of this predicament.

So, Phenix, on behalf of Virginia Union students, asked Northam not to come. Northam agreed to their request in a letter he sent back to Phenix.

"I appreciate the original invitation of VUU's administration, but I will abide by the students' wishes," Northam wrote. "I accept the Student Government Association's invitation for future dialogue and honest conversation on issues of race, reconciliation, and equity."

Northam seems like he's weathered the worst of the racist yearbook storm, as his story has largely faded from media attention in favor of "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett's apparent hoax and President Donald Trump's national emergency.

Still, he's trying to regain some respect from leaders in Virginia's black community. On Wednesday, he met with the founder of the National Black Farmers Association, John Boyd Jr. Before that, Northam's aides had him reading works by black authors as part of his rehabilitation process.

Northam has admitted to wearing blackface to dress as Michael Jackson for a dance contest. He also admitted to being in a yearbook picture featuring a man in blackface and another man in a KKK uniform. He later said he wasn't in the picture.