Dr. Umar Johnson is begging for donations after the city of Wilmington, Delaware notified him of plans to auction off his Frederick Douglass Marcus Garvey Academy for boys (FDMG).
The Frederick Douglass Marcus Garvey Academy is located at 610-611 East 17th Street in Wilmington.
The city of Wilmington plans to auction off the school buildings due to non-payment of utility bills and vacant property fees.
Dr. Umar owes $76,000 in unpaid water bills alone. He claims the city didn’t give him advanced notice of the unpaid utilities and vacant property fees.
The academy was first announced by Dr. Umar over a decade ago with a projected grand opening in September 2024.
The long-awaited academy for boys became a money pit that took in $1.6 million in donations to renovate the school buildings.
Critics say Dr. Umar turned down help from celebrities and former pro athletes, such as Jalen Rose, who founded the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy for boys in Detroit, Michigan in 2011.
In June, Dr. Umar claimed the school was about to open but vandals smashed through the 5,000-book library causing extensive damage.
His critics say Dr. Umar is a “grifter” who uses public donations to finance his lifestyle and never completes projects he starts.
Dr. Umar Johnson reveals that his FDMG Academy will be auctioned off by the state of Delaware later this month. pic.twitter.com/y6HJdAx60G
— Los Angeles Journalist ? (@slausongirlnews) August 13, 2025
All of that donated money only for nothing to come from it.
— Faye Bishop (@MsFayeBishop) August 13, 2025
There’s so many people routing for this man to fail and are celebrating his failure that it’s sickening!
— -TASDN- (@GenBlessings99) August 13, 2025
He’s been notified so many times before it got here.
I say Umar has a secret life he’s funding with YOUR dollars ppl.
This man STAYS begging for money but where does it all go? ?
— IsJusMeCharlie ?? (@Isjusmecharlie) August 13, 2025
