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Controversial doctor of clinical psychology Dr. Umar Johnson sat down for an interview on The Breakfast Club to share his opinions about the recent announcement of Deion Sanders moving on from coaching at an HBCU to a PWI, predominantly white institution. Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Envy led the interview on December 9. Dr. Umar Johnson slammed Sander’s decision to leave Jackson State University for the University of Colorado, saying it was “bigger than football.”
“Deion Sanders used, abused and exploited HBCU Jackson State just to be given an opportunity to show predominately white institutions that he could coach,” Johnson said, explaining that he was “personally disappointed in Deion” because he believed that the former NFL player’s standing as coach at the HBCU would boost the school’s football program and enrollment.
“This was bigger than football. This was about the survival of the HBCU,” Johnson continued to say that Sanders remaining at the HBCU would’ve brought more football stars to the school and maintained Jackson State’s popularity. “That one man could have been a catalyst for a movement that would have revolutionized the survival of HBCUs,” Johnson continued to extrapolate Sander’s position being akin to that of civil rights leaders.
“The abolition wasn’t just about Frederick Douglass, but if Frederick Douglass would have pulled out, he would have hurt it. The underground railroad wasn’t just about Harriet Tubman, but if she would have pulled out, it would have failed. For [Sanders] to pull out of Jackson State the way that he did before making sure the HBCU system survived, to me, was selfish. He chose money over the movement. He had a chance to help, and he hurt, and y’all wanna condone that because you Black celebrities are not committed to the best interest of Black people.”
Johnson told the hosts that he was particularly disappointed at the choice to move to a PWI and expressed opinions for feeling Sanders chose against the Black community.
“The critical importance of the HBCU is greater than it’s ever been. So for Deion to pull this right now makes it even worse because you’re leaving an HBCU system when you had a chance to save it.” He finished, “Stop trying to exempt Black celebrities from accountability to the race.”
Deion Sanders announced that he would be moving to be the head coach at the University of Colorado because his son was set to become the starting quarterback at the school. As reported by NewsOnyx, he’s beginning his new position next season.