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Student Wears Blackface for Promposal and Explains Why He Doesn't Think It's Racist

This happened at the same school where someone referenced lynching in a promposal.

A high school senior at Los Gatos High School in California has defended his decision to wear blackface as part of his promposal. The student — whose identity has been kept private — said he only intended the invite to be fun and he does not find it racist.                          

“I didn't mean to do it in a racist way,” the student told FOX2. “I still don't think it's racist because at no point did I mock anyone.”

  • The senior originally asked his date to prom by using a dark-skinned bitmoji — an avatar created using an app. When his date was unsure if his ask was serious, he decided to ask her in person by dressing up like the bitmoiji, dark skin included.

    After pictures of the promposal were seen by other members of the community, the student was subjected to much criticism. Although he was forced to attend a 45-minute counseling session in his school, the student still feels as though people took his invite too personally.

    “People are offended by the stupidest things these days,” said student. “At what point do we say enough is enough and let the offended run the world?”

  • This controversial promposal is the second time someone used racism to ask someone to prom. Last month, a different Los Gatos student referenced lynching on a poster asking someone to prom, reported NBC Bay Area.

    “Do you wanna be like a n****r and hang at prom?” read the poster made by an unidentified junior. Also on the poster was a drawing of a lynching. 

  • In response to the racist promposal, the school released a statement to the El Gato paper (the school's newspaper) that said, "No communication about any school event should denigrate another person or group for any reason. We are aware of two prom asks this spring that have been of racist nature and want this choice never to recur.”

    Additionally, Los Gatos High School will consider offering cultural sensitivity programs next year. 

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