Racist ‘plantation assignment’ texts shock Black communities nationwide

Racist text messages are targeting Black Americans across Ohio and other states, sparking widespread concern and an investigation by state and institutional authorities.

The messages, which contain offensive content referencing slavery and plantations, have been reported by multiple recipients, including students in various colleges and high schools. Screenshots of the texts have gone viral on social media, leading to outrage and condemnation from community leaders and institutions.

Ohio State University spokesman Ben Johnson confirmed that some students have received these messages and stated that the university is providing support services and has reported the matter to the Office of Institutional Equity. Similarly, Columbus State Community College spokesperson Brent Wilder reported that students there have also been affected, though officials have not yet confirmed how many were targeted.

The texts, which appear to be part of a spoofing scam, seem to originate from Ohio-based phone numbers, although checks reveal many of these numbers are linked to landlines, which are not capable of sending text messages. Spoofing technology allows messages or calls to appear as though they are from local contacts or known entities, complicating efforts to trace the original source.

Columbus NAACP President Nana Watson condemned the messages, labeling them “a hate crime at its highest.” Additionally, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) issued a statement calling the texts a “public spectacle of hatred and racism” and urged leaders to denounce anti-Black racism in all forms. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office is actively investigating the incident to identify and address the source of these messages.