L.A.'s black politics, the nut grafs

The Root, an African-American news and commentary website from Slate, is taking a look at the state of the American city and today visits the subject of black politics in Los Angeles. It's mostly a roundup of who's in power now, with a nod to some of the reasons black clout is declining, and heavy on the historical perspective that in some ways is the most interesting part. The writers are Emory Holmes II, the Los Angeles-based journalist who's writing a crime novel set in the San Fernando Valley, and The Root contributor Sylvester Monroe. The background grafs could make a quick primer on black politics here:

When Bradley, the city's only African-American mayor, was elected in 1973, blacks were just 8 percent of L.A.'s population. By the time Bradley left office in 1993, the police chief was black (Willie Williams), three of 15 City Council seats were held by blacks (Mark Ridley-Thomas, Rita Walters and Nate Holden) and a black woman (Yvonne Brathwaite-Burke) sat on the powerful, five-member Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Since then, rapidly shifting demographics have transformed many historically "black" areas of the city into majority Latino enclaves, including much of South Central L.A. As a result, while blacks still hold the three historically "safe" City Council seats, these seats become less secure each year as the black population dwindles and the Latino population -- now about 48 percent -- grows. More important, Latinos are much more politically organized than they were when Bradley was mayor. Indeed, the mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Ramón Villaraigosa, is Mexican American.

Many astute observers of Los Angeles politics believe that African Americans made a critical mistake by not supporting Villaraigosa in 2005. Instead, black political leadership backed Villaraigosa's opponent, incumbent James Hahn, son of the late former Los Angeles City Councilman and L.A. Country Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, a longtime political ally of black Angelenos. While the decision to support Hahn was understandable, some believe the price of such sentimental loyalty may ultimately diminish the city's black political future.

Also this not-to-be-overlooked truth about L.A.: "According to historian Raphael J. Sonenshein, 'No African-American, Latino or Jewish person held elected office in the city of Los Angeles between 1900 and 1949...'"

Also in The Root: Tavis Smiley next week will preside over a three-hour discussion in Washington, D.C., that he has billed as America's Next Chapter, with a subheading of "Recovering America's Greatness."

Photo at 43rd and Central, 1964: Harry Adams/Center for Photojournalism & Visual History, California State University, Northridge.