Umar Johnson

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Umar Rashad Ibn Abdullah-Johnson (born Jermaine Shoemake)[1][2][3] (1974–) is an African-American psychologist, scam artist, bigot and crank, known for his views on race, conspiracies, and homophobia. He is the author of Psycho-Academic Holocaust: The Special Education & ADHD Wars against Black Boys.[4]

Black nationalism and snake oil[edit]

As the self-proclaimed "Prince of Pan-Africanism", Johnson is an example of how charlatans can exploit vulnerable minority communities for personal gain. He appeals to the racial oppression that black people have endured while using Black nationalist rhetoric along with promoting various conspiracy theories in order to make people aware of what's happening around them. From there he promotes his $olution$ which often involve donating money. As a black nationalist, he has promoted many racialist theories. One of his bizarre claims are that Black people are of the Sun and White people are of the ice.[5] He is against the idea of intermarriage, believing that the black family is under attack and any black man that dates outside of his race is an Uncle Tom.[6]

Dubious academic background and credential controversy[edit]

See the main article on this topic: Credentialism

One of the main controversies surrounding Johnson is his dubious background and outlandish beliefs. He has made claims of having six degrees.[7] This has caused many to question his academic credentials.[8] Johnson's response to these claims was that the controversy comes from his rise to prominence on media platforms. There was speculation on whether he had actually obtained a doctorate degree from Millersville University. It was eventually proven that he received a doctorate in clinical psychology from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.[1][9]

Homophobia and misogyny[edit]

See the main articles on this topic: Homophobia and Misogyny

Perhaps Johnson's biggest claim to fame is his machismo and attacks against the LGBTQ+ community. Johnson is a massive homophobe while claiming he has nothing against homosexuality. Johnson has made many homophobic statements against the LGBTQ+ community. Like many bigots, Johnson has claimed homosexuality to be a mental illness.[10] Johnson has also made many misogynistic claims, often blaming black women for "castrating" young black men due to being a single mother and lack of "traditional" values in the home.[11]

School funding[edit]

Johnson is an advocate for economic empowerment within the African-American community. He is often seen speaking at live events, on social media, and other media platforms trying to encourage others to donate money for his Frederick Douglass Marcus Garvey Academy. He has made many claims that his school is being built soon and that he only needs a few more donations to finally establish a building in {insert year here} in {insert city here}.[12] As of 2022, there has been only one IRS filing available, from 2020, which showed $518,048 in assets,[13] but this is likely because of IRS backlog.[14] As of 2022, not much else is known about the charity's organization or finances.[14]

Other wacky claims[edit]

Johnson has made a number of claims and factually inaccurate statements that have no basis in reality. He has claimed that Chinese was the official language in South Africa.[15] Out of huge admiration for influential African American figures, he claims to be a blood relative of Frederick Douglass.[16] There is no evidence to back this claim.[17]

Coronavirus-related quackery[edit]

See the main articles on this topic: COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19 denialism

Johnson has claimed that the coronavirus is a government plan to destroy the Chinese economy.[18] He has also suggested blacks are immune to the disease.[19] Ironically, African-Americans have suffered disproportionately from the pandemic.[20]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 https://www.theroot.com/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-the-umar-johnson-me-1796653806
  2. DegreeVerify Certificate National Student Clearinghouse.
  3. The Relationship between Self-Concept and Academic Achievement in African American Middle School Students: A Correlational Study by Umar R. Abdullah-Johnson (2010) Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
  4. Psycho-Academic Holocaust: The Special Education & ADHD Wars against Black Boys by Umar Johnson (2013) Prince of Pan-Africanism Publishing. ISBN 0988711605.
  5. http://www.indianapolisrecorder.com/opinion/article_a532deea-febd-11e6-a575-2f86882d78e2.html
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_p-4lfbKTk
  7. https://www.theroot.com/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-the-umar-johnson-me-1796653806
  8. https://www.theroot.com/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-the-umar-johnson-me-1796653806
  9. I Was Wrong. His Name Is Doctor Umar Johnson by Michael Harriot (7/18/17 10:45AM) The Root.
  10. Kevin Rector, AACC cancels Black History event over concerns about speaker's comments on homosexuality, HIV. The Baltimore Sun, 24 February 2015.
  11. George Johnson,Stop uplifting Umar Johnson. “The Grio” 13 July 2017
  12. Umar Johnson doesn't announce location of his academy of (con) arts and sciences... again. The Root. 2 January 2019.
  13. Form 990, 2020: FDMG RBG Leadership Academy IRS.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Frederick Douglass Marcus Garvey Leadership Academy Charity Navigator.
  15. Everything you wanted to know about the Umar Johnson memes but were afraid to ask. The Root. 5 July 2017.
  16. http://afrikan-resistance.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-living-descendants-of-frederick.html
  17. We fact-checked Umar Johnson's Hotep tantrum with Roland Martin because someone had to. The Root. 11 July 2017.
  18. His Twitter
  19. Maga Vs Hotep: The Coronavirus Conspiracy Theory Battle
  20. Too Many Black Americans Are Dying from COVID-19