Federal and state authorities are working to find the origins of racist text messages sent to Black people across the country threatening them with slavery and telling them they were “selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation.

The racist text messages were sent to Black men and women across several states and told them they had been “selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation.”

The FBI made a statement on racist texts received by Black communities. Students at the University of Missouri reported instances of similar texts received in the days around the election.

A federal investigation is underway after racist text messages were sent to Black people in several states this week, including in Ohio.

The FBI is investigating multiple racist text messages sent to students at Fisk University and campuses nationwide, TBI Director David Rausch said Tuesday. Fisk University safety officials went on “high alert” last week,

Students across the country, including some at LAUSD schools, received racist text messages shortly after the election. The district and the FBI are investigating.