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'We still have a lot of work to do to get rid of this kind of ugliness in our country': Text targeting Black and Brown Americans insinuating slavery

The FBI will be investigating who sent the text messages.

USA, — A racist text message was sent across the country to multiple Black and Brown people from an unknown source on Friday. 

"The FBI is aware of the offensive and racist text messages sent to individuals around the country and is in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter," the FBI announced Friday in a tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

The racially divisive language used in the message told recipients to be prepared to get picked up and work as slaves on a specific day. Terms like plantation and cotton were mentioned in the message as well.

RELATED: 2 women trace ancestors back to slave owned by St. Louis doctor in the 1800s

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones said her son received a message and she received a similar email. 

Credit: Tishaura Jones

“I’m furious that someone thought it was OK to send messages like that to children, or anyone else. I happened to be with my son when he got it, and I’d seen it before, so I was ready to talk to him and tell him that it was a cruel hoax. It is completely unacceptable that anyone should have to deal with being referred to as property or less than any other human being, especially in a society where Black and Brown people have always been treated as second-class citizens if we’ve been treated as citizens at all," She shared in a statement to 5 On Your Side. "The fact that this message is going around is a reminder that we still have a lot of work to do to get rid of this kind of ugliness in our country. I’m afraid it is only going to get worse, as our nation is once again about to have a man at the top of our government who, time and time again, degrades other human beings because of their race, gender, or disability."

According to NBC affiliate KYTV, there have also been confirmed text messages sent to Missouri State University students. 

One MSU student called the message unnerving. 

Several other universities throughout the country have confirmed the message was also sent to select students. 

The Springfield NAACP and the Missouri State College Chapter have denounced the message.

"We are appalled by these acts of intimidation, which not only undermine our core values of equality and justice but also threaten the safety and well-being of our students in educational environments that should be inclusive and nurturing for all," a spokesperson for the chapter told our NBC affiliate KYTV.

State Representative David Tyson Smith in Columbia, Missouri said the texts were unacceptable and abhorrent. 

"These egregious acts are 100% unacceptable in our community and those responsible need to be held accountable," Smith said. 

“Hate has no place in the state of Illinois," Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. "Full stop. I am outraged by reports of these offensive, racist texts and am particularly saddened to learn these hate-filled messages have even been received by students, including in Illinois. I urge any Illinois resident who has received one of these racist text messages to contact local law enforcement or the Help Stop Hate Helpline, or to file a complaint with my office’s Civil Rights Bureau.”

The Associated Press has shared reports coming from New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee that have varied wording but similar tone messages sent. 

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