Be Wary of Rich Ghetto Spokespersons Like Ice-T

Pop music has always thrived on gimmicks. In the 1960s, it was the Monkees, flower power and bubblegum rock; in the 1970s, the Partridge Family, the catchy song “Convoy” and the Village People. Now in the 1990s, we have Ice-T and his devastatingly effective pose as the Angry Black Man, talking truth to a frightened yet fascinated Middle America.

Of course, Ice-T would vehemently deny that he is less than the real thing. As he pointed out in his speech to students at Stanford (“Ice-T Tells It Like He Is to Stanford Law Students,” Calendar, Feb. 22), during his stint as an L.A. gang member “I did the whole nine yards, including

drive-bys. . . .” Though certainly impressive, Ice-T’s past is really beside the point. What matters more is that today he is a rich celebrity who has made millions in record sales and movie deals. He is among that select group who will be taxed the heaviest under Bill Clinton’s economic plan.

Face facts, Ice-T: The Los Angeles riots were a function of class, not race. And it was not the members of your class who looted grocery stores, burned gasoline stations and attacked Reginald O. Denny. The poor Latinos who brought the riot to Pico-Union and parts of Hollywood had probably never heard of Ice-T. As for African-Americans, it was not the middle-class and well-to-do who hit the streets on April 29 and 30. Though no doubt outraged by the verdicts in the Rodney G. King case--along with many whites, Latinos and Asians--they did not use them as an excuse to commit violence. They had too much to lose.

Ice-T and his publicity machine have brilliantly exploited the fact that most whites are ignorant about the lives of African-Americans in the inner city. His captive Caucasian audience is inclined to keep both a psychic and physical distance from the ghetto. As Ice-T says, it’s dangerous down there. But there is no harm in living vicariously.

Ice-T’s image--fortified by songs such as “Cop Killer” and his frequent use of obscenities plus seemingly raw anger--is a perfect accompaniment to his message. He is seen by the media and his fans as the authentic voice of unemployed black males and gang toughs.

Just as clever black militants recognized 25 years ago, Ice-T can always count on the support of thrill-seeking white liberals, forever-young college professors, guilty black professionals and political groupies. (At the same time, he has an option that was not available to the Black Panthers: If Ice-T tires of sociological raps, he can always turn to sexy ones.)

In the meantime, Ice-T continues to play the bad guy very well. At Stanford, he proclaimed that the riot “was the most peaceful time I had ever seen in South-Central Los Angeles. Brothers were dancing. Music was playing. It was a very great thing.” The man called it “a very great thing.” Tell that to the Asians, Latinos and Anglos who were pulled from their cars and beaten because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

More to the point, tell it to the hundreds of African-American families who had to worry about stray bullets and out-of-control fires and who were without food for several days. But why should Ice-T care about them? After his tour of the area he could get back into his fancy car and head for higher ground.

Beware of ghetto spokespersons who are worth millions. If the curious really wanted to know about life in South-Central in 1993, they wouldn’t consult Ice-T. But many people would rather get their political news from MTV or seven-minute rap songs than other, more informed sources. As long as the media and record labels continue to promote Ice-T as the Voice of Angry Blacks, he will play that role to the hilt. It’s great for business.