Racist, anonymous text messages were sent to Black people across the U.S. telling them to report to a plantation to pick cotton, according to law-enforcement officials and civil-rights leaders.Black people in states including Alabama,

The messages tell recipients they have been selected "to pick cotton" or “chosen to be a slave", authorities say.

Text messages invoking slavery raised alarm across the country this week after they were sent to Black men, women and students, including middle schoolers, prompting inquiries by the FBI and other agencies.