Racist Texts Referencing Slavery Spark National Outrage

Racist Texts Referencing Slavery Spark National Outrage \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Racist text messages invoking slavery were anonymously sent to Black individuals and students across the United States, raising widespread alarm. The FBI, alongside the FCC and state law enforcement, has launched investigations to identify the perpetrators. The messages were sent to various states and targeted recipients from middle school students to university attendees. Civil rights leaders and organizations have condemned these messages, labeling them as hate-fueled and indicative of deeper social issues.

Racist Texts Referencing Slavery: Quick Looks

• Wide Reach and Targets: Anonymous, racially offensive messages invoking slavery were reported across New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and other states. Recipients included middle school, high school, and college students.
• Content and Variability: While the wording differed, messages often instructed recipients to report to specific locations or referenced slavery in a threatening manner. Some messages alluded to the incoming presidential administration.
• Agency Involvement: The FBI confirmed communication with the Justice Department regarding the messages. The Federal Communications Commission is investigating alongside state law enforcement to trace the source.
• Personal Stories: In Lodi, California, Tasha Dunham’s 16-year-old daughter received a disturbing text directing her to a “plantation” in North Carolina. The family’s search revealed the location to be a museum, adding to the confusion and concern.
• Reactions from Schools: Middle school students in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, were among those targeted, leading acting superintendent Megan Shafer to express shock and concern in a letter to parents. Universities like Clemson and the University of Alabama also reported similar incidents, prompting local police involvement.
• University and Community Response: Fisk University, a historically Black college in Tennessee, called the texts “deeply unsettling” but sought to reassure students that the messages were likely from bots or malicious actors lacking genuine intent or credibility.
• Industry Action: CTIA, the wireless industry trade group, indicated that providers are aware of these messages and are taking steps to block and trace the originating numbers.
• Civil Rights Organizations Speak Out: David Brody of the Digital Justice Initiative at The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law noted that the messages had reached more than ten states. Civil rights organizations, including the NAACP and the Southern Poverty Law Center, condemned these acts as hate speech with deep historical resonance.
• Historical Context and Concerns: NAACP President Derrick Johnson described the texts as perpetuating an “evil legacy” dating back to slavery and the Jim Crow era, warning against the normalization of such intimidation.

Deep Look

This week, disturbing reports emerged as racist text messages invoking slavery were anonymously sent to Black individuals, students, and community members across the United States, triggering both fear and a rapid response from law enforcement and civil rights organizations. These messages were reported in a range of states including New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, among others. The messages, varying slightly in wording but unified by their racist undertone, called for recipients to report to specific locations or alluded to slavery, causing anxiety and prompting questions about their origins and intent.

Investigations and Federal Response

The FBI has announced its involvement, confirming that it is in communication with the Justice Department. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has also taken up the investigation, collaborating with both federal and state law enforcement agencies. The Ohio Attorney General’s office has stated its own probe into the matter. Law enforcement and security experts are trying to uncover the source of these anonymous messages and prevent further dissemination. Nick Ludlum, a senior vice president at CTIA, assured that wireless providers are aware of these spam messages and are working to block and trace their origins to stop this harmful campaign.

Personal Accounts and Immediate Reactions

The unsettling impact of these messages was keenly felt by individuals and families. In Lodi, California, Tasha Dunham recounted the moment her 16-year-old daughter showed her a message she received on her phone. The text addressed her daughter by name and directed her to report to a “plantation” in North Carolina. Shocked and afraid, Dunham noted that they had never lived in that state. A quick search revealed that the address referenced in the message was a museum, deepening their sense of alarm and disbelief. Although the daughter initially believed it could be a prank, the timing—just after a highly publicized presidential election—raised fears that it might have a more sinister origin.

Dunham described her distress, linking it to the generational trauma tied to slavery. Although neither she nor her mother experienced slavery firsthand, Dunham emphasized that the pain of that history still affects Black communities. “Everybody’s just trying to figure out what does this all mean for me?” she said, emphasizing the emotional weight these messages carried.

Schools and Universities Take Action

Reports also came in from educational institutions. In Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, acting superintendent Megan Shafer highlighted the deeply unsettling nature of the messages that had reached middle school students. Shafer expressed her concerns in a letter to parents, underlining how children being targeted made the situation even more disturbing.

Higher education institutions were not spared either. Students at Clemson University in South Carolina and the University of Alabama reported receiving similar texts. Clemson Police Department issued a statement acknowledging the reports and encouraged anyone affected to come forward. Fisk University, a historically Black college in Nashville, Tennessee, labeled the messages as “deeply unsettling” and reassured students that these texts were likely from automated bots or unknown individuals seeking to incite fear.

Civil Rights Leaders Condemn the Attacks

David Brody of the Digital Justice Initiative at The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law pointed out that these messages had reached over ten states, including key Southern regions and the District of Columbia. Brody noted that although it’s unclear who is responsible, civil rights laws could apply if these messages are deemed hate-related. Metropolitan Police in Washington, D.C., confirmed that their intelligence unit was investigating the messages.

Margaret Huang, president and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center, joined other civil rights leaders in condemning the messages, stating that hate speech should not be tolerated. Derrick Johnson, NAACP President, spoke strongly about the implications, noting that these references to slavery perpetuate a legacy of terror aimed at Black Americans, impeding their freedom and rights. “These actions are not normal,” Johnson said. “And we refuse to let them be normalized.”

Broader Implications

The timing of these texts, aligning with a tense post-election atmosphere, underscores a troubling landscape for race relations and hate speech in America. The use of references to slavery not only evokes a painful historical chapter but serves as a stark reminder of the discrimination that persists today. Leaders across industries, including wireless providers and civil rights organizations, are pushing back to protect communities from such intimidation and ensure accountability.

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