Racist text messages referencing slavery have caused widespread concern across the country this week. The messages were sent anonymously to Black individuals, including students as young as middle schoolers, in various states such as New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Although the messages varied in wording, they generally instructed recipients to show up at a specific address with their belongings, while some did not mention a location at all. Some messages even made references to the incoming presidential administration.
Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the Justice Department, and the Federal Communications Commission, are investigating these disturbing messages. Students at high schools and universities, including Clemson and the University of Alabama, reported receiving these messages. In some cases, students were directed to report to a “plantation” or were threatened with being “selected to pick cotton.”
The racially motivated nature of these messages has sparked outrage and fear among recipients. Parents, like Tasha Dunham from California, expressed deep concern after her daughter received one of the messages. The fact that children, including middle school students, were targeted has added to the distress. Schools, such as the Lower Merion School District in Pennsylvania and Fisk University in Tennessee, have condemned the messages and urged students to remain calm.
Civil rights organizations, including the NAACP and the Southern Poverty Law Center, have denounced the messages as hate speech and emphasized that such actions will not be normalized. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law highlighted that various civil rights laws can be applied to address these hate-related incidents. The wireless industry trade group CTIA is actively working to block these threatening messages and their sources.
The widespread distribution of these messages across multiple states, including the Southern states and even the District of Columbia, has raised concerns about the organized and malicious intent behind them. The mention of slavery in 2024 and the targeting of Black Americans based on their skin color are seen as perpetuating a legacy of evil and hindering their pursuit of freedom and happiness.
As investigations continue to identify the perpetrators behind these messages, it is essential for law enforcement agencies and wireless providers to take swift action in addressing and preventing such hateful acts. The solidarity and condemnation expressed by various organizations and individuals serve as a reminder that hate speech has no place in society and must be actively challenged and opposed.