Dr. Umar Johnson Criticizes Ricky Smiley & Steve Harvey for Endorsing Kamala Harris – Claims Black Vote is ‘Not for Sale’

*The ever-controversial Dr. Umar Johnson took to social media on Thursday (08-15-24) with a strong message pointed at celebrities who he believes have been financially incentivized to support Vice President Kamala Harris‘ bid for the White House.

In his video, Johnson emphatically stated that the Black vote should not be “for sale” and called out two prominent figures, Rickey Smiley and Steve Harvey, for what he described as performative support for the Vice President. Referring to her at one point as “Kabama Harris” — seemingly a blend of Kamala Harris and Barack Obama — Johnson communicated his belief that genuine, tangible efforts must be made to earn the African-American community’s vote.

“The Black vote ain’t for sale no more,” Johnson declared in the video. “We bartering on business! We standing on business! Bring us some tangibles or get out of my face.”

Johnson’s criticism was pointed and personal, despite his professed admiration for the individuals in question.

“Rickey Smiley, I love you, but crying on the radio for Kamala Harris my brother? It’s an all-time low. Don’t do that again, Rickey Smiley. Don’t you get on your radio show and cry for Kamala… If you want to cry for Kabama Harris… you do that in the privacy of your own house,” he urged. Johnson extended his comments to Steve Harvey as well, suggesting that their public displays of support were financially motivated: “Steve Harvey and Rickey Smiley, ya’ll only carried on because ya’ll got paid to carry on. Can we please be honest? Can we?”

To further his claim, Johnson shared that he had personally been approached by Harris’ campaign with a monetary offer for an interview.

“They offered me $10K for an interview with Kamala Harris. I don’t want your money, but we can definitely do the interview…yes, we can do the interview, but keep your damn money,” he said, demonstrating a screenshot of the alleged text exchange with Harris’ campaign team.

Johnson is not alone in his skepticism toward Harris. Judge Joe Brown has made disparaging comments about her track record as a California D.A., while rappers Kodak Black and Fivio Foreign have released a song endorsing Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, notable figures like Cardi B, Questlove, Beyoncé, and Tina Knowles have openly endorsed Harris, indicating a divide within the African-American community regarding her candidacy.

Dr. Umar Johnson, who is known for his advocacy on African-American education and mental health, especially for boys, remains a controversial figure. His outspoken views on race, Pan-Africanism, and community structure often garner both support and criticism. Johnson’s ongoing efforts to establish the Frederick Douglass & Marcus Garvey RBG International Leadership Academy, an independent school for African-American boys, is one of his most prominent publicized projects.