For Young Americans, a progression:

[n2doc]

By DAVID HORSEY
P-I EDITORIAL CARTOONIST

LOS ANGELES -- As Mama Laura waited patiently, I fumbled through my wallet to find the correct bills to pay the cover charge at the door of Babe's and Ricky's Inn, Home of the Blues.

"I think that's the right president," I told her as I handed her two fives.

"Better than the one we have," Mama Laura replied, laughing.

Mama Laura has seen plenty of presidents. Balloons left over from her 87th birthday party still decorate her cozy nightclub in Leimert Park, an enclave of black-owned businesses that many consider the soul of the African-American community in South Central Los Angeles.

Mama Laura moved her club here after life got too rough in Watts. On almost every night of the 50 years she has been in the blues business, the woman has sat at the door and greeted her clientele. These days, the customers are as often Anglo or Asian as African-American. On Friday night, the local musicians on the stage were a mix of races -- black, white, Latino -- but the music was an easy blend. Earl "the Duke" Williams sang lead vocals and made the blues seem bright.

"I've reached a turning point in my life," he sang. "I've changed."

Changed, like Leimert Park, like California, like America.

more:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/horsey/350044_horsey05.html