Meet the black farmer who has helped advise Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on race originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

John Boyd said he first met Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to talk about how the government shutdown was impacting black farmers.

Nearly two weeks after their first meeting, Virginia would be consumed by a series of race-related scandals embroiling the governor, first lady, and attorney general.

(MORE: Virginia first lady Pam Northam allegedly gave black kids raw cotton during mansion tour)

Northam faced national backlash and calls from some in his state to step down over a photo, which depicts two men, one in a Ku Klux Klan robe and another in blackface, on his yearbook page. Northam has denied he was in the picture, has not resigned and has since been on a racial reconciliation tour of sorts meeting with civil rights leaders and others.

Those conservations included discussions with Boyd who, for three decades, has advocated for black farmers as the founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association.

He says Northam’s lack of political experience has been a hindrance in his ability to bounce back following the yearbook controversy.

“I believe sometimes the governor may not have the right choice of words, due to the fact that he’s clearly not a sharped-edged politician that’s been poised at doing those type of off-the-cuff comments over the career,” he said.

Boyd is a fourth-generation farmer who has testified in Congress, met with presidential candidates, and has successfully lobbied for legislation from Rep. Maxine Waters and then-Sen. Barack Obama in efforts to fight discriminatory practices against black farmers.

That included legislation that paid $1.25 billion to black farmers who filed a civil rights lawsuit saying they were discriminated against by the U.S. Agriculture Department.

PHOTO: John Wesley Boyd Jr. poses for a portrait at his farm, May 9, 2012, in Baskerville, VA. (The Washington Post/Getty Images, FILE) More

In the past month, Boyd said he has met with the governor two additional times and has had several phone calls during which he has had frank discussions about race relations. He describes the situation as a “very teachable moment.”

A spokeswoman for the governor said Northam "values his friendship and appreciated Mr. Boyd provided to visit with Virginia black farmers and discuss the challenges they face."

Boyd, meanwhile, posted a photo to Twitter in February from his meeting with Northam, where he urged the governor not to resign. Northam responded by saying, "John, I enjoyed hearing from you today. Thank you for your great work on behalf of Black farmers."

John, I enjoyed hearing from you today. Thank you for your great work on behalf of Black farmers. https://t.co/xShKsVHLq0 — Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) February 8, 2019

Boyd said he has become an ally to the governor and has called for him to stay in office. He adds that Northam “understands the severity" of what was depicted in the photo and "he understands the impact of what he has to do to move forward and heal Virginia.”

(MORE: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam facing calls for resignation after participating in racist 1984 yearbook photo)

On the last day of Black History Month, Northam spoke at the Richmond Slave Trail Commission for the opening of a new exhibition series. During his remarks, which were his first public appearance in weeks, Northam made no mention of the yearbook photo.

“This year, we’re marking the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia. Your work and this exhibit are important components of telling the story of where those first Africans were taken from and what happened here in Virginia,” Northam said.

By keeping Northam in office, Boyd believes it would be more beneficial to African-Americans than replacing him with a new governor.

“I think as if there is some pressure there for the governor to have to step it up and do some things for the African-American community,” Boyd added. “A new governor may come in and not have to do anything, may not have to feel like they have to do anything in the African American community.”

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