A Florida high school student decided the best way to ask a girl to prom involved racism, and now he’s rightfully having to explain for his actions.
via NYDN:
Riverview High school senior Noah Crowley, 18, held up a sign reading: “If I was black I’d be picking cotton, but I’m white to I’m picking u 4 prom” in the “promposal.”
His girlfriend reportedly shared the photo on snapchat along with two heart-eyed emojis—indicating that it was a success.
The post went viral on social media where it drew near-universal outrage.
“He seems to not know about America’s history. Racism is a problem. Definitely should not be allowed to go the prom!!” read a comment on Twitter.
A flood of outraged replies prompted an apology from Crowley.
“I want to sincerely apologize if I have offended anyone with the picture going around. That was not my intention. Anyone who knows me or [redacted] knows that that’s not how we truly feel. It was a completely [sic] joke and it went too far,” Crowley said, 10 News reported.
“After reading the texts and Snapchat’s I truly see how I have offended people and I’m sorry,” he said.
At least one Facebook user rejected the apology.
“Man save that apology … you meant what you posted!” read the comment.
The school district sent a letter to parents Monday making them aware of the post.
“We want to make everyone aware of a student’s social media post that has caused a very concerning situation. It involves one of our seniors and his ‘promposal’ to another student. It was racial in nature and administration became aware of it last night,” the letter read.
“Riverview High School absolutely does not condone or support the message conveyed in this post.”
It said guidance counselors would be on hand to speak to students about the matter.
The school district said it was investigating the incident, and that “any disciplinary action and recommendation will be made accordingly.”
Senior Anton Kernohan, who has helped plan gun control protests at the school, said the student body is “disgusted” by the sign.
“But I think it is actually important that this issue occurred on some level,” he told The Herald Tribune. “It shows that racism is still alive and well in our society, and it shows that racism is still alive in my generation and it is something that we as the youth will have to continue to fight against.”
Riverview’s prom is scheduled for May 5, according to the district’s website.
At this point, a racist white kid in Florida isn’t shocking — it’s just upsetting. If it were up to us, Noah wouldn’t be allowed to go to prom OR walk during graduation.
