Many of you are likely too young to remember Tone Loc. He was super-popular in the 1980s, when his two big hits – “Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina” – played constantly on the radio. If you come across an ‘80s film about the youths, you’ve probably heard one of those songs before. I don’t know much about his life past those two hits, but Wikipedia tells me that he’s been voice-acting and performing on nostalgia tours. Here’s something else I didn’t know: Tone Loc will step to a teenager wearing a Confederate flag hat.
Tone Loc, the rapper responsible for ’80s hits “Funky Cold Medina” and “Wild Thing,” was detained at a Texas airport over the weekend following an altercation with a couple whose son was wearing a Confederate-flag hat. The emcee, whose real name is Anthony Terrell Smith, was temporarily handcuffed by police at the Midland International Air & Space Port after a heated exchange with an unnamed white man and woman on Saturday, reports KOSA-TV.
Witnesses told another station, KMID, that the incident started after the 53-year-old confronted a teenager wearing a Confederate-flag hat at baggage claim, asking “How are you going to wear that in front of a black man?”
At that point, his parents stepped in and told Tone Loc he was talking to a minor and had no business telling their son what he could wear. The rapper apologized, but said he still felt the boy should not be wearing the hat. The argument continued outside of the airport, with all three parties yelling at one another. In video of part of the altercation, Tone Loc can be heard shouting “F—k all that Confederate s—t” before being handcuffed by police at the airport.
KOSA report that shortly after the video stopped, the rapper was released and both he and the family decided to go their separate ways without any charges being filed. A request for comment was not immediately returned by Tone Loc’s reps.
I mean… it’s Texas, of course. There were three people yelling, one of them black and two of them white, so Texas decided to Texas and handcuff the black guy. Here’s the thing… like, I understand the whole “you don’t get in a minor’s face about his hat” argument. But I also understand why Tone Loc was like “Why you so racist, child?” White people gotta know that the Confederate flag sh-t has got to stop. Someone has to tell the trash youths that their hats are racist AF. And if Tone Loc is that person, so be it. Garbage child, take off your hat of oppression and racism.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Obviously, the kid lives in a bubble of racism and thought the hat was fine. Someone needed to pop that bubble. Hopefully he’s now questioning things he’s never thought to question.
I’m a Texan and Midland is a city in my region. I 100% agree that this child has grown up in a racist bubble and like you, hope he starts to question things. I’m Mexican-American, have brown skin, and whose father emigrated from Mexico (initially undocumented) – I never got to live in such a bubble.
Racist parents raise racist kid. You know that kid will be wearing that hat everywhere he goes because his family is proud of their racism.
This is exactly what I came here to say. I have no hope that the parents might question their views but I could imagine a kid maybe trying to think a bit deeper about what he’s been taught after an encounter like that.
Right. The fact that his parents both allowed him to wear it in the first place and defended it is very telling. They’re raising another entitled little racist brat. Today is probably my first time ever hearing about Tone Loc, but I have nothing but respect for the way he dealt with this situation.
Yep @otaku fairy and I love Kaiser’s “Texas decided to Texas.” Both of you calling it like it is are my small victories during dark days.
The fact that people proudly wear the flag of the army that tried to break up the United States and lost, is so fucking ironic that I can’t handle it. and yes, it is racist, even if you’re one of those idiots who claim that it’s about the heritage. That heritage is racist.
Thank you! I grew up in Charleston, SC & confederate pride was everywhere. I used to buy into the whole states rights argument but now I fully understand that the Cause was racist and oppressive. The South lost plain and simple and losers shouldn’t get any kinds of trophies or accolades. Unfortunately, there are still far too many that don’t or won’t understand that.
“flag of the army that tried to break up the United States and lost,”
Yeah it’s always been a massive side eye from me (I’m Canadian). The flag and all the confederate statues…they are basically participation trophies. Source of pride? More like source of: Well, you tryed. (Spelling deliberate.) Oh and I assume the worst when I see people wear that flag; Either racist…or really really REALLY ignorant.
We Canadians shouldn’t be so quick to get on our high horses. During the Civil War, many prominent Confederates came to Canada, including several of the men who conspired to assassinate Lincoln.
There’s a very small wild west theme park outside the small Ontario town I live in. Every once in a while the man who runs it rides through town in a pickup with a massive Confederate flag flying. The first time I saw it, I was stunned. As a Black woman, flying that flag is a direct, personal affront. When I asked people what the deal was, they just shrugged and said that was his thing. Nobody, NOBODY thought it was offensive. We’re within spitting distance of Toronto and the town is getting browner all the time. And a guy flying the Confederate flag drives through.
It ain’t just the South.
LOL, remember in 2016 when the Texas state legislature tried to pass a motion to “secede” in order to protect their constitutional rights, and people had to point out to those idiots that if they actually read the Constitution, they’d know secession from the union was illegal under its terms?
I’m just like, “Let ’em go.” Let’s see how they feel about secession after they have all of that federal funding, military protection, and other opportunities yanked from them. Let’s see how fun they find renegotiating international trade agreements with their former union members.
“I’m just like, “Let ‘em go.” Let’s see how they feel about secession after they have all of that federal funding, military protection, and other opportunities yanked from them. Let’s see how fun they find renegotiating international trade agreements with their former union members.”
this is a variation of what I think EVERY time one of those stupid backwards red states talks about succession. no more federal funds for roads, emergency services, natural disasters, education, etc…plus, most of the states that talk succession are “takers”; that is, they take more from the fed gov’t than they pay in taxes, so they’d be doubly hit. I’m like “go ahead, that means more for the rest of us. and no more border patrol for you!” and yes, they’d need a passport to travel through the US.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/pascalemmanuelgobry/2012/11/14/what-an-independent-texas-would-look-like/#7c52110f8d7d
Can’t add much to this post!
And those same people act like they are the MOST patriotic. The stupidity is mind boggling.
“That heritage is racist.”
Very well summarized!
Yeah, I don’t understand what being a minor has to do with it. Being a minor does not protect you from being racist and it is the parent’s job to make sure their minor children move in the world in a way that conforms to the rules of society.
Wearing a racist signifier openly absolutely invites commentary and I am HERE for actions having consequences.
What the flag symbolizes is racist and just ridiculous to be wearing it, of course. However, as a grown man, you don’t approach a minor child and begin an argument about their clothing choice. People can support actions having consequences while at the same time understanding what’s appropriate behavior with children.
Unfortunately for the cause and for TL, this event probably compounded the racist family’s racist views, rather than opened their eyes to how offensive and backwater it is.
I would normally agree with you, but we’ve seen racist white adults harass and attempt to intimidate black teenagers riding bikes down the street, and they seem to think it’s OK. or a white “BBQ Becky” harassing and trying to intimidate a young black child selling bottled water or lemonade.
micro (or macro) aggressions that black folks have been dealing with for decades (or longer). if tone loc said something to a teenager (not a small child) about the fact that he’s wearing a racist hat that has a traitor’s/loser’s flag on it, I got NO PROBLEM with that.
maybe this kid will A) think twice about wearing that hat and B) think about how he treats people with brown skin.
Just how young was this minor though? I haven’t seen the video. He was old enough for another man to mistake him for an adult- is he around the same age Olivia Jade was when she went along with her pushy mom’s cheating plan? She’s getting criticism. Was he 16? 17? That’s old enough to operate a motor vehicle, consent to sex (where I live), be criminalized for being sexually involved with someone 3 years younger regardless of gender or sexual orientation, and work at several companies. If you can do all that, you should definitely not be considered off limits when it comes to being educated about and criticized for your own bigoted and abusive choices.
Tween and teenage girls both inside and outside of Hollywood are directly and indirectly subjected to verbal abuse, harassment, victim-blaming, slander, libel, and gaslighting by adults when people feel they aren’t being modest enough as females- sometimes by bitches born the same decade as Roseanne Barr, as well as their crusty husbands. It happens on a regular basis. A teenager wearing a confederate flag seems like a much more worthy target for criticism.
I suspect Im preaching to the choir, but that “minor child” is presumably making college or even military decisions at that age. Not to mention black “minor children” that age and younger are treated as adults every day!
I’m for him doing what he did and a teen is old enough to know but it’s really on the parents. Hence the argument with them. They weren’t just arguing about he appropriateness of him saying something.
White people will confederate flag themselves until white people tell them not to. Or (and here’s my ‘I don’t condone violence per say’ disclaimer), until they get the shit kicked out of them same as they would if they went round calling every black person they saw the N-word.
I went to Ole Miss in the 80’s ( transplant from St Louis ) and during half time the marching band rolled out a confederate flag that covered the entire football feild?!? I sat there in stunned disbelief. Later, when I commented to others that it was a ghastly practice I was met with disbelief or “ ohh what’s the bid deal” eyerolls. The south has a history of turning a blind eye to their racist history…
Wow. Have they dropped that practice? I know of a couple of my son’s classmates who’ve chosen to go to Ole Miss and I admit I’m giving them and their families a bit of side eye.
@esmom I know there was some discussion about it being problematic in the early 2000’s so I’m assuming the practice has been abandoned. It’s my view that while these symbols , due to public pressure have been eradicated there’s a huge underground of racist sympathizers that mask it with “ southern pride”
“there’s a huge underground of racist sympathizers that mask it with “ southern pride”
You’re describing the South since the Civil War lbr
Every person I’ve encountered with Confederate flag sticker/hat has turned out to be a racist.
I don’t think that that kid was necessarily wearing that Confederate hat because it was Texas, and I don’t know that the cops hassled Tone Loc because it was Texas either; I think he was handcuffed because he is a Black man in the United States, a country that was founded on white supremacy (and continues to traffic in) the genocide of Africans and Indigenous people. Wherever you go in the world police are corrupt and abuse their power but in the States it is particularly heinous due to the continued oppression of Black and Brown people.
I am from Southern Ontario, just outside of Toronto and I lived in Texas for 4 and a half years…I experienced the same amount of racism in “the South” as I did in Canada. If you are in a larger city in Texas it is similar to living in a larger city anywhere else. I will cop to the fact that living in a smaller town in the state is a different kettle of fish altogether.
@Renee2 – I’m also from the Toronto suburbs. Just wondering, when you say you experienced as much racism in Texas as you do in Canada, how much is that? Did you mean that it wasn’t much in a big city in Texas? Or that is just the same everywhere? I’m not challenging, just genuinely curious. Is it overt racism you’ve faced in Canada, or more systemic?
I have never understood flaunting the loser side’s flag, and I agree with Tone’s stance and his remarks. The confederates were for enslaving people, full stop. So, if someone wants to wear something awful like that, they need to be prepared to be confronted about it.
I’m so sorry that happened to Ton Loc. I had a similar experience of a white lady getting in my face threatening to spit at me literally saying “we don’t like your kind” then when the police showed up – guess who was questioned. Brown skin me- and -I- was the one who called the police.
I’m in Canada and someone I work with goes down to Gettysburg to take part in re-enactments. At first it seemed to be just a historical interest. Then we realized he was reenacting from the confederate side. Ok, uncomfortable, we thought, but hoped it was just they need people to play each side of the battle and next time he’d be a union soldier. Nope. Well, now he’s sharing photos of southern statues being pulled down, and articles about how terrible it is and posting quotes from confederate generals and articles about how wonderful they were. It’s the most bizarre and disturbing thing. Colleagues (including me) have
either asked or called him on it and never get a satisfactory explanation. One of my colleagues pointed out that he’s a WW2 buff but he doesn’t run around dressed as a Nazi to try to bring the point home – unsuccessfully. It’s rather sad seeing this man we’ve known for years turn out to be fetishizing racism through this creepy cosplay.
Oh no. Years ago we had a reenactor (what a crazy world!) living below us for a while and I admit I was very relieved that he was a Union solider.
I noticed not long ago that FB is circulating a meme about the confederate statues that my MAGAt acquaintances were posting…I can’t help but think it’s part of the Russian effort to keep dividing us.
@esmom – good point! Nothing surprises me anymore…
Fellow Canadian here. There’s a lot of racist shit that’s lowkey until people start researching what it is and you realize there’s so much of it here. It’s disgusting.
I can tell you from years of personal experience Canada is FULL of racists. Some of it is lowkey and some of it is “in your face”. I’ve deal with it all. That’s why I laugh when I hear people say “Canadians are so nice”. Nope not all of them !
Tone Loc!!! Dying. But what a gross story to read.
I know! Took me right back to spring break in Boulder in 1989, lol.
Good on him for confronting the racist kid.
I’m not sure I tally with this.
I’m an auntie to three teenage black lads and if I were standing in public and an adult started talking and schooling them my reaction wouldn’t be pleasant. My first reaction would be to defend them and blast anybody for even daring to come close to them.
As far as I’m concerned they are minors and off limits. You are an adult and should be able to control your emotional impulses. Stay the bloody hell away from my boys would be my reaction.
If you wanted to make a point about what they are wearing ask who they are here with. Talk about it with his parents. They are the asshats who bought that crap for them. I can’t condone an adult getting into it with a teenager. Even if I agree with the reason for which he was doing it.
My newphews get too much racism thrown to them by adults who think they can mouth off to children. It isn’t right.
I hear young in most cases I agree but I feel like if you’re going to wear a Confederate flag you should be prepared to face a backlash.
I live across the pond and didn’t have cultural understanding to fully understand the significance of the flag when I first posted. I don’t want to be regarded as defending some white kid who is wearing racist propaganda. I didn’t initially realise it was a symbol that reflected outright racism before I did some googling.
My 15 year old nephew was wearing an old concert t shirt of my brothers and was told by an dad from his rugby club “that a n shouldn’t wear such a shirt from a true Irish band” like it was nothing. My brother and I fought to have his arse and his kids arse thrown out out of the club. That piece of racist rubbish surely wasn’t in handcuffs. He is probably having a pint at the club bar right now as we speak. I was thinking of this story when I originally posted.
Please delete
It sounds like Loc didn’t realize the kid was a minor at first. I’d agree you should speak to the parents if the kid was obviously younger. But it’s a grey area if they are older teenagers. That’s a time when they need to start experiencing some of life’s adult realities.
I understand where you’re coming from (and would definitely not lump you and your boys in the same category as this racist teenager or his enabling and probably also racist parents). I also think there needs to be a limit to the whole ‘minors off limits’ thing. There’s saying vile things about little Baron Trump because of who his family is, and then there’s criticizing a 17-year-old over his own choice to wear white supremacy like a badge of honor, or trashing and holding accountable Josua Duggar for abusing his sisters, or telling the truth about a teen MRA who beats his girlfriend or assaults some girl at a party, the homophobic or misogynistic teens who are abusing a classmate, etc. Sometimes harsh teachable moments are necessary for abusive and bigoted individuals in their mid-to-late teens.
as you said you’re from across the pond. My family were 60-70’s civil rights activists. As a child I wanted to wear Angela Davis and Black Panther sweatshirts and buttons. I wasn’t allowed to until I was able to defend why I was wearing it. If you can’t defend it, don’t wore it or be prepare for the backlash or nowadays worst.
Garbage youth is my new favorite phrase (unfortunately there are tons of garbage youth where I live).
Thanks Kaiser!
Being a native Texan I am not happy how you presented us. We are not all racists. Step back a moment and rethink your words.
Yes many people here still do not get the confederate war is nothing to be proud of. They feel it is history and should be respected.
Just next town over from me, the white city council voted to keep confederate celebrations alive and well after the NAACP tried to explain to a group of old white dudes that slavery is not a good thing nor keeping alive the confederacy ideals. But nope, they will have their little party and we will be there protesting one more year. Because not all of us Texans are like that.
Can you get that?
Well, I am not a native Texan but I’ve been here close to 20 years. Every kid wearing confederate garb in my experience knows enough to say that it’s “heritage, not hate.” So their assigned adults 1) know it is offensive and 2) have come up with an anodyne-sounding excuse and 3) know to coach their children to defend it.
I always say, well, if you’re willing to admit that your heritage includes human chattel slavery, cool. But why are you celebrating that? And the treason, too?
The point. You missed it.
Also, your explanation doesn’t do much to prove your point. Do you get that?
Oh I got it. My point being not all of us are racists here. Being of mixed race myself I abhor the confederate emblem. I am tired of this knee jerk reaction of oh it happened in (insert state) so drag them on it. Oh hell no.
I have told people who display the confederate flag it is time to change and why. Some listen have cursed and spit in my face. And your comment that I have not proven my point is your opinion. I do not need to prove anything. I am tired of this whole divided world we share. Intolerance rules it seems.
Hugs.
I know it can be hard, being in a region where a lot of people are close minded. You know that good people DO exist in those areas because you and your fellow protestors exist there, at the same time you know how it is to be deeply disappointed in your neighbors. When stories like this come up, you don’t want to be lumped in with the bigots, and at the same time you share the outsider’s disgust with them. It is a complex place to be.
Keep fighting the good fight. Even when people know that not ALL Texans (or Ohioans, or Iowans, or Kansas-people, etc. ) have bigoted views, we know that some of them do. But you are right, we shouldn’t stop acknowledging and giving support to those that fight for justice even when it is difficult. Thank you for trying to make change in your area.
I already loved Tone Loc for his music (I was born in ‘80 and these two songs were my JAM in elementary school) and now I love him even more!!!