Ben Carson backtracks after uproar over his statement that slaves are just like immigrants and came to US with dreams of 'prosperity and happiness' 

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Ben Carson is backtracking after statements he made about slaves led to an immediate backlash from many in the black community.

In his first address to employees at the Department of Housing and Urban Development on Monday, Carson said: 'There were other immigrants who came in the bottom of slave ships, who 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.'

Public outcry was swift, with Samuel L. Jackson leading the charge by writing on Twitter: 'OK!! Ben Carson....I can't! Immigrants ? In the bottom of SLAVE SHIPS??!! MUTHAFU**A PLEASE!!!#di*kheadedtom.'

Carson then started to defend his comments in a series of tweets, writing: 'You can be an involuntary immigrant..' and 'Slaves didn't just give up and die, our ancestors made something of themselves.'

On Tuesday, he posted on Facebook in an attempt to try and further explain his comments.

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Backtrack: Ben Carson attempted to clarify a statement he made on Monday comparing slaves to immigrants

Nope: 'OK!! Ben Carson....I can't! Immigrants ? In the bottom of SLAVE SHIPS??!! MUTHAFU**A PLEASE!!!#di*kheadedtom,' wrote Samuel L Jackson in response (above)

Similar: Carson's amended statement echoed what Whoopi Goldberg said on Monday (above)

Disbelief: Chelsea Clinton wrote: 'This can't be real. Slaves were not & are not immigrants' (above)

'The Immigrants made the choice to come to America. They saw this country as a land of opportunity,' wrote Carson. 

'In contrast, slaves were forced here against their will and lost all their opportunities. We continue to live with that legacy.'

That statement seemed to directly echo the tweet View host Whoopi Goldberg posted on Monday, in which she said:  'Ben Carson..please read or watch Roots, most immigrants come here VOLUNTARILY, can't really say the same about the slaves..they were stolen.'

The Department of Housing and Urban Development also rushed to Carson's defense on Monday, saying in a statement: 'This is the most cynical interpretation of the secretary’s remarks to an army of welcoming HUD employees. No one honestly believes he equates voluntary immigration with involuntary servitude!'

That did little to quiet the uproar, with actor and director Jordan Peele responding to the speech by posting a photo of President Trump and Carson with a quote from his new film Get Out.

'You are now in the sunken place,' read the tweet. 

Ice T went with a more straightforward attack, writing: 'Ben Carson is a MFn Idiot...'

And Chelsea Clinton wrote: 'This can't be real. Slaves were not & are not immigrants' 

ZING: Director Jordan Peele responded to the speech by posting a photo of President Trump and Carson with a quote from his new film Get Out (above)

Explanation: 'You can be an involuntary immigrant,' wrote Carson on Twitter on Tuesday (above)

New direction: Carson clarified his statement by acknowledging that immigrants and slaves were different groups in a post on Facebook

Carson closed out his Facebook clarification by writing: 'The two experiences should never be intertwined, nor forgotten, as we demand the necessary progress towards an America that's inclusive and provides access to equal opportunity for all.

'We should revel in the fact that although we got here through different routes, we have many things in common now that should unite us in our mission to have a land where there is liberty and justice for all.'

The most liked comment on that post came from a woman by the name of Michelle Green, who wrote: 'This does not excuse the speech that you gave. If you knew the history of our ancestors you would have never said that. Many of us can not trace our family history because of slavery. 

'Slavery erased the identity of our ancestors. Names, location of birth, tribe blood lines, everything is gone. Nothing is accountable for those years and there is nothing out there to fill in the blanks. 

'Being taught that your ancestors were nothing but property during those years, leaves a horrible feeling in my heart. You should be ashamed.'