Open Letter to Dr. Umar

Last updated on: June 24, 2024 at 1:19 pm by Dr. Nicole Elaine Avery

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Open Letter to Dr. Umar 2024-06-24T13:19:53-04:00 Dr. Nicole Elaine Avery

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In the video, Ms. Ventura is seen brutally tossed and punted by Mr. Combs while desperately attempting an escape from the Los Angeles InterContinental hotel where she and her then boyfriend, Combs, lodged. Following the leak of said video, an apology vlog featuring Sean “Diddy” Combs surfaced via social media. Critics, and fans, took to their personal pages, posts, and tweets in retort to the highly unfavored acknowledgement. Dr. Johnson was one of those individuals. I located his tweets amongst others in a Youtube video dedicated to Combs’ riposte. (Tweets appear, below.)

(First tweet:) I’m not gonna give this too much energy, as we have far more important issues to address than what happened ten years ago. However, this isn’t the end for Diddy. T.D. Jakes will help him set up his own mega church. He will be saved & Baptized and will probably make more money as a pulpit pimp than he ever has as a mogul. Puffy will rise from the ashes. #born again

Immediately, following his initial tweet, recollection of Dr. Umar chastising Black folks for excusing abusive nephews, other family members, and friends of assault while not seeking police assistance emerged. Dr. Umar blatantly went against his own rhetoric by making Cassie, and her attack, a mere fore-thought. Where was his outrage as these collective happenings transpired across urban communities on a daily basis? Why champion a dialogue on domestic violence on the coat-tail of Cassie’s? By dismissing its relevance in today’s domestic assault-scape, he’s essentially saying what’s not important now, wasn’t important then. As a clinical psychologist, I’m sure he’s aware of the time involved with undoing trauma. The leak was Cassie’s first opportunity to be seen on a public level all while reliving that traumatic moment. Thank you for empathy, and professional courtesy, Dr. Umar.

As far as the religious mockery, I caution such frivolous usage of Godly language. I get the point about pimps-in-the-pulpit. In fact, I’ve used the phrasing myself in my own social media posts concerning the Black church. However, salvation is sacred and can only come through Yeshua, God’s Son. Man cannot save himself, and satanic salvation is non-existent. If one does not believe in the Christ, or the inner workings of the Christian faith, one is yet charged with respecting tenets of my belief. Perhaps, these jokes can be brought before the judgment seat of Christ and see what response is proffered.

Nonetheless, it was his second tweet that sent me into a tiff.

“I also wonder this, If Cassie was A Dark Skinned Black Woman, Would Diddy be getting this backlash! Yall don’t go this hard when Dark skinned Black Women are done Bad EVERY DAY! We need to make sho that any Man who does this To Women Ne held accountable, But As For Me, Its, Especially African/Black Women.

There were stories of Him Breaking Kim Porters Nose. But since it didn’t make NATIONAL NEWS, ain’t nobody cause No Fuss. But Off That, The Cops that Killed Breanna Taylor, WE let Off the Gas, The Cops That Killed Sandra Bland. We Let Off The Gas!

I found myself befuddled by Dr. Umar’s divisive response as it starkly contrasts with his unification campaigns via social media platforms. I struggled with involving my , as not to stir the pot, but I’ve decided to move past my reservations and submit the following:

OPEN LETTER TO DR. UMAR JOHNSON,

Normally, I look forward to hearing your perspective on a matter, even when I ‘m not in agreement. However, this time… respectfully, you’ve gone too far. By germinating seeds of hueism, you mishandled the violent assault of a female. A black one… a protected class of individuals you assert to be the most disrespected on the planet. Sadly, your tweet further substantiates your assertion.

Covid-19 (2020-2021) exposed the peripheral pandemics at play erupting a shift in the Black community’s collective mindset as dialogues on colorism unfolded within our village. Centuries of Hollywood narratives strategically coded and planted into films were now being challenged, combatted, and in some instances obliterated. Social media witnessed a broader reception of darker skinned, female, content-creators who were deemed beautiful without the remark “for a dark skinned girl…” a stinging clause utilized for decades. A clause inciting ostracization and instilling self-esteem . While nothing is absolute, and there are those who yet need salvation from their ignorant views why would you re-invigorate past traumatic distress by pitting black women of different hues against the other, by stating “What if she was dark skinned?” especially as a Black man or an overseer of Africana culture. Your words hold the potentiality to impregnate minds and hearts. You ultimately lessened Cassie’s worth. You ignored the reason so many were appalled by Mr. Combs’ behavior. The same way a doctorate takes several years to complete, justice may take as long. So, if that video was a week old or 100 years old, it happened and was exposed, now. It doesn’t lessen the crime or the happening. As one who has amassed tons of research, I would think you’d be more empathetic of the publicly scaring evidence.

In your first tweet, you say you won’t spend too much time on Cassie’s assault as it occurred ten years ago. Then 25 minutes later you put out a second tweet posing a hypothetical query, “What if Cassie were dark skinned?” The incident must hold some weight, or you wouldn’t have tweeted-twice. Secondly, does affluence permit abuse?

I have so many questions…

Who was anyone going to in terms of reporting Cassie’s on-going abuse given the high-leveled corruption during that specific time-period? Social media was not as formidable as it is presently.

How can you compare a civilian’s murder at the hands of law enforcement to a music mogul gone mad (allegedly)? He didn’t kill Cassie. According to her, she was tortured repeatedly and consistently. Diddy’s notoriety goes beyond the average person, as does his reach… but he’s no officer of the law.

How can you compare decades of shady activity to a single event? Any life lost is tragic and needs to be addressed. Many of us tried. There was an outpour on social media and in the streets.

Who didn’t go hard for Sandra Bland, or Breona Taylor? As the leader of the parade, isn’t it your responsibility to forge movements for the people to follow? What course of action does a layperson take against law enforcement… without a leader/leaders?

Did Kim Porter file an abuse lawsuit against Diddy? When she dated/married him there were tons of questionable acts unfolding in the music industry that couldn’t be questioned. She also did not speak out the way in which Cassie did. Kim also created an amicable bond with Diddy due to their children. Investigations were raised against Diddy and shot down just as quickly.

Who is yall who don’t go hard for dark skinned women abused everyday? Hundreds of people, thousands even, were reported to have protest on social media and off concerning many of the women abused by cops as well as civilians. What else are people supposed to do collectively in a corrupt system? Are we supposed to fight cops, now? Sean Combs has finally been exposed (whether a pawn or not, he was a willing participant on that playing board). How is that not important based on the list of allegations?

So, if a man has two daughters, and one was lightered skinned than the second daughter, are you proposing the man neglect the lighter skinned daughter due to the tragic mulatto myth like the slave masters of old? Or, does the father love his daughters equally celebrating both tones?

If your interest lies so strongly with our beautiful darker skinned black queens why didn’t you marry one? You have two wives?

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