SARASOTA, FL (WWSB) - Time and time again we see creative ways kids ask each other to the prom, but the Sarasota School District and many others says a sign that was shown asking someone to the prom is racist and unacceptable.
The sign reading "If I was black, I'd be picking cotton, but I'm white so I'm picking you for the prom" Riverview student Erin Williams knows the student and is still overwhelmed. She says, "I'm angry, I'm hurt and I'm confused."
Williams posted the picture on her Facebook page and it has since gone viral. She says this isn't the first time racial incidents have occurred on Riverview's campus.
I've just been complaining about someone calling me the "n" word. we've had our problems we dealt with it and they tried to deal with it. i don't know why it took administration this long how big of a problem this is but i'm glad something is being done about it now."
But according to his good friend since his sophomore year, this is the first time this student has exhibited this type of behavior. Cody Palmer says, "He's never gotten in a fight over race or anything like that at school. He's never gotten in an argument over it so i don't think he is racist at all."
The Sarasota School District was made aware of the post sending a robocall to Riverview parents Monday morning. Now the district say they're working with local and national civic leaders, including the NAACP to discuss the issue of race district wide. Sarasota Chapter of the NAACP Trevor Harvey says the incident itself was extremely upsetting.
"We're in a generation that feels that they can just do and say whatever they want to do and not realize how it is impacting their brothers and sisters or their peers."
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