Black College Students Receive Racist “Pick Cotton” Texts – Vibe

Two universities have spoken out about alleged messages received by their students.
By DeMicia Inman
Staff Writer, News
Black students at multiple universities are reportedly receiving racist text messages regarding picking cotton and slavery. In screenshots shared by The Neighborhood Talk, the co-eds are being told to report to specific locations for transportation to a plantation for unpaid labor.
“Greetings, you have been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation. Be ready at 1:00 pm SHARP with your belongings. Our Executive Slaves will come get you in a Brown Van, be prepared to be searched down once you’ve enter the plantation. You are in Plantation Group C. Good day,” read one of the text messages shared in a Facebook group for The University of Alabama Black Families.

According to The Crimson White, the student-run University newspaper, it is confirmed that Black students are being targeted with the eerie anonymous communication.

A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)
Arleta McCall, a parent who shared the incident in the Facebook group, informed the outlet that her Freshman daughter did not attend class Wednesday (Nov. 6) for safety purposes, and that the messages made her as a parent feel “uneasy,” “disappointed,” and “unsafe.”
A student Hailey Welch detailed to the newspaper, “I thought it was a joke,” discussing how several people began to share the racist memos throughout the day across social media. She also did not attend class out of fear for her safety.
Welch also claims that on Wednesday after the presidential election was called for Donald Trump, two men, likely students, wearing MAGA hats verbally attacked her with racial slurs telling her to “go back from where she came.”
“It is our understanding that individuals across the country have received these disgusting messages. This has been reported to authorities, and we’re asking anyone who may have information regarding these messages to report it to the appropriate authorities,” a spokesperson for the University of Alabama shared in a statement, per Tuscaloosa Thread.
“UA students who have seen or received such messages are also encouraged to contact the Office of Student Care and Well-Being for any additional support that may be needed.”
College campuses are not the only places being swarmed with digital racism. According to 13NewsNow, people across the state of Virginia received similar messages from unknown numbers following the election, including 13News Now photographer Sam Burwell.

“I have a cousin up in Richmond who received the same text message, but I found it weird that in my text message, it had a different group number than his, and they both had our names,” shared Burwell.
The Virginia’s Attorney General Jason Miyares’s office offered the following statement:
“The Attorney General’s Office is aware of these text messages and unequivocally condemns them. Anyone who believes themselves to be under threat should not hesitate to contact local law enforcement and their local FBI field office by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (or 1-800-225-5324) or visiting FBI.gov/tips.”
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