HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s words don’t live up to weighty position

In an address no doubt given to inspire HUD employees on Monday, new Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson spoke about the pursuit of the American Dream, and how so many over the years have legally made their way to America, “the land of dreams and opportunity,” to make a better lives for themselves. True. But Carson, who is the only AfricanAmerican member of President Trump’s Cabinet, went on to give a wince-worthy example of others who made the long trek to America.

“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.” False. Slaves were not immigrants. Slaves did not come to these shores of their own volition. No hope for a better life free from persecution filled the hearts of the 10 to 15 million Africans forcibly transported on European-owned and operated slave ships between 1500 and 1900. At least 2 million Africans — 10 to 15 percent of those whose freedom was stolen — died during the “Middle Passage” across the Atlantic. According to Library of Congress records, those not killed by conditions on board were often permanently disabled by beatings or disease. Many slave captains threw sick or injured Africans overboard so their losses would be covered by insurance. Another 15 to 30 percent died during the march to or confinement along the coast.

“Worked even longer, even harder for less,” Secretary Carson said. Slaves worked long and hard, yes, under pain of death and within earshot of the cracks of whips. For less? For nothing. Their payment — scraps of food and another day of life.

Social media, of course, blasted Carson over the comment, but later on Monday, via Facebook, he defended and rolled back a bit on his statement:

“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.” Thank you for that, sir. It’s something. But we should expect a higher sensitivity from Ben Carson, head of a federal agency that deals with inner city development and helps meet the needs of many in the African-American community. Trump’s administration is sorely lacking in diversity, and it’s even more important now for a man in Carson’s position to understand our history and help raise the consciousness of the president and his inner circle. On the campaign trail, Trump made his case to African Americans, asking “What do you have to lose?” Carson is the man tapped to help the president fulfill his promises. His words should reflect that mantle.

So why dredge up this painful part of our history? Why not let it — and Carson’s comment — go? Simple. We cannot gloss over the bloody facts of history for the sake of romanticizing the American Dream. I’m sure many slaves, backs bent under the horror of their condition, did pray for a future in which their children and grandchildren would have a better life. But to classify slaves as immigrants dishonors them and ignores the truth of black history. Our history. American history.

Elana Simms