In the hours following Donald Trump’s re-election as President of the United States, an alarming wave of deeply racist and threatening text messages inundated the phones of Black Americans across the country. The shocking messages, some signed “a Trump supporter,” told recipients that they had been “selected” to pick cotton and report to “the nearest plantation,” in a horrific invocation of slavery.
Hateful Messages Contain Disturbing Slavery References
While the exact wording varied, the core message remained consistent: Black individuals were being “selected” to engage in forced labor reminiscent of the brutality of chattel slavery in America’s past. Disturbingly, some of the texts addressed recipients by name, adding a chilling layer of personalization to the threats.
The Trump campaign swiftly denied any involvement, with a spokesperson telling CNN, “The campaign has absolutely nothing to do with these text messages.” However, the widespread nature of the texts, affecting Black citizens in numerous states including Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Nevada, and Washington D.C., has raised serious questions and sparked fear within the Black community.
Targeting of Students and Youth Sparks Outrage
Among the recipients were not only Black adults but also high school students in states like Massachusetts and New York, as well as those attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) such as Alabama State University. The targeting of young Black scholars has sparked particular outrage and concern.
“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.”
– Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO
FBI Launches Investigation as Outrage Grows
In response to the flood of racist messages, the FBI has launched an investigation in collaboration with the Justice Department and other federal authorities. The bureau acknowledged the “offensive and racist” nature of the texts and the need for swift action to identify those responsible.
The NAACP issued a scathing condemnation of the texts, with President and CEO Derrick Johnson attributing the emboldening of racist groups to the election of a President “who, historically has embraced, and at times encouraged hate.” Johnson emphasized that “there is no place for hate in a democracy” and that the mention of slavery in 2024 was “deeply disturbing” and sought to “prevent Black Americans from enjoying the same freedom to pursue life, liberty and happiness.”
Trump Campaign Denies Involvement, Threatens Legal Action
Despite the Trump campaign’s vehement denial of any connection to the racist texts, many skeptics point to the President’s history of inflammatory rhetoric and reluctance to forcefully denounce white supremacist groups. A campaign spokesperson stated that they would “take legal action” if the origin of the messages could be determined, characterizing them as promoting “ugliness” in the campaign’s name.
The spokesperson also touted Trump’s “diverse and broad coalition of support, with voters of all races and backgrounds,” asserting that his “landslide victory” represented a “mandate for change” that would “benefit every working man and woman.” Critics argue this language downplays the gravity of the racist attacks.
A Painful Reminder of Enduring Racism
For many in the Black community, the barrage of racist messages served as a stark and painful reminder that even in 2024, the specters of slavery, oppression, and vicious hate are far from buried. As the nation grapples with yet another blatant display of racism, the focus now turns to identifying the culprits and delivering justice.
The incident has reignited conversations around the normalization of extremist views, the responsibilities of political leaders in denouncing bigotry, and the urgent need for unity in the face of attempts to terrorize and demean Black Americans. As the FBI investigation unfolds and the full scope of the attack becomes clear, one thing is certain: the fight against racism is far from over, and complacency is not an option.
