Twitter Users Slam US Politician Ben Carson For Downplaying Existence Of Systemic Racism In America
United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Ben Carson has come under fire for downplaying the existence of systemic racism in America.
The one-time US Presidential candidate who was being interviewed by Jack Tapper on CNN declared that there is no ‘real’ systemic racism going on in the US.
Secretary Carson said this in comparison to the ‘real’ systemic racism he claimed to have experienced while growing up as a child.
He stated;
I grew up at a time when there was real systemic racism. I remember, as an eighth grade student, I was the only black student. I got the highest academic achievement. And the teacher got up and berated the other students they weren’t trying hard enough because a black kid was number one. And that kind of thing was not uncommon when I was growing up. That kind of thing is very uncommon now.
When Tapper asked if racists exist, the retired neurosurgeon stated;
Absolutely. There were yesterday, there are today, and there will be tomorrow. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t fight it. And this is an opportune time. Right now, people are concentrating on this. We can’t let this moment slip away. We need to deal with some of the issues in the police departments. This is an easy time to do it.
He also pointed out there are some policemen who are rogue but;
The vast majority of policemen are wonderful. But you have some who are rogue. And they can go from one jurisdiction to another jurisdiction, and nobody does anything about it.
They can be wearing body cameras. There are things that can be done, but we need to come to mutual solutions about this. And now is the time to do it. Everybody is concentrating on it. Let’s not let this moment slip away.
Secretary Carson added that;
At the same time, we must be very vigilant about these groups of anarchists who destroy the livelihoods of the very people that they claim to be trying to help.
Many Twitter users have however berated him for downplaying how prevalent racism is in America.
See some reactions below;
Whenever people ask me why I chose neurosurgery, I tell them the truth: to prove that not all neurosurgeons are clinically braindead fucking morons like Ben Carson.
— Amir (@AmirAminiMD) June 7, 2020
Ben Carson is a great reminder that people with an extraordinary amount of expertise in a specific field don’t necessarily know jack shit about anything else.
— Jerry 🍨 (@js_edit) June 7, 2020
Ben Carson is out here trying to say we don’t have systemic racism anymore…
It’s all fixed.
This guy used to do brain surgery.
— Black People are Human Beings (@KHiveQueenBee) June 7, 2020
Ben Carson is completely killing me this morning. I expected. ‘nothing’ but got worse……w h e w yo
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) June 7, 2020
Ben Carson appears to be living a slightly different reality than 99.99999999825% of black Americans. Like he hit his head really hard.
— Gary the Pastafarian Bishop (@garydmclean) June 7, 2020
Ben Carson, like Clarence Thomas, wakes up every day and looks in the mirror, wishing they could tear off the black flesh they see as a curse from God.
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) June 7, 2020
After listening to Ben Carson talking with Jake Tapper today, I am convinced now that Donald Trump and his enablers have mastered the ability to brain wash people. Ben Carson have certainly been brain washed, because I refuse to believe a man can be as stupid as Carson normally.
— Cecil Reid (@CecilReid11) June 7, 2020
Ben Carson said he grew up at a time when there was real racism. He should know better. Today, real racism still exists. #CNNSOTU
— Jamaal (@Jamaal1919) June 7, 2020
I pray Ben Carson was never this unprepared and ill-informed for a surgery. Colin Kaepernick spelled out in explicit detail the reason for his protest, loving America and wanting it to live up to its promise. Either way, those who were intent on misunderstanding don’t care. https://t.co/dqDlONllFV
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) June 7, 2020
The only thing really surprising about Ben Carson’s latest coon act is that he’s been quiet for so long.
— UnkeelMan87 (@unkeelman87) June 7, 2020
@cnn @jaketapper
Stop putting Ben Carson on your network! He has NOTHING viable to add to the current discord in America. He does not speak for Black folks at all. 🤬 He is a member of the 45💩🤡 cult!#BlackLivesMatter— Monica Hall (@MrsMonicaHall) June 7, 2020
Ben Carson is a pawn in an administration run by white supremacists.
The kind of middle school experience Ben Carson cites here still happens today.
I’ll never forget when a kid called me a nigger in middle school and when I insulted him back, I got punished and he didn’t. https://t.co/3mpdEZcv9h
— Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) June 7, 2020
I’m always amazed by how generally stupid Ben Carson sounds. I know he’s a brilliant brain surgeon. How is he so dumb about everything else?
— Susan Hulett (@SusanHulett) June 7, 2020
Somebody call the hospital and give Ben Carson his job back…this man needs to stick to operating on bodies and not operating in politics…he is truly in the sunken place…. pic.twitter.com/kQigGsDKGt
— Dr. Kia Hood-Scott (@DrKiaHood) June 7, 2020
who knew someone could be a brain surgeon without possessing any brains themselves?
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) June 7, 2020
Watch Ben Carson’s interview video below;
Jake Tapper: “Do you think systemic racism is a problem in law enforcement?”
Ben Carson: “I grew up in a time when there was real systemic racism.” pic.twitter.com/2rMRzgGcFy
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) June 7, 2020
Secretary Carson’s comment comes in the light of the series of Black Lives Matter protest ongoing in America and other countries that have joined in solidarity.
It would be recalled that the protest was triggered by the unlawful killing of a 46-year-old unarmed black man, George Floyd by a white former police officer, Derek Chauvin.
Protesters are campaigning against violence and systemic racism towards black people.
