Azizi - I think an early sign that there was a problem was that "Blues" was considered a genre unto itself instead of folk music, which it really is.

If you have a chance, watch the movie "Festival", the brilliant documentary on the original Newport Folk Festival of the early 1960's. You will see a number of African-American performers, but not too many are noticed in the audience.

I always live by Satchel Paige's motto - don't look back, the past might be gaining on you!