KANSAS CITY - Racist text messages invoking slavery raised alarm across the country this week after they were sent to Black men, women and students, including middle schoolers.
Some of the people who received the texts are students of Derby High School in Kansas. Students at Missouri State University report receiving the texts.
The messages, sent anonymously, were reported in several other states as well, including New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
They generally used a similar tone but varied in wording. Some said the recipient was going to a “plantation” for cotton picking and instructed them to show up at an address at a particular time “with your belongings.”
It’s not yet clear who was behind the messages, but federal officials are investigating.