California

OAKLAND, Calif. — Tyler Thompson is an unlikely star in the world of Chinese opera. The black teenager from Oakland has captivated audiences in the U.S. and China with his ability to sing pitch-perfect Mandarin and perform the ancient Chinese art form. “As soon as he opens his mouth and sings in Chinese, the Chinese […]

CALIFORNIA — California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill Monday that will allow college students who entered the United States illegally to receive limited financial aid. The bill, known as the California Dream Act, is the first of two bills. The second bill would allow undocumented students to be eligible for public scholarships — a […]

Civil Rights groups in California are fighting to protect Black representation amid redistricting of the political map. Los Angeles is emerging as an important political zone for minorities in the state. Many civil rights groups opposed the California ballot measures, arguing that the reforms could actually harm communities of color by making it too difficult […]

CALIFORNIA — More than 1, 700 California prisons, held in maximum isolation units, have gone on a hunger strike in protest of their penance, which is met with no explicit crime. The strike began with inmates in the Security Housing Unit at Pelican Bay State Prison. Your Black World Reports: Their isolation, which can last […]

CALIFORNIA–A new legislation in the California Assembly may require charter schools to increase their demographic requirements. The legislation, AB 440, is intended to show that charter school demographics are appropriate for the neighborhoods they serve, or in other words, to ensure that the student demographic is more transparent. The legislation would also hold charter schools […]

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — A Southern California woman remained jailed Wednesday after authorities said she drugged her estranged husband, tied him to a bed, cut off his penis and put it through a garbage disposal. Garden Grove police Lt. Jeff Nightengale said Catherine Kieu Becker drugged a meal and served it to the victim, whose […]

BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— Life in Bakersfield after a brief NFL stint had not been kind to running back David Lee “Deacon” Turner. After at least two dozen run-ins with the law, Turner, 56, was shot and killed in front of a convenience store Sunday by a Kern County deputy after he allegedly hit an officer with […]

Stories buzzing on BlackPlanet News are creating discussion on a variety of topics. Japanese scientists are synthesizing meat from human feces. The ‘poop burger’, is an artificial meat created from sewage containing human feces. Edible steaks from human feces? What do you think? Prostitution is on the rise and on November 4th San Diego, California […]

In an echo of the billboards that were placed in Manhattan earlier this year targeting African-American women, a Latino pro-life group will launch an anti-abortion campaign on Friday targeting Latinas. The conservative group “Latino Partnership For Conservative Principles” is launching its anti-abortion crusade in California to coincide with a related conference — but the announcement […]

LOS ANGELES — A Latino gang conspired to rid a Southern California city of its black residents through intimidation, threats and violence dating back to the early 1990s to exert its influence and show its loyalty to the Mexican Mafia prison gang, according to a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday. LINKS: Jill Scott Reveals Her 3 […]

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The jacket Michael Jackson wore in his “Thriller” video is hitting the auction block. Auction administrator Darren Julien says the red and black leather jacket is “the most recognized and significant piece of pop culture” to come up for sale, and he expects it to fetch at least $200,000 at the […]

TRACY, Calif. — Hall of Fame running back John Henry Johnson died Friday. He was 81. The San Francisco 49ers said in a release Saturday that Johnson, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 after a 14-season NFL career, died in Tracy. LINK: BLACK MUSIC MOMENTS #67: LaFace Records Founded […]