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Bob Dylan: Slavery's Legacy 'Holds Back' America

Singer says first black president not enough to change hearts

By the Associated Press

Posted Sep 12, 2012 7:00 AM CDT

(AP) – Bob Dylan says the stigma of slavery ruined America and he doubts the country can get rid of the shame because it was "founded on the backs of slaves." The veteran musician tells Rolling Stone that in America "people (are) at each other's throats just because they are of a different color," adding that "it will hold any nation back." He also says black Americans know that some whites "didn't want to give up slavery."

"If slavery had been given up in a more peaceful way," says the 71-year-old icon, "America would be far ahead today." When asked if President Obama was helping to shift change, Dylan responded: "I don't have any opinion on that. You have to change your heart if you want to change." The magazine's new issue hits newsstands Friday; an excerpt is here.
In this publicity photo provided by Wenner Media LLC, Bob Dylan appears on the cover of the Oct. 2012 issue of Rolling Stone that hits newsstands Friday, Sept.14.
In this publicity photo provided by Wenner Media LLC, Bob Dylan appears on the cover of the Oct. 2012 issue of Rolling Stone that hits newsstands Friday, Sept.14.   (AP Photo/Wenner Media LLC)
In this Jan. 12, 2012 file photo, Bob Dylan performs in Los Angeles. In a new Rolling Stone interview, Dylan blames slavery for many of America's problems today.
In this Jan. 12, 2012 file photo, Bob Dylan performs in Los Angeles. In a new "Rolling Stone" interview, Dylan blames slavery for many of America's problems today.   (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 111 comments
MisterE
Sep 12, 2012 10:21 PM CDT
And he didn't even mention all those years the Jews suffered in Egypt, that ruined both nations? LOL
fractal
Sep 12, 2012 2:29 PM CDT
Many of the comments on this thread serve to highlight what Dylan is saying. The White community has never really forgiven the Black community for its uncomfortable continued existence in America, seeing Blacks as the the source of their shame and loss of prosperity.  Even deeper is the White man's discomfort with the notion of competing sexually with Black men, who obviously have more testosterone. The truth of this is evident in the continuing violent rampages against Black communities which continued well into the seventies, not to mention the blatant discrimination. The Black community has never forgiven White America for continuing to promote racism and the underlying resentment Whites have at being forced to be inclusive.  Until this present generation, Blacks were not REALLY considered equal in America---it took some massive crossbreeding and lots of mixed race children born to White women to create a situation forcing White bigots to choose between racism and grandchildren. This is not a situation that time can heal.  While money can help the plight of the poor, neither can it heal this wound.  It will take a big change of heart from White America---a SINCERE apology wouldn't hurt either--something that people are just to stubborn and bigoted to consider, even to this day.
Seth_Meyers
Sep 12, 2012 1:10 PM CDT
Poor Bob has trashed out his body and voice, due to this addiction to the ILLEGAL tobacco drug! BAN THE ILLEGAL TOBACCO DRUG, NOW! PROSECUTE THE CRIMINAL TOBACCO PUSHERS, TOO! TOBACCO IS TERRORISM!

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Bob Dylan • Rolling Stone • slavery • President Obama

 
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