Rod Thomson

The Florida high school student who made a racist sign asking his girlfriend to the prom has issued a profuse apology. His family issued a more profuse apology. But the promposal brouhaha is forcing him to forgo all the rest of his high school activities — a decision made in conjunction with the high school administration.

There will be no prom, no graduation experience or anything else for him. So, quite a lot of consequences and punishment for a racist, but likely just stupid teenage boy stunt to get a girl. Lesson learned, move on, right?

We all know that was never going to happen. This racist promposal is an opportunity for the activists among us, as one of the school’s gun control activists pointed out in our initial story on this.

First, there is going to be plenty of training for the approved way to think about race relations through the school and the school district. Second, the NAACP intends to be involved in that training, or as they term it, “discussions” about race. And now, naturally, Black Lives Matter wants to be involved in creating “uncomfortable” conversations within the school district that, essentially, blame white people.

The high school student made the promposal to his girlfriend with this sign, “If I was black, I’d be picking cotton, but I’m white, so I’m picking u 4 prom?” So yes, racist. Insensitive. Stupid. It’s not clear however that he showed it anyone other than his girlfriend, and then she posted it on Snapchat with heart-eyed emojis, and his world got flushed.

(We’re consciously not naming him as we did not name bra-less girl because we recognize teenagers do dumb things that should not be digitally hung around their necks forever.)

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The boy has now issued this apology:

“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 … knows that that’s not how we truly feel. It was a complete joke and it went too far. After reading the texts and Snapchats I truly see how I have offended people and I’m sorry.”

Well that’s a humble apology. The boy’s family then further issued this apology the next day:

“While our son has apologized himself, on behalf of our family, we wish to also express our most sincere apologies for the terrible words used in his ‘promposal.’ We love our son dearly and know that he is a far better person than reflected in this reckless behavior…That said, as loving parents, we also feel compelled to share our own deep regret and serious concern about his actions…As a family, we truly recognize this incident is a very difficult but important life lesson and pledge to do all we can to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again…Certainly, we hope that all of the people and communities who were hurt and offended will forgive our son and family.”

“After numerous familial conversations and lengthy discussions with Riverview High School administrators, we have jointly agreed that our son will not be attending any further school activities or functions, including the Prom or graduation ceremony.” [emphasis added]

Of course none of this is enough for the student gun control activists, the NAACP or BLM. Allowing his apology to diffuse the situation would be the loss of an opportunity to pursue political agendas.

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So according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, two of the gun control activists that have risen at the school post Parkland issued a statement after the promposal and apology that they claimed to be “on behalf of Riverview’s student body:”

“It is absolutely disheartening that opinions such as these are still present in current generations. It shows that racism is still alive and thriving and that there needs to be a continuation of fighting for equality to rid of this hate once and for all.”

There’s no evidence the boy “hates” anyone, but this is the way leftists talk — including budding young leftists inculcated in the activist mentality.

Meanwhile, the local chapter of BLM also sees an opportunity, and their comments are telling. Black Lives Matter Manasota President Shakira Refos said race discussions in the schools need to be made “uncomfortable” to create change. She said the discussion hides behind terms such as “under-served populations” and “the achievement gap.”

Actually, that phraseology is used to avoid offending minorities and is not talking about racism but about results. At this point, however, there is no win. Refos also said we need to avoid just talking about “meritocracies.”

“People don’t want to talk about racism, because it makes them uncomfortable,” she told the Herald-Tribune. “They’re comfortable talking about gun issues because they can point at other things in their community or their surroundings. But when you start dissecting the root cause of racism and racist behavior, white people don’t want to have that discussion, and that’s why they don’t listen to black kids, because it will open up a discussion that they don’t want to have.” [emphasis added]

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To break this down, the BLM leader said we need to talk about race relations in an “uncomfortable” — presumably her uncomfortable way — not judge black people on their merits, and it’s all white people’s fault. “They” — white people are the problem in moving forward. Those are just her words and pretty clear meaning.

In a glowing 2015 profile in the newspaper, Refos was described as “a 30-year-old lesbian born in the Netherlands and devoted to diversity,” and “a stalwart at the Harvey Milk Festival for the past four years and recently birthed a monthly ‘Girlcentric’ night at Ivory Lounge, focused on the LGBTQ community.”

Refos, to be fair, is more than just an activist, she’s also an actual do-er in the community. She’s created several successful marketing events for nonprofits in the region and has been part of mainstream organizations’ marketing teams — at least before she became head of BLM.

All of this explosion of response shows what can happen in this leftist-stoked atmosphere of racial tensions and hyper sensitivity to offense. Meanwhile, the kid who made an insensitive mistake that he has now owned and humbly apologized for, is having his life de-railed indefinitely.

Rod Thomson is an author, TV talking head and former journalist, and is Founder of The Revolutionary Act. Rod is co-host of Right Talk America With Julio and Rod on the Salem Radio Network.

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