Dr. Benjamin Carson fought back against his critics on Fox News’ “America Live” Tuesday, saying that he’s no “Uncle Tom.”

Mr. Carson — a conservative speaker and neurosurgeon who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008 — was referring to a comment made by MSNBC’s Toure Monday, who said Mr. Carson is a token “black friend” to Republicans who embraced him only to assuage their own white “guilt.”

“That’s what you can find on a third grade playground,” Mr. Carson told Fox’s Megyn Kelly. “This is something that we need to move beyond in this country, and let’s have a real discussion about the real facts. If somebody disagrees, let’s talk about why they disagree, let’s talk about the pros and cons, let’s see if we can find some accommodation. But to sit around and act like third graders is nonproductive.”

Mrs. Kelly added that many are “so quick to dismiss some of your ideas because they’re coming from a man who happens to be a black man.”

“Oh, well, there’s no question,” Mr. Carson replied. “They feel if that you look a certain way then you have to stay on the plantation. You know I’ve heard some people refer to me as an Uncle Tom. Well, obviously they don’t know what an Uncle Tom is because they need to read Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin.’ You’ll see that he was very, very subservient, kind of go along to get along type person. Obviously, that’s not what I’m doing.”

Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters

Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.