The FBI has launched an
investigation into a series of racially charged text messages targeting Black
Americans across the United States. These messages, sent to individuals in
states such as Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, New York, and Pennsylvania,
instructed recipients to report to plantations “to pick cotton.” Many of the
recipients included young people, from high school to college students. The
alarming messages have ignited nationwide outrage and concerns over potential
links to recent political events, prompting responses from both federal
authorities and civil rights groups.
Details of the Racist Messages
Reports indicate that the
offensive messages began circulating on Wednesday, shortly after Election Day.
The texts, which varied in wording, contained disturbing and racially demeaning
language. One version of the message informed recipients that they had “been
selected to become a slave at your nearest plantation” and would be “picked up
in a white van.” Other messages similarly instructed individuals to report to
plantations, using language that evoked historical trauma.
A mother from Indiana
shared her experience after her high-school-aged daughter received one of these
messages. Requesting anonymity for her safety, she described her reaction as
“extremely, extremely alarming” and expressed how vulnerable the messages made
her feel. “It’s because of America’s history, but the timing is specific to the
day after the election,” she noted, speculating that the messages may have been
part of a coordinated effort.
At the University of
Alabama, students also received similar texts, prompting concerns across the
campus. Hailey Welch, one student interviewed by the university’s student
newspaper, The Crimson White, initially thought it was a prank until realizing
the widespread nature of the messages. “I was just stressed out, and I was
scared because I didn’t know what was happening,” Welch recounted.
The FBI’s Response and Investigation Efforts
In a statement, the FBI
confirmed its awareness of the offensive messages and affirmed its
collaboration with the Department of Justice and other federal authorities in
the investigation. Local authorities across multiple states have also advised
residents to report any similar messages to law enforcement.
Efforts to trace the
messages have revealed that they were sent from phone numbers associated with
area codes in at least 25 states. TextNow, a mobile provider that allows users
to create phone numbers anonymously, acknowledged that one or more of its accounts
were used to send these messages. The company promptly disabled the accounts
once the misuse was discovered, emphasizing its commitment to cooperate with
authorities.
Additionally, Jessica
Rosenworcel, the chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has
labeled the messages “unacceptable” and stated that the FCC takes targeted
harassment of this nature very seriously. The FCC is conducting a parallel investigation,
working closely with other agencies to identify the perpetrators.
In Louisiana, Attorney
General Liz Murrill reported that some of the messages had been traced to a
Virtual Private Network (VPN) server located in Poland, a tool often used to
mask the origin of digital communications. However, this discovery has led to more
questions than answers, as tracing messages back to a VPN complicates efforts
to identify the original source. “We have found no original source,” Murrill
stated, adding that this tactic could mean the messages originated from
virtually anywhere in the world.
Civil Rights Groups and Community Reactions
The civil rights
organization NAACP quickly condemned the messages, attributing the surge in
racially charged rhetoric to the political climate following President-elect
Trump’s recent election victory. Derrick Johnson, the NAACP’s chief executive,
stated, “These actions are not normal…these messages represent an alarming
increase in vile and abhorrent rhetoric from racist groups across the country,
who now feel emboldened to spread hate and stoke the flames of fear.” His
statement reflects the fear that certain extremist groups feel more empowered
to act upon their biases in the current political environment.
The timing of the
messages, coming immediately after Election Day, has led some recipients to
connect them with recent political tensions. Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for
the Trump campaign, denied any connection, stating, “The campaign has
absolutely nothing to do with these text messages.” Despite the disclaimer, the
association of the messages with political events has heightened concerns among
both recipients and observers.
Legal and Psychological Impacts
These messages, which
exploit historical wounds tied to the legacy of slavery in the United States,
are causing profound psychological distress for recipients. For Black
Americans, references to forced labor and “plantations” are not merely
offensive; they evoke a deeply rooted historical trauma that still impacts many
people today.
In Indiana, the mother of
a high school student affected by the messages voiced her frustration,
particularly in light of reports that the source might be international. “It
doesn’t make it any safer or better that it could have been foreign,” she told
the BBC. “They know the mindset of America.” Her comments highlight the fact
that racial trauma can be exploited regardless of geographic origin, especially
in a country grappling with systemic racism.
Beyond the immediate
psychological impact, such incidents can have lasting effects on the sense of
safety and belonging among communities of color. Racist harassment via
anonymous text messages adds a new layer to the challenges faced by Black
Americans, reinforcing the need for greater digital security and proactive
measures by social media and telecommunications companies to prevent abuse.
Moving Forward
As the investigation
unfolds, authorities continue to urge those who have received these messages to
report them. The potential for international involvement, as well as the use of
VPN technology, presents challenges, but agencies remain committed to uncovering
the origins of these attacks.
The FBI and FCC’s
statements reinforce that this issue is a priority, as does the swift action by
TextNow to disable the offending accounts. However, there is a clear call to
action for mobile providers and technology companies to develop stronger safeguards
against harassment and targeted abuse in digital spaces.
As the investigation
progresses, it is essential for authorities, technology companies, and civil
rights organizations to work collaboratively to prevent similar incidents from
recurring. This incident is a sobering reminder of the enduring vulnerability
Black Americans face, even in digital spaces. The disturbing messages not only
exploit racial trauma but also highlight the necessity of strengthened digital
protection against hate and harassment in an increasingly connected world.
