“If a felon can become president… why keep it on job applications?”
Boom. Ice-T dropped this mic-worthy gem, and the internet went wild. Social media timelines lit up with fans, thinkers, and everyday people weighing in. Trust Ice-T to serve up a raw, unfiltered truth that hits harder than a verse from OG Original Gangster.
Ice-T’s no-nonsense comment is a straight jab at a system full of contradictions. On one hand, felons can hold the highest office in the land—hello, Donald Trump’s 34 felony charges and political hustle—but on the other hand, the average ex-offender struggles to land a gig flipping burgers. Ice-T wasn’t throwing shade, though. He was shining a light.
During Trump’s inauguration day, Ice-T made a statement about felony disclosures on job applications in a tweet. He questioned the logic behind requiring felons to disclose their criminal history on job applications when a felon can still become president.
And he’s got a point. Society claims to believe in second chances, yet the job market slams the door shut in the face of anyone with a record. It’s a system that says,
“You’re good enough to run the country, but not good enough to stock shelves.”
The Struggle is Real
Let’s talk facts. For the 19 million Americans with felony convictions, the job hunt isn’t just tough—it’s a minefield:
72% of employers run background checks. Translation: Your past is likely getting aired out before you even get to the interview.
Felony disclosures are dealbreakers. For too many employers, it’s “once a felon, always a felon.”
27% unemployment rate among formerly incarcerated people. That’s seven times higher than the national average.
Even with “Ban the Box” laws in 13 states—laws that stop employers from asking about criminal records on initial applications—it’s clear the system still has a long way to go.
This isn’t just about a viral one-liner. Ice-T’s words hit because they come from someone who knows the grind. He’s lived it, and he’s used his platform to keep it real about systemic injustice. Whether it’s through his music, his acting, or his social commentary, Ice-T stays true to his roots.
His question—why keep felony disclosures on job applications?—isn’t just about sparking debate. It’s a challenge to rethink what fairness and second chances really mean.
Ice-T’s fans, this one’s for you. It’s time to amplify the conversation. How do we create a system that lets people rebuild their lives instead of keeping them stuck in the past? What does fairness look like when we claim to believe in redemption?
The mic is yours now. Let’s keep the energy going. Tweet it, share it, shout it from the rooftops: Change starts when voices like Ice-T’s—and yours—demand it.
