Even though the blues came from a specifically black culture, It has roots in gospel music, which has roots in european cuture, and uses musical patterns that come from europe. It's a synthesis, like so much of american culture. Blues in the 21st century will belong to the floks it speaks to or for, and at the moment that doesn't appear to be black youth.

All of our music comes from the entire cultural situation that created it, oppressors and oppressed, young and old, traditional and innovative. To my mind the blues have entered the public domain. And, BTW, hasn't anyone mentioned Janis Joplin? Mimosa