WASHINGTON, D.C. – HUD chief and former Presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson created a firestorm when he referred to African slaves as “immigrants” before trying to talk his way out of the remarks.
In remarks to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Carson said “There were other immigrants who came here in the bottom of slave ships worked even longer, even harder for less. But they too had a dream that one day their sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, great-grandsons, great-granddaughters, might pursue prosperity and happiness in this land.”
The backlash against Carson for his remarks was swift, spreading like wildfire across the internet, with news outlets and political pundits punishing him for much of Monday.
In response, Dr. Carson released a statement, attempting to clarify his earlier statements on slaves being immigrants:
“I’m proud of the courage and perseverance of Black Americans and their incomprehensible struggle from slavery to freedom. I’m proud that our ancestors overcame the evil and repression that we know as slavery.
The slave narrative and immigrant narrative are two entirely different experiences. Slaves were ripped from their families and their homes and forced against their will after being sold into slavery by slave traders.
The Immigrants made the choice to come to America. They saw this country as a land of opportunity. In contrast, slaves were forced here against their will and lost all their opportunities. We continue to live with that legacy.
The two experiences should never be intertwined, nor forgotten, as we demand the necessary progress towards an America that’s inclusive and provides access to equal opportunity for all.
“We should revel in the fact that although we got here through different routes, we have many things in common now that should unite us in our mission to have a land where there is liberty and justice for all.”
In defense of Dr. Carson, some pointed out remarks by former President Barack Obama. which mentioned immigrants and slaves:
“We are a nation of immigrants. Unless you are one of the first Americans, a Native American, we are all descended from folks who came from someplace else — whether they arrived on the Mayflower or on a slave ship, whether they came through Ellis Island or crossed the Rio Grande.”
34 thoughts on “HUD chief Ben Carson refers to slaves as “immigrants””
Maybe some of you should do your own research and then you would have found out obama did make similar references. Dont be hypocrites.
I agree Carly, Obama did call slaves immigrants and when he said it and everything was cool, no backlash, now just because Ben Carson is republican, the very same comment is not cool. So typical of the press, very hypocritical. On top of that, Obama was raised in a much richer life than Ben Carson experienced in his youth.
It’s a vicious world that we live in, if your not politically correct, your in trouble.
So in your opinion Allen, there is no difference in the experience of coming to this country as an immigrant or as a slave.
Hey Allen, you probably referred to the slaves as “involuntary-immigrants”.
Allen: to use the pop phrase “politically correct” in the context of a conversation about slavery is shameful.
Then, stop doing it.
The only thing that is shameful is your comment.
No, the only thing that is shameful is your existence, you stupid old goat.
Peterles Jeremy the Greek worthless troll gone again.
They along with mexs we brought over here to vote liberal democrat . I bet you still think the Civil War was about freeing the slaves? Not that the northern Banksters/elites used this as an excuse to steal the rich southern land and make money from the military industry complex along with the crooked politicians that became rich – Many northern had slaves.
Why so angry? What don’t you go eat some ice cream or a ham and cheese sand which! Or eat a taco!
just think how much better, we would all be, if we hadn’t brought them over here in the first place.
Ben is Tom, Uncle Tom. Trumps pet African American.
How very RACIST of you. You are down on Ben just because he is black. You Democrats are all the same Hypoctires all.
I love new words. What’s a “Hypoctires?”
Pretty tough for someone like you to figure out isn’t it?
The Black Secretary of Housing believes Blacks were immigrants who came over in the bottom of slave ships from Africa. What till he visits a Black neighborhood, he will surely receive a warm welcome.
He was raised in a Black Neighborhood. Where were you raised? You are looking like a fool again with your racist comments.
can you explain how what anything he said was racist?? cause people like you love throwing the R word around i wonder if you can back up the claim at all
He’ll get a warm reception when gets back to his office, too.
Another brilliant statement by one of Trump’s minions.
he mis-spoke. Big damn deal. Now the Democrats have something else that means nothing to whine about. They have nothing else because they lost and will continue to lose. they look like the fools they are.
Ha ha. He mis-spoke? Well, then he did it twice because he repeated what he said on Sunday on Monday night. Nice try. Not everything that happens in the new regime can be tossed off that easily.
He said almost exactly the same thing Obama said. Where were you then?
Dumb Ass, Stupid TROLL gone again.
Care to explain that comment?
Nice deflection by the way. We were talking about Doc Carson.
To hard for you to understand?
^^ Now be a good little stupid old coot LVS, put on some fresh Depends, gum down some food, take your meds and go to sleep like a nice little idiotic old geezer.
LVS is such a dick, but you know what they say, you are what you eat.
Agreed. And by that line of reasoning he would often be an ass hole.
He said almost exactly the same thing as Obama. Where were you then?
Dumb Ass TROLL gone again.