• Reginald Kearney, who wrote a dissertation called 'Afro-American Views of the Japanese: 1900-1945,' says an understanding of U.S. history is incomplete without an understanding of black history. | KYOKO MAEDA
    Reginald Kearney, who wrote a dissertation called "Afro-American Views of the Japanese: 1900-1945," says an understanding of U.S. history is incomplete without an understanding of black history. | KYOKO MAEDA
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On occasion, I still get asked this question: Of what value is a column dedicated exclusively to black issues — particularly here in Japan?

Generally the query comes from the kind of people who, upon hearing “Black Lives Matter” proclaimed, want to answer “All Lives Matter.” People optimistic enough to think that we are headed steadfastly toward a global recognition of human equality, or perhaps cynical enough to believe that inequality and discrimination persists because all human beings are not created equal.

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