By Ariel Worthy
The Birmingham Times
Wednesday marked the start of Black History Month and President Donald Trump began the month-long observance with Ben Carson, United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Omarosa Manigault,
Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison at his side.
Trump held an “African American History Month Listening Session” at the White House and was also joined by Pastor Darrell Scott of Cleveland, Ohio, and Paris Dennard, Thurgood Marshall College Fund representative.
Among his topics, Trump talked about what he thinks should be done in the black community.
“We’re going to need better schools, and we need them soon. We need more jobs, we need better wages — a lot better
wages,” he said. “We’re going to work very hard on the inner city. Ben is going to be doing that big league. It’s one of his big things that we’re going to be looking at.”
Trump also addressed reports last month surrounding a bust of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that he allegedly had removed from the White House.
“Last month, we celebrated the life of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., whose incredible example is unique in
American history,” he said. “You read all about Dr. Martin Luther King a week ago when somebody said I took the statue out of my office, and it turned out that that was fake news. It was fake news. The statue is cherished . . . and it was never even touched. So I think it was a disgrace, but that’s the way the press is. Very unfortunate.”
Trump also talked about Frederick Douglass and other black pioneers.
“I am very proud now that we have a museum on the National Mall where people can learn about Rev. King, so many other things. Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who’s done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more, I notice — Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and millions more black Americans who made America what it is today. Big impact.”
