Dr. Umar and Ben Shapiro Have More in Common Than You Think

Is Dr. Umar Johnson just the Ben Shapiro of Black America? The comparison might sound ridiculous at first, but the more I think about it, the more similarities I see. In this video, I break down Dr. Umar's political commentary, his decision not to vote in the 2024 presidential election, and his recent calls for the FBI and federal government to intervene in the Nolan Wells case. But this conversation goes much deeper than Dr. Umar, Ben Shapiro, or Donald Trump. I explore how Black Americans and white working-class Americans have experienced very different identity crises, and how political commentators can capitalize on those feelings of frustration, displacement, and the search for belonging. From Pan-Africanism and Black identity to white working-class resentment, political polarization, and the psychology of political influence, I ask whether Dr. Umar and Ben Shapiro are using remarkably similar approaches to reach very different audiences. Are they genuinely helping their communities, or are they turning legitimate grievances into something more dangerous? I'm Joshua Doss, a political strategist and pollster, and this is my attempt to think through that question out loud. *Do you think the comparison is fair, or am I reaching? Let me know in the comments.* Subscribe for more political analysis, history, public opinion research, and conversations about American politics. #DrUmar #BenShapiro #BlackPolitics