SAGINAW, Mich. (WNEM) – A racist text message sent to black men, women and college students across the country has the black community on alert.

The anonymous texts all have similar words, indicating that people were selected to pick cotton and report to the nearest plantation.

One of those messages said recipients would be picked up in a van at the end of the month. They said they would be sitting in pool B and the messages ended with them saying to call with questions or concerns and have a nice day.

Terry Pruitt, president of the Saginaw NAACP chapter, said it’s an example of real division in our country.

“It also demonstrates the alienation and separation from this country,” Pruit said. “Many of us certainly want to work in the other direction. Let’s try to bring people together.”

It’s still unclear who is behind the text messages, and the FBI is investigating.

“No idea, we don’t even know if he’s a real person. A lot of what we’re hearing and seeing now is being generated, maybe outside the country,” Pruitt said.

Pruitt said this will be a challenge for the country’s new leadership.

“This is really going to challenge, I think, the next administration in Washington to follow through and live up to their message of building a bigger unit in this country,” Pruitt said.

Pruitt adds that many in the black community are already on the edge of a heated election, but he hopes that sense of community will be a focus for our new president.

“Donald Trump’s acceptance speech, he talked about unity,” Pruitt said. “Well, I think we need to hold him accountable. I think we need to hold him to that statement. Will we contribute to hatred, separation and division? Or will we be the ones trying to put things back together?”

Reports of racist text messages have so far come from more than a dozen states, including Michigan.

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