In relation to a society where racist structures and assumptions are virtually universal - which I understand to be the situation in the American South at the time someone like Hobart Smith grew up (born 1897) the expression "a known racist" is perhaps a bit unfair.

McGrath of Harlow, I accept your point. To clarify, in the context of American racism then (and now), what I meant by a "known racist" was a person who-apart from his musical interactions with African Americans- was belligerant and insulting toward them and who advocated and participated in violence toward them (such as those who did so and still do so as part of the KKK).

I use past tenses but I know from personal experience that there are still some White people who accept Black people on stage (and in the work place) but will have nothing in them off-stage and outside of the work place.

[My experiences with this occurred outside of the work place and not off-stage, since I'm not a professional performer.]