Washington, D.C. – Following the recent presidential election, several federal and state authorities are looking into a disturbing series of racist mass text messages sent to Black individuals nationwide. The messages, which contained references to slavery, targeted Black men, women, and children, leading to significant scrutiny from the FBI and various law enforcement agencies.
Reports indicate that these anonymously dispatched texts reached individuals in multiple states, such as New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Tennessee. The FBI has been in contact with the Justice Department regarding these messages, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is also conducting an investigation alongside federal and state officials.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel described the messages as “unacceptable,” emphasizing that the agency treats such targeting very seriously. While some variations existed in the texts, all contained chilling instructions for recipients to “board a bus” bound for a “plantation” to work as slaves. Many of those affected include school-age children, sparking outrage and alarm among parents and officials.
The identity of the sender remains obscured, as the perpetrator employed a VPN to disguise their location, according to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill. The Maryland Attorney General’s Office reported numerous instances of racist messages being sent to Black citizens, including minors. In a public statement, officials claimed that these communications seem to be part of a coordinated national effort targeting Black individuals in the aftermath of the election.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown condemned the messages, labeling them “horrific” and intolerable. He also urged recipients to alert local law enforcement about the texts. It is particularly troubling, he noted, that children were included in datasets typically reserved for adults, such as campaign donors or magazine subscribers.
“This represents an intimidating and threatening misuse of technology, potentially breaching several laws,” Brown stated, adding that authorities aim to uncover the full story behind these messages and leverage all available resources to hold those responsible accountable.
The phone carrier TextNow has acknowledged that one or more of its accounts were used to disseminate these racist messages, leading the company to promptly disable those accounts for violating its policies. “In our investigations, we discovered these messages have been sent via multiple carriers throughout the country, and we are collaborating with law enforcement on this issue,” the company noted in a statement.
Major telecommunications providers, including AT&T and Verizon, suggested that this problem is pervasive across the industry and referred comment to an industry trade group. Nick Ludlum, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer of CTIA, emphasized that the wireless industry has blocked numerous racist texts and the associated numbers. Through the CTIA’s Secure Messaging Initiative, steps are being taken to identify platforms misused by bad actors and engage with law enforcement to address the situation.
This wave of racist text messages has predominantly targeted Black Americans, with a disconcerting focus on Black children, including middle school students. Nicole, a mother from North Carolina who chose to remain anonymous, expressed her alarm over the messages received by her high school daughter. The texts suggested preparations to return to a plantation, marking her daughter’s first exposure to such blatant racism, a conversation Nicole was not prepared to have.
“It feels like a slap in the face, highlighting that issues of racism remain pervasive in our society,” she remarked. Although her daughter initially did not respond much and deleted the distressing message, Nicole herself took time to process the shocking incident, feeling sadness for her child.
In addition, Nicole reflected on her daughter’s inclusive mindset, noting the difficulties of confronting the harsh realities of racism in America. “Parents must stay alert and engage in difficult conversations with their children, regardless of how uncomfortable it may feel. It’s crucial to offer open and supportive dialogue,” she advised.
Several students from historically Black colleges reported receiving similar messages, with varied wording. Dr. Robert Greene II, an assistant professor of history at Claflin University, shared that students and campus officials have conveyed their distress over the matter. He believes that the timing of these messages and their targeting of young Black individuals are deliberate attempts to instill fear and intimidation.
Dr. Greene explained that this intimidation tactic is reminiscent of historical forms of oppression, but with the added complexity of modern technology contributing to a climate of fear and uncertainty. The ease with which personal data can be acquired and used for unethical purposes adds to the sense of vulnerability within affected communities.
Moreover, Cori Faklaris, an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, noted how legitimate marketing strategies are exploited for malicious intents. “People seeking to market their services often utilize the most effective means of communication, which today includes mass texting. Unfortunately, this environment is also conducive to scammers and hateful individuals,” she emphasized.
Unlike emails or social media, text messaging in the U.S. is regulated like a utility, lacking the filtering mechanisms that could prevent the distribution of harmful content. However, following a spike in texting scams amid the pandemic, law enforcement agencies have developed improved tools for investigation, suggesting that tracing the sources of these racist messages might become feasible.