*Dr. Umar Johnson recently reacted to controversial remarks made by Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell, the founder of Atlanta’s 2819 Church.
As Black Enterprise reports, Mitchell’s April 13 sermon drew criticism for suggesting Black people could avoid police brutality by complying with authority. During his sermon, Mitchell said, “Stop blaming white cops for the killing of black kids. Instead, teach your black children to be obedient towards authority.”
His words quickly went viral on social media, where many, including Dr. Umar, found them misinformed. Research, including a Bureau of Justice Statistics study, shows Black individuals face police misconduct at significantly higher rates than white individuals, a fact that many believed Mitchell ignored in his sermon.
Dr. Umar, known for his outspoken views on race, the Black church, and societal issues, shared a clip of Mitchell’s sermon and delivered a sharp response. In his post, he wrote, “50,000 lashes,” referring to his symbolic criticism of individuals he believes are perpetuating harm within the Black community. His caption continued, “These are the types of pastors they brought in to speak to the slaves,” implying that Mitchell’s views were outdated and aligned with a history of subjugation.
Amid the criticism, Mitchell issued an apology, acknowledging the “harm” caused by his statement.
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@abellewis2025 Pastor Philip Mitchell is preaching! Stop it! Enough said. @TinaSnow @Children of God Studios ♬ original sound – abellewis2025
“While not my intention, I recognize I caused harm and for that I apologize,” he wrote, later explaining that his personal experience with police had led him to share the idea that submission could de-escalate tensions.
He also expressed an understanding of the complexities surrounding police interactions with Black people, noting that Black individuals have been killed regardless of their level of compliance.
“Without a doubt, I understand the framing I used about Black children and their relationship with police was and is harmful. I know that Black people have been killed by the police when being both compliant and non-compliant. I sought to illustrate this tension from my own lived experience,” the church leader wrote.
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