By This Is Topeka Staff
Published: April 20, 2025
A racially charged prom-posal sign featuring two Topeka-area high school students has ignited outrage across social media and within the local community. The sign, held by Allie [Allison] Theis of Washburn Rural High School and Bryson Vance of Seaman High School, reads:
“If I was Black I’d be picking cotton, but I’m white so I’m picking you for prom.”
The photo appears authentic and has been circulating via Snapchat and Instagram for at least a few days, according to multiple sources. This Is Topeka has independently verified the identities of the students involved and the photo’s existence with individuals close to both schools.
The image first gained broader attention after a local student reposted screenshots of the original Snapchat post to Facebook, where it quickly spread. “I couldn’t believe people were laughing at it,” The student said in an interview. “This isn’t just a joke — it’s disgusting.”
The local student also indicated that this was not the “first time area students have felt emboldened to share their racist views on social media.”
This incident is not isolated. Similar racist prom-posal signs have surfaced in other parts of the country — and even locally — in recent years, sparking community backlash, disciplinary reviews, and conversations about systemic racism in schools.
As of publication, officials from both Washburn Rural and Seaman High School have not issued a public statement. It is unclear whether disciplinary action has been taken.
Community members, parents, and students have begun calling for accountability and education reform. “This isn’t just about one sign or two kids,” said one parent on Facebook. “It’s about the culture that allows this kind of thinking to be considered funny or acceptable.”
Since the photo began circulating widely, the internet has exploded with backlash — and so have the inboxes of two major universities. Social media users have tagged Arizona State University, where Allie Theis has reportedly applied, and Kansas State University, where Bryson Vance is believed to be an applicant. Hundreds of posts have demanded that the schools reject the students’ applications, with many citing institutional values and the need to confront racism head-on. Neither university has made a public comment on the situation as of this writing.
In the wake of the controversy, online users have begun sharing the names of Allie Theis’s parents and their places of employment across multiple platforms. This Is Topeka has reached out to the Families of Bryson Vance and Allie Theis for a comment or an explanation. At the time of publication no comments were made.
If you know more, please reach out to Jeff@Thisistopeka.com.
This Is Topeka will continue to follow this story and update as more information becomes available.
