Will Smith slams the ‘prevailing ignorance’ of racists: ‘I’ve embedded in our country' Entertainment Will Smith slams the ‘prevailing ignorance’ of racists: ‘I’ve embedded in our country' Hollywood actor Will Smith has come forward to shed light on the growing issues surrounding systemic hate and racism in America. Smith got candid during his appearance on the Pod Save America podcast and claimed, “I grew up with the impression that racists and racism were stupid, and they were easy to get around. I just had to be smarter. Now while they were very dangerous, I had never looked into the eyes of a racist and saw anything that I perceived as intellect.”