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Federal authorities are investigating the source of mass racist text messages sent this week to black people across the country, including children.
Hateful messages sent anonymously were reported in multiple states and were sent to black college, high school, and middle school students and referenced slavery.
Many of the texts began with the message “You have been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation” (or something similar).
The Associated Press reported that the messages “varied slightly, but each instructed the recipient to ‘board a bus’ to be transported to a ‘plantation’ to work as a slave.”
A North Carolina mother who identified herself only as Nicole said she was deeply shaken by the email her daughter showed her Thursday night.
“You hear about things like this all the time, but you never want your child to go through that,” she said. “Ideally, this wouldn’t be a problem as she grows up…this is like a slap in the face and it shows me that [racism] It’s a problem that hasn’t changed at all. ”
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The NAACP condemned these hateful messages, saying they represent “an alarming increase in vile and abhorrent rhetoric from racist organizations across the country.”
“The unfortunate reality of electing a president who has historically embraced and sometimes encouraged hate is unfolding before our eyes,” said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson. “There is,” he said. “These messages are a vile and abhorrent response from racist groups across the country emboldened to fan the flames of fear and spread hatred that many of us are feeling following Tuesday’s election results. It represents an incredible increase in rhetoric.”
Screenshot of racist email mass email sent to Black students across the U.S. after the 2024 election. Although the text differs slightly, each instructs recipients to “board a bus” that will take them to a “plantation,” the Associated Press reported.
Students in several communities, including Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood, the San Fernando Valley, and parts of the Inland Empire, received the texts, sparking outrage not only from the students themselves but also from parents and school officials.
Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga released a statement addressing the racist messages and said administrators were in contact with law enforcement to monitor the situation.
“As a campus and community, we do not tolerate the use of racial slurs or culturally insensitive language,” the statement reads.
Several Santa Monica High School students also received derogatory messages. They immediately reported the situation to school administrators.
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton later said targeting students with racist messages was “unfathomable.”
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Additionally, Santa Monica College issued a statement condemning the messages and offering assistance to students who may have received them.
“As a reminder, there is no place for racism, unlawful discrimination, or harassment at SMC,” the university’s statement said. “We unequivocally condemn the vile and racist rhetoric in these text messages and stand ready to support the targeted students.”
The racist mass document was released in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. The FBI is leading the investigation into the hate messages.
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