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 blacks know that some whites "didn't want to give up slavery."
The 71-year-old Dylan said, "If slavery had been given up in a more peaceful way, America would be far ahead today."
When asked if President Barack Obama was helping to shift a change, Dylan says: "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.
