MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry has said the term ‘hard worker’ should not be used because it is an insult to the experience of slaves.

Harris-Perry made the declaration while interviewing Alfonso Aguilar, the executive director of the American Principle Project’s Latino Partnership, on her show.

They had been discussing whether Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan is a good choice for Speaker of the House.

But when Aguilar used the term ‘hard worker’ to describe Ryan, a Republican, Harris-Perry objected.

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MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry (pictured) said the term ‘hard worker’ should not be used because it is an insult to the experience of slaves

Harris-Perry (right( made the declaration while interviewing Alfonso Aguilar (far left), the executive director of the American Principle Project’s Latino Partnership, on her show

‘If there’s somebody who is a hard worker when he goes to Washington, it’s Paul Ryan,’ Aguilar said.

Harris-Perry agreed with his sentiment, but had a problem with panellist’s term.

She told him: ‘Alfonso, I feel you, but I just wanna pause on one thing.

‘I want us to be super careful when we use the language ‘hard worker’ because I actually keep an image of folks working in cotton fields on my office wall because it is a reminder about what hard work looks like,' she said.

She added: ‘I feel that he’s a hard worker, I do, but in the context of relative privilege.

Alfonso Aguilar (pictured) had said Paul Ryan is a good choice for Speaker of the House because the Wisconsin Representative is a 'hard worker'

‘And I just want to point out that when you talk about work-life balance and being a hard worker, the moms who don’t have health care, who are working, we don’t call them hard workers.

‘We call them failures, people who are sucking off the system.’

When Aguilar objected, she continued: ‘No, really, y’all do. That’s really what you guys do as a party.’

Aguilar responded: ‘This is very unfair. I think that we cannot generalize about the Republican Party.’

And Harris-Perry's comments sparked a backlash online with many who branded them ridiculous.

One Twitter user said: 'Hey MHP...have you ever worked a 12 hour shift on the floor of a 700 bed hospital? No? then STHU.'

Another added: 'The stupidity that @MHarrisPerry shows that an education don't necessarily mean a whole lot.'

Daily Mail Online has contacted MSNBC for comment.