Officials and universities in a growing number of U.S. states are condemning racist text messages that were sent to Black residents this week. The messages, which began appearing Wednesday, were received by people in at least 32 states and the District of Columbia, CBS News has found.

Federal and local authorities are investigating a host of racist text messages sent to an unknown number of Black recipients across the country.

Many teenagers and college students around the country have reported receiving racist text messages that were sent to phone numbers across the country last week.

Racist text messages are being sent to Black Americans in Ohio and around the nation, telling them they're selected to be enslaved and assigned to pick cotton on a plantation.

Officials in a number of states are responding to reports of racist texts received by residents in the days after the 2024 election.