Number one, the "past" is as little as a few years ago. Oppressive laws have been in place all over until recently. Number two, the reasons for those laws stem from entrenched attitudes that don't disappear simply because the laws change or because people decide to be colorblind. Number three, the effects of a couple hundred years of institutionalized racism continue today. And effect attitudes today.
Smollet as other hoaxers are capitalizing on on-going racism and homophobia that is absolutely rampant in our society. Right now.
Visit any yahoo comments section on any crime committed by anyone with a Hispanic last name or who is black and you'll see. It's insane.
This is not the past. It's now. Which makes it even more disgusting that someone would lie about something like this. He needs to pay serious consequences for this.