During his debut speech as secretary of Housing and Urban Development Monday (Mar. 6), Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson referred to slaves as “other immigrants who came here in the bottom of slave ships, worked even longer, even harder for less.
He continued, “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.β
The land of social media was not pleased with Carson’s comparisons, which are far from an accurate account of history. We rounded up some of the most enlightening and historically correct posts and tweets.
Actual slave ships vs. Ben Carson’s idea of slave ships. pic.twitter.com/cPZwIlHU84
β quinta b. (@quintabrunson) March 7, 2017
Ben Carson has backed away from his remarks referring to slaves as immigrants. He’s now calling them ‘reluctant vacationers’.
β Jim Norton (@JimNorton) March 8, 2017
Ben Carson Says People Pushed Out of Windows Get Unique Opportunity to Fly Through Air https://t.co/j8wuOPlz0l via @BorowitzReport
β Alias Eleanor (@AliasEleanor) March 8, 2017
Ben Carson saying slaves are the same as immigrants is like saying chickens are employees at KFC.
β Chris Rocky (@chrisrockyoz) March 7, 2017
Ben Carson is the poster child for “You can be book smart and still lack common sense”
β Sad and Boujee (@LoserKing_) March 7, 2017