The truth matters. And no “alternative fact” is a substitute.

The truth matters about American history. And the history of African Americans matters, and it’s deeply rooted in America.

African slaves didn’t come to America by foot, horse and buggy, or train.

There was no African “Race to America.”

It is incredulous that Ben Carson would suggest that you, me, and he are descendants of immigrants. But he dared to, and he did. Nothing said or done will change the fact that black Americans are descendants of African slaves.

And slaves from Africa didn’t migrate to America by way of the “bottom of slave ships.” Or any other manner.

The comparison of African slaves as immigrants is just one of many examples of an “alternative fact.” An alternative fact is a falsehood, an untruth, or a lie.

A lie is colorless, baseless, and without shape or form. An adjective can’t make a lie taste good, look appealing, or smell sweet.

So, what about a white lie?

Well, white has nothing to do with it. A lie isn’t white. But whites do lie.

For some reason, telling a white lie (an imaginary thing) isn’t thought to be too bad. I’ve never heard anyone say anything about a black lie. But blacks do lie.

Lies are neither big nor small. They can impact a few people, many, or the world.

I’m supposed to be talking about the truth. But if we can get the lies out of the way, the truth will be revealed. The truth doesn’t argue with a lie as the day doesn’t argue with the night.

The arguing resides with us.

A lie isn’t a lesser truth as if it’s an alternative to the truth. But a lie is the opposite of the truth. Regardless of what other people say or think, we must pursue and know the facts or truth.

How can the facts be different to individuals who see and hear the same things?

The facts that a cat meows and a dog barks are indisputable.

Facts are universal truths, whether anyone agrees or not. Facts or truths aren’t based on public opinion. The truth cannot be disassembled, but a lie can.

Another thing about a lie. A lie isn’t an accident. Can you imagine telling your mom, “I accidentally lied?” A lie is manufactured. It takes intellect, time, and energy to make up something.

A lie is nondenominational. But it is contagious.

A lie is a lie regardless of who tells it. A rich person will lie as well as the poor.

No if, ands, or buts about it, a lie is simply, not the truth.

Ben Carson, the secretary of Housing and Urban Development, said, “There were other immigrants who came here in the bottom of slave ships…”
Some referred to the statement as a suggestion that enslaved Africans were brought to America as immigrants.

To suggest is to imply without being explicit.

Well, did he imply a lie, or did he lie?

The statement wasn’t true.

Was this a slip of the tongue? Speaking extemporaneously, did visions of sugar-plums dance in his head, and he knew not what he said? No fact-checking was necessary. But where was he going with this?

What alternative truth is there about slavery, and why Africans were brought to America?

Speak! Speak the truth! The truth about black history matters.

We didn’t flee Africa. We weren’t refugees. And being a slave in America wasn’t a step up from being a free citizen in Africa? There was nothing dreamy or sweet about being a slave in America.

Our African ancestors lived the truths of slavery in America, inhumane treatment, and death.

There can be no alternative truth about slavery. There can be no white-washing of African-American history.

We must tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

With the whole truth, we learn about the past, live in the present, and work and aspire for the brightest future.

Only through the truth are we free.

And with God, we are free indeed.