A racist “promposal” went viral Tuesday (April 27) at Big Lake High School and prompted the Minnesota School District to go remote for the remainder of the week following “a number of threats” toward students.
The prom proposal, which was posted to Facebook, showed two white students holding a sign that read, “If I was Black, I’d be picking cotton, but I’m white, so I’m picking you. Prom?”
This is no “promposal.” If it’s true, I can’t believe we have to explain to people all the ways this is SO wrong. The Big Lake Schools says it does not condone racism. It is taking this post “very seriously” and is investigating. @jenniferfaustin has more this morning. pic.twitter.com/2PlePInWqb
— Gia Vang (@Gia_Vang) April 28, 2021
The photo quickly circulated and sparked outrage within the school community and across social media as people weighed in on the inappropriate and racist promposal.
The Minnesota School District spokesperson released a statement that it was “evaluating it under any and all applicable School District policies and will take whatever action is necessary and appropriate to address the situation,” according to KARE 11.
The statement continues, “Due to state and federal data privacy laws, the School District is prohibited from sharing more information about this matter with the public about the specifics of this incident and the students involved. Big Lake Schools does not condone racism in any form.”
Here’s Big Lake Schools full statement. pic.twitter.com/VFhmNcO3vA
— Gia Vang (@Gia_Vang) April 28, 2021
Former students of Big Lake High School told KARE 11 that they are not surprised regarding the behavior or the racist promposal.
“That’s a product of the environment that the school produces,” said Rayveen Koha-Jallah, a 2018 graduate of Big Lake High School and a local civil rights activist.
“Every time there’s a racial issue, they try to sweep it under the rug, or they try to say this is a learning and teaching moment,” Koha-Jallah said. “They worry about the white children in the picture and their future, and they don’t worry about the effects of all the children of color who have to see it, who go to school with them.”
Minnesota School District officials announced a switch to remote learning for the remainder of the week. The district said in its statement that it is “committed to ensuring that all students and staff are treated equally and can attend school and report to work in a comfortable and welcoming environment.”
