Well, it appears that Dr. Umar Johnson is looking to turn in his title as Black America’s favorite “Prince of Pan-Africanism” for a Georgia peach.
What I am talking about is an announcement posted a few days ago on the good doctor’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages suggesting that we could see him on an upcoming episode of Real Housewives of Atlanta. To be more specific, the announcement, which is attached to a picture of the RHOA cast members reads as follows:
“Breaking News!! Dr.Umar Johnson, Black America’s #1 School Psychologist, invited to appear as special guest PsychoTherapist on an episode of “The Real HouseWives of Atlanta!” Date Coming Soon….”
Although the producers of RHOA have yet to confirm his appearance and Dr. Johnson’s message does only say that he’s been “invited,” it sounds like some commitment has already been made as noted by the part of the message that reads “Date Coming Soon….”
Needless to say, this possible appearance has raised eyebrows from both outside and within Dr. Johnson’s part of the conscious Black community. In particular, some on his Facebook page are wondering why Dr. Johnson would risk going – or even want to go – on a show, which they believe not only degrades Black people, but has the potential to make him (and by default, the conscious community) look foolish.
And they do have a reason to worry. If you’ll recall, “Dr.” Tiy-E Muhammad, the self-proclaimed relationship expert, and certified psychologist, ended up looking foolish as all hell after appearing on a couple of RHOA episodes. He played the role of Sheree Whitfield’s boyfriend. But it came to light that the “The Love Doctor” was not a certified psychologist. In fact, he had only attended a couple of semesters at Southern Illinois University.
Some critics are also calling Dr. Johnson’s possible appearance hypocritical considering that has been known to rail against the alleged destructive propaganda of not only mainstream television, but also of Black women with weaves and blond hair. Of course, Dr. Johnson has some supporters. Particularly those who feel that this exposure will not only give him an opportunity to “free some minds,” but open wallets for his proposed Marcus Garvey RBG International Leadership Academy for Black Boys. It should be noted that Dr. Johnson would not be the first public intellectual to use mainstream channels to help reach broader audiences. Not only has famed intellectual and activist Dr. Cornel West cut a rap album, but he also appeared in the sequels to the cult classic Matrix trilogy.
Personally, as a fan of both reality television and Black women with weaves, I want to see this to happen. But only for meme’s sake. Still, it is hard to see how dishing tea with the ladies would be the right move for Dr. Johnson, who only a couple of months ago was involved in a very salacious public sex scandal with Khym Ringgold, aka, the Conscious Stripper, after he erroneously claimed that he was celibate.
And again, a fan of reality television, I do realize that much of it is scripted and heavily edited. With that in mind, I also fail to see how any of this would help to repair his image, let alone empower the global African community. And I definitely don’t see this changing the minds of those, even among his flock, who still have questions about how well his personal character matches up with his public persona. If anything, it would likely provide more ammunition to those who feel that the good doctor is using the Black conscious community to promote his personal ambitions.
Moreover, I think his possible appearance is another example of how misogyny, particularly against Black women, is often normalized in our community. In spite of all of his personal contradictions and regressive gender and sexual philosophies, Dr. Johnson still continues to enjoy great success on talk circuits. Not just within the conscious community, but among more mainstream Black institutions as well. This includes guest hosting on a few of Roland Martin’s radio shows and being an on-air guest on Martin’s news show, which airs on TV One.
His appearance also says something about how our oppression as Black women and the Black LGBTQ community continues to be normalized even within more mainstream (i.e., White) channels. I just find it a slap in the face that Bravo and Andy Cohen, who produce the Real Housewives series, would even extend an invitation to a man who once said that single mothers “psychologically castrate” boys and turn them gay. This is especially confusing for a show geared mostly towards the Black LGBTQ community and Black women in general.
The irony in all of this is that Dr. Johnson, as well as many of his followers, love to call any Black who doesn’t get step-toe in line with misogyny and homophobia “brainwashed followers of white women feminism.” Yet those same people have no qualms about accepting checks from gay White men. If the same act would make us “negro bed wenches,” what does that make them? But that is just me pointing out some things…
What do you think? Can a so-called Black conscious brother lead a flock away from the destructive gains of White supremacy while also standing knee-deep in it?
