Time Machine: Shohei Ohtani impacting race relations as idol of millions in U.S.

This story originally ran in the Japanese newspaper Yukan Fuji in 2024.

TOKYO — Is white-dominated America a racist country? Yes or no.

Black scholars would say yes, citing America’s history of slavery and the fact that black players were not allowed to play MLB baseball until 1947.

The U.S. Government has made strides to correct this imbalance, with such programs as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Affirmative Action Law which came later, but discrimination still exists.