Migrant Slavery

Why were people up in arms about Ben Carson's quote to the Department of Housing and Urban Development?

"There were other immigrants who came in the bottom of slave ships, who worked even longer, even harder for less."

The media is up in arms about Ben Carson comparing African slaves to willing immigrants that come to this country. He even got called a Mother**** by Samuel L. Jackson (which is pretty awesome if you ask me!) Maybe his context was off, or maybe they aren't paying attention to what he is saying?

Of course slaves were forced to come to the United States against their own will, forced to work for basic needs like food, shelter and nothing else. Tortured and dehumanized, slaves definitely did not migrate to this country in search of a better life.

But what is the definition of immigrant? Webster's Dictionary says an immigrant is a person that comes to a country to take up residence. Did slaves come to this country of their own volition? Of course not, but is choice insinuated by definition? The word come can simply be defined as moving towards something.

Further definitions of immigrants refer to plants and animals, which humans could technically qualify. A plant or animal that becomes established in a place it was previously unknown. It may have taken centuries of atrocity, hard work, and great people to fight for their equality, but those slaves of yesteryear have evolved into one of the most powerful collectives on the globe. A successful immigration if you ask me.