By Taki S. Raton
Dr. Umar Abdullah Johnson
Nationally Certified School Psychologist Dr. Umar Abdullah Johnson will be returning to Milwaukee as a featured speaker this Black History Month on Sunday, February 23, 2014 at the Milwaukee Brotherhood of Firefighters Hall, 7717 West Good Hope Road.
Doors will open at 1 p.m. The program begins at 2 p.m.
Sponsored by the Milwaukee Brotherhood of Firefighters (MBFF) and True Blue Productions, Johnson will present on the theme, “Life After Obama: What Black Milwaukee Must Do Before 2017.”
He will additionally speak to his national initiative of organizing a Milwaukee Independent Black Parent Association.
America’s Black community was introduced to Dr. Johnson as a result of his deeply insightful comments as a participant in the April, 2011 release DVD film “HIDDEN COLORS 1: The Untold Story of People of Aboriginal, Moor and African Descent” and in “HIDDEN COLORS 2: The Triumph of Melanin,” release last December 2013.
He has been on a nearly non-stop on demand speaking tour throughout the country and internationally presenting to a full house audience base more than eager to drink from his deep well of knowledge, wisdom on historical, social, and cultural critiques.
Johnson is a blood relative of Frederick Douglas, the great Black abolitionist and orator.
He is former Minister of Education for the Marcus Garvey Movement, the Universal Negro Improvement Association and the African Communities League.
A writer, political scientist, and consultant to families, educators, mental health professionals and to charter schools throughout the country, Johnson currently hosts a psycho-educational community lecture series at the African-American Museum in Philadelphia.
Known as “The Prince of Pan-Africanism,” Johnson is now considered to be one of the most popular faces and voices nationally and globally focusing on the proper education and development of African and African American children with emphasis on the socialization and education of young Black males.
His speaking style is considered by many to be “reminiscent” of his late ancestor, Frederick Douglas, Johnson and he is cited in many published accounts as “a fast rising star in the field of Black psychology and education.”
He has presented before embassies, museums, schools, universities, churches, correctional facilities, stadiums, international audiences and at community centers.
As he is known to say after his lectures when questioned about his speaking ability, he attributes his oratorical talent to the “Almighty Creator, and to my African ancestors who work through me.
I simply open my mouth and their message comes fourth.”
As a school psychologist, Dr. Johnson evaluates children ages 3 to 21 in an effort to determine if they have educational disabilities and a need for special education services.
He is considered a national expert on learning disabilities and their effect on Black children as well as an expert on helping schools and parents modify challenging behaviors that can ultimately lead to disruptive behavior disorder diagnosis in Black boys.
In his child therapist capacity, he specializes in working with at-risk, violent, suicidal and depressed African American boys and girls.
Over the past six years, he served as the youngest of five African-American male school psychologists in the Philadelphia School District, the 5th largest public school district in America.
He has received commendations for his volunteer work throughout the Pan-African community, and has been a featured guest on various Black talk shows throughout the United States.
Johnson is a highly sought after motivational and informational speaker who has presented at workshops, conferences, awards ceremonies, graduations and expert panels throughout the country.
Dr. Johnson is founder and Chief Scout Master for the Emmett Till, Hector Peterson and Scottsboro Boys Pan-African Boys Scouts Program and the Queen Nzingah, Harriet Tubman and Birmingham for Pan-African Girl Scouts Program, both of which are independent African mentorship programs for youth.
The Sunday, February 23 event is free and open to the public.
For vendor information and a response to any further questions, please contact Sis. Cheryl Blue at (414) 751-0169 or Bro. Oshi at (414) 324-5796.