O’Shea Jackson aka Ice cube is receiving backlash after an agreement to advise President Trump on how to best build a plan to help the black community in upcoming months. Many have taken this as confirmation as to who the rapper is supporting in the upcoming election, something Ice Cube says isn’t true. “Facts: I put out the CWBA. Both parties contacted me.” Ice Cube said in a tweet. “Dems said we’ll address the CWBA after the election. Trump campaign made some adjustments to their plan after talking to us about the CWBA.”
Facts: I put out the CWBA. Both parties contacted me. Dems said we’ll address the CWBA after the election. Trump campaign made some adjustments to their plan after talking to us about the CWBA.
— Ice Cube (@icecube) October 14, 2020
This controversy occurred after republican spokeswomen Katrina Pierson tweeted at Ice Cube, to thank him for his input on a large-scale project Trump says he’ll put in place after the election that will benefit the black community. “Shoutout to @icecube for his willingness to step up and work with @realDonaldTrump Administration to help develop the #PlatinumPlan. Leaders gonna lead, haters gonna hate. Thank you for leading! Raised fist.”
Shoutout to @icecube for his willingness to step up and work with @realDonaldTrump Administration to help develop the #PlatinumPlan
ICYMI: https://t.co/V0qOAp0lwR
Leaders gonna lead, haters gonna hate. Thank you for leading! ✊????
— Katrina Pierson (@KatrinaPierson) October 13, 2020
The rapper went on to say that he was for whoever would fix the issues within the black community in response to people asking about his harsh position on Trump in the past. “Black progress is a bipartisan issue.” Ice Cube said. “When we created the Contract With Black America we excepted to talk to both sides of the isle. Talking truth to power is part of the process.” In addition, Ice Cube added he was not endorsing Trump in a separate Tweet.
Black progress is a bipartisan issue. When we created the Contract With Black America we excepted to talk to both sides of the isle. Talking truth to power is part of the process.
— Ice Cube (@icecube) October 15, 2020
I haven’t endorsed anybody. https://t.co/kmP99DdZug
— Ice Cube (@icecube) October 15, 2020
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Despite the explanation, the rapper has faced waves of backlash from irate fans and critics who see Jackson’s position as him “selling out.” Many followers have replied with phrases like “Malcolm warned us about Black celebrities,” in reference to how famous activist Malcolm X once said that black celebrities were puppets put there by the White majority.
https://twitter.com/JoeBidenForLife/status/1316479871066017793
Ice Cube’s advice is suppose to be a part of a multistage plan to improve the Black community in what Trump calls the Platinum plan. Part of the plan includes addressing health disparities, creating opportunities for black youth, and examining the role systematic racism plays in the black community. Some more specific promises the plan makes includes “3 million new jobs” and to “increase access to capital in black communities by almost $500 billion.”
The promise to increase capital by $500 billion, seemed to draw more ire from the critics than most other things. This might be due to the recent story the New York Times did based on the amount Trump has spent in taxes with the president fighting to keep his returns kept secret using the Supreme Court. “Trump has done zero for black folks for four years.” A twitter user said. “But he did manage to ram through a tax cut for billionaires and tell white supremacists to “stand by” on national t.v. Now he trots out a “platinum plan” at the last minute to pander to black voters. Anyone falling for it?”
trump has done zero for black folks for four years.
But he did manage to ram through a tax cut for billionaires and tell white supremacists to "stand by" on national t.v.
Now he trots out a "platinum plan" at the last minute to pander to black voters.
Anyone falling for it?
— Justin Jaws ???????? Stand With Ukraine (@44Jaworski) October 14, 2020
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However, the rapper has also received widespread support in conservative communities for the decision. Some stated the democrats always promised things to the black community but never did anything. “Funny Democrats want to wait until AFTER the election for everything,” one Twitter user said. “If they don’t have a plan to share we don’t need to vote for them. It’s like consistently giving someone a loan that never pays you back, put promises they will and never does.”
Funny Democrats want to wait until AFTER the election for everything. If they don't have a plan to share we don't need to vote for them. It's like consistently giving someone a loan that never pays you back, put promises they will and never does.
— Doni ????????????☠️ (@DoniTheDon_) October 14, 2020
Take the red pill. Democrats never cared about black America, they just care about the vote.
— Samantha Marika (@samanthamarika1) October 14, 2020
In addition, there are also more moderate voices supporting Ice Cube, claiming that advising the administration did not mean Ice Cube supported Trump.“Advising isn’t the same thing as working with,” one Twitter user said. “Ice Cube has not endorsed Trump, Biden, or anyone else and I do not think he will.” These differing opinions on whether Ice Cube was doing the right thing, has turned his Twitter into a minefield of political debates with twitter users constantly arguing.
Advising isn't the same thing as working with. Ice Cube has not endorsed Trump, Biden, or anyone else and I do not think he will. https://t.co/COGVqUqzIN via @heavysan
— PoliticalAnt????(a.k.a. @JazzLuvnAnt????)???????????????? (@PoliticalAnt) October 14, 2020
Political controversies of this type are not unusual in the hip hop community. Another example of a rapper rife with political discourse is Kanye West, who has been disparaged in the community for years following his visit to the White House and his presidential run. Many Twitter users have even claimed that the situation with Ice Cube is similar to the one with Kanye. “I have no problem with Ice Cube, Kanye etc supporting Donald Chump. I have a problem with the dishonesty & cuteness about it. If you’re for Trump, speak it with your chest! Just don’t pretend you’re doing it for black people because you’re not.”
