Nationwide, Black People Are Receiving Racist And Targeted Text Messages

By Color of Change

Photos: YouTube Screenshots

Staring down the future of our country shows that the United States is heading straight into white nationalism. In the days immediately following the election, mass texts were sent to Black people across the nation, alleging that they had been “selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation.”¹

Although the FBI is investigating the messages, this hostile and threatening action is encouraged by the current political state of the nation.

These racist texts have reached people of all ages, from college students to a 12-year-old girl in Milwaukee, showing us that no one is safe from this racist harassment.² Like in 2016, we are seeing that widespread violence towards Black people is an immediate threat. During the next four years, we must be prepared to fight back against white nationalism and anti-Blackness, especially with plans by the incoming administration to implement Project 2025. 

Under Trump’s Project 2025, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives would be slashed in public and private agencies, institutions, corporations, and organizations nationwide. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn affirmative action in college admissions, major corporations such as Ford, Lowe’s, Target, Toyota, Boeing, and others have backtracked on their commitments to diversity and equity initiatives as an attempt to avoid “political polarization.”³ This is irresponsible and dangerous.

This is the world white nationalists want. They want to keep Black people from the opportunities we’ve earned and suppress our upward mobility, all to advance their own hateful agendas. 

That’s why we’re asking you to speak up.

References: 

1. Erin Jones, Ariane Datil, “Yes, racist text messages telling people to report to plantations to pick cotton are real”, CBS19 Texas, November 7, 2024, https://www.cbs19.tv/article/news/verify/national-verify/racist-text-messages-telling-people-report-plantations-pick-cotton-are-real/536-bfb1c716-799a-4075-8e77-cfeff764beda/
2. Zoie Henry, “Milwaukee 12-year-old receives racist text message: ‘You’ve been selected to pick cotton,’” WISN12 Milwaukee, November 8, 2024, https://www.wisn.com/article/milwaukee-12-year-old-receives-racist-text-message-to-pick-cotton/62853702/
3. Alicia Gonzalez, “The Corporate Retreat from DEI: A Short-Sighted Strategy,” Forbes, August 31, 2024, https://www.forbes.com/sites/aliciagonzalez/2024/08/31/the-corporate-retreat-from-dei-a-short-sighted-strategy/