Racist Text Message Campaign Targets Black Americans in Texas, Sparks Federal Investigation

​In the aftermath of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, numerous Black Americans across Texas and other states reported receiving anonymous, racist text messages that included personal details and disturbing references to slavery. These messages, often addressing recipients by name, instructed them to prepare for pickup to work on plantations, and some contained threats of violence. The texts were sent from various area codes, making it difficult to trace their origin. Services like TextNow, which allow users to create free phone numbers, were identified as platforms used to send these messages; the company has since shut down the implicated accounts and is cooperating with authorities. The FBI, along with other federal and state agencies, has launched an investigation into these incidents, which have raised significant concerns about data privacy, targeted harassment, and the potential exploitation of communication platforms for hate-based campaigns.