STORY: MILLER: "I was doing a little bit of doom scrolling and then went right into my text messages and I sat straight up in the bed and I said, Not this, not today."

Atlanta-based publicist Monet Miller said she received this offensive and racist text message a day after the U.S. election. It references past enslavement.

Texts like these were sent to people in at least 21 states, according to CNN and the Associated Press.

It's unclear who is behind the texts. Federal and state authorities are now investigating.

Miller said she was shocked to discover she was one of many African Americans who were targeted.

MILLER: "I immediately texted the number back. Um, "who is this?" "Oh my God, profanity." And then I even tried to call it. Um, and that's when I found out it was like from a fake text."

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, a Republican, said she too got the message... but it was sent to her personal email. Her office is among those investigating.

MILLER: "These texts were the beginning of people who already lead, like lead in being nasty and mean, but it was giving them the moment to be able to push the envelope of being nastier and even more sinister and mean to the community."

The run-up to Tuesday's election included the biggest rise in U.S. political violence since the 1970s, including some racist attacks on Kamala Harris supporters, according to cases identified by Reuters.

Some Black Americans have said they fear a rollback of civil rights after President-elect Trump takes office in January.

Here's Georgia NAACP President, Gerald Griggs.

"We remember what the climate in the country was like from 2016 to 2020. And so, it appears that it's returning to that type of climate. Uh, very disappointing that individuals would target African-Americans with such hateful comments and commentary. But we are prepared to respond."

Richard Reynolds, from Smyrna Georgia, said his nephew also received an offensive text the day after the election.

"We're not here for hate. We're not here to spew hate or anger or any of that. Who won, won. You know, congratulations. But let's walk in peace and walk in love because love covers everything at the end of the day."?