Dr. Umar Johnson and Amanda Seales are not exactly incomparable when it comes to contemporary Black pundits. They both have incendiary opinions which they deliver passionately, and they often inspire similar reactions from Black America (A high five and often exasperation mixed with a hint of side eye)
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But there seems to be a double standard between how some hold Dr. Umar and Seales — namely, the former is given more grace for his foolishness than the latter: In fact, Seales, who says what we are all thinking, catches way more hell from Black folks than the good “doctor.” So why the double standard?
The reason is clear: Umar is a man and Seales is a Black woman. Let me explain.
Dr. Umar unquestionably holds deep-seated beliefs about Black people. He makes good points at times, but there’s just one problem: While 20% of what he says is worth thinking about, too often it is couched in theatrical buffoonery that undermines whatever good things he might have said. Yet, he still gets invited to appear on podcasts and paid to speak at universities. Why? Because of the body he inhabits.
Case in point: He believes American educational system does a disservice to Black kids by minimizing the contributions our people have made to the world. So, he tried to establish a school that would address that issue. But when he ran into issues with the school and his finances recently, he could have asked for help in a humble way. Instead, he just got messy.
And just watch at this clip and read the comments. People take him seriously.
In stark contrast to Dr. Johnson, Seales is not given to flights of tomfoolery. However, many people, both Black men and Black women, find her annoying, but so is Umar. The difference is Seales has paid her dues as an actor, talk show host, and fly on the shoulder of MAGAs. We are not sure of Umar’s background. And yet, he is still seen a wise uncle for many and Seales is the intelligent but contentious cousin at the cookout whom no one wants to engage with for too long. Could it be that people don’t like to hear a strong Black woman speak?
When Seales called out Obama, many saw that clip and was annoyed by it. But I thought she was saying out load what many of us had been saying privately.
The Black Lives Matter movement happened under Obama’s watch. And the beer summit he had with Dr. Henry Louis Gates and the police officer who wrongly arrested him for ‘breaking’ into his home was a terrible look. So, there was room to critique him.
So why were her valid points dismissed and ignored? Because of her over-the-top delivery and the fact that she is a Black woman.
Dr. Umar’s delivery can be just as animated. But he is not met with universal ridicule like Seales. There is clearly a bias at work against her when she wants to speak on issues pertaining to our community. And while she can at times be abrasive, we must appreciate what she did this week.
She verbally dismantled twenty Black “MAGA” adherents in 90 minutes. That was nothing short of a political masterstroke, something that would make the most seasoned political strategists green with envy.
And this brings us to the point I made earlier. They are both abrasive in their own way. And they are both over the top in how they say what they say. So why are they treated differently?
The answer is undeniably rooted in gender. Dr. Umar Johnson is a man, and Amanda Seales is a woman. What else could it be?
Straight From 
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