Authorities across the United States are investigating after racist text messages – some with references to “slave catchers” and “picking cotton” reminiscent of the country’s painful and bigoted past – have been received by children,

Racist texts with references to ‘picking cotton,’ ‘plantations’ and ‘slave catchers’ have been sent to Black people in at least 20 U.S. states shortly after the presidential election. The Trump campaign denies any involvement.