Federal and state authorities are investigating a wave of racist and threatening text messages that have alarmed Black Americans across the U.S. this week, with victims reporting offensive messages invoking painful historical references to slavery. Officials and recipients, including public figures, expressed concern and anger over the hateful messages, which were sent anonymously to individuals in at least 21 states, according to multiple reports.

The messages, sent via anonymous text and email, directed recipients to "report to a plantation to pick cotton," an abhorrent allusion to America’s history of slavery. High school and college students, along with other individuals in states such as Alabama, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, have reported receiving these texts. Federal Communications Commission officials confirmed on Friday that its enforcement bureau, in conjunction with other federal agencies, is investigating the situation.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who received one of the offensive emails personally, disclosed that the FBI is also involved. Murrill stated the messages seem designed to inflame racial tensions following the recent election. “It’s obviously intended to play on people’s emotions,” she said, calling for resilience in the face of these hateful attacks.

The messages, some of which included racial slurs and alarming threats, prompted reactions from Black Americans nationwide. Atlanta-based publicist Monèt Miller shared her experience on social media, where she learned that many other Black Americans had received similar messages. “To find out that all these African American people are getting it, that was the scariest part about it,” Miller said.

Civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, condemned the messages, calling them a stark reminder of the growing racial tensions in the country. “These actions are not normal. And we refuse to let them be normalized,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson. The organization has long advocated for racial justice and sees these messages as part of a troubling trend in the rise of racist rhetoric.

TextNow, a messaging service used to distribute some of the offensive texts, reported it disabled the responsible accounts shortly after learning of the incident. The company stated that the messages were sent through multiple carriers in what it called “an attack.” School districts across the nation have since issued warnings, urging students and parents to report any similar messages to local authorities.

The hate-filled texts come amid a period of increased political tension in the U.S., with recent election-related violence reaching levels unseen since the 1970s. Some Black Americans worry that the recent election of Donald Trump, who has made controversial statements about race, could signal a rollback of civil rights protections. However, Trump’s campaign distanced itself from the incidents, calling them unrelated.

As authorities continue to investigate, community leaders are urging the public to stay vigilant and to report any further incidents as they arise.