Its all about the hat and the smirk. Someone posted yesterday a quote from 1984. That smirk was called FACECRIME in the book. I watched the video and Mr Sandmann was trying to defuse the situation while not backing down. The elder Native American was trying to provoke him and he didnt react the way the vulgar hecklers and Phillips wanted. The smirk was Mr Sandmann trying not to react, but also being a bit fearful of what the Black Hebrew Israelites might do. The agitators were all ADULTS. I am proud of the way the BOYS reacted, not wanting to get into a fight with the ADULTS.
I have not heard anyone mention the potential hearing damage that an adult man could do to a minor by banging a drum several inches from his ear for two minutes. Sounds like child abuse to me.