CEMOTAP Comes to Newark, NJ

Newark, NJ-A Great Pan African-centric conscious raising event took place at the REFAL community center on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 2:00 pm. The guest speaker was psychiatrist, writer, and community activist Dr. James McIntosh of CEMOTAP. Dr. McIntosh’s lecture was called-Countering the War to Control the African Mind.

Dr. McIntosh astonished the packed crowd with his verbal and lucid Google slide presentation that demonstrated the subliminal media tactics the oppressor uses to control all African people and marginalized communities. He urged Black, and marginalized groups, to create your own media. However, while Black and marginalized communities are still in the struggle to create Maatic (ancient African Kemetic / Egyptian word for balance) progressive independent media, Dr. McIntosh said, “in the meantime we must hold all negative and racist media accountable to people.”

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CEMOTAP successfully held Netflix accountable for broadcasting racist caricatures of Black people in their new upgraded animation called-Good Times Black Again.

Netflix canceled the animated Good Times series after one season following significant backlash. The show faced intense criticism for biased stereotypes; with reports indicating it was dropped amid controversy, including efforts from community organizations like CEMOTAP, which accused the show of portraying harmful, racist tropes.

For more information, click the links: (https://ourtimepress.com/bad-times-2/#:~:text=In%20an%20open%20letter%20to,office%20on%20Broadway%20in%20Manhattan.)

(https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/articles/netflix-reportedly-cancels-good-times-010312642.html)

Dr. James McIntosh is one of the co-founders of CEMOTAP (the Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People). The New York based-organization Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People (CEMOTAP) is an American media activism grassroots organization formed in 1987 to improve the representation of Black people in United States mass media. Based in Queens, New York, their roles have included hosting teach-ins, conducting research, lobbying, polling, and supporting public figures whose reputations are damaged by racist media.

The REFAL (Reforming Economics For African Love) community center hosted Dr. McIntosh’s presentation.

Once called Waset Kommuniversity, REFAL is widely known as the only historic independent Black owned African centered community building in the city. This institution provides free Pan African centric conscious raising forums free to the community in the Tri-State area.

Bashir Muhammad Ptah Akinyele

-Bashir Muhammad Ptah Akinyele is a community activist, a member of the Muslim community in New Jersey, and a member of ASCAC (the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations). He is also a history and Africana Studies (Black Studies ) teacher at Weequahic High School in Newark, NJ.

As Salaamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuh (Arabic for May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you)! Hotep (an ancient African Kemetic / Egyptian word for Peace)! P.E.A.C.E. (Proper Education Always Corrects Errors)!