Descendants of what was once one of the largest plantations in North Carolina are reacting to the mass racist text messages sent to African Americans across the country the day after the election.
Beverly Evans, 76, recently learned she is a descendent of the Suitts, a family that was once enslaved at Stagville Plantation. The Durham native walked the property with ABC11 holding on to a walnut that fell from a nearby tree.
She summarized the racist text messages: “We need to send the slaves back to their plantations.”
She said that sort of thinking was offensive and wrong.
“The people that got the messages felt disrespected and we all as Black people felt disrespected by that,” Evans said.
Investigations continue between the FBI and Department of Justice as many people across the country received text messages referencing slavery.
A Durham mom told ABC11 her son received a message telling him to report to Stagville Plantation.
“We don’t cower down no more. We’re not intimidated no more. Those days are gone,” said Ricky Hart, a descendent of the Hart family who were also enslaved at Stagville. “They can try intimidation or the fear factor, but that’s not going to work anymore.”