Racism

ICE agents arrest people based on looks or skin color, as police in California did years ago when databases falsely listed many as gang members.

In the 1940s, U.S. politicians used racial prejudice and fear to justify deporting and detaining Japanese residents, including U.S. citizens. Today's playbook is similar.

Guest Commentary written by Julia Barzizza Julia Barzizza is a graduate student at UC Davis. She is the winner of the 2026 UC Davis Center for Poverty and Inequality Research Black History Month Student Essay Contest, from which this commentary was adapted. California was the first state to make ethnic studies a high school graduation […]

Jerry McCormick’s path to recover from prostate cancer has been anything but linear. Documenting progress and setbacks helps him find purpose.

Black Californians are five times more likely than others to die of prostate cancer. Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have cut screening costs.

Federal immigration agents are forgoing the basics that LA police espouse after their years of ignominy: de-escalation, accountability and protecting and serving.

Property loss in Black and Brown communities hasn't been accidental. It comes from redlining, racial covenants, gentrification, discriminatory lending, insurance practices and now disaster recovery practices.

A scholarship meant to repair racial terror now must include descendants of those who were never targets of it. Critics now say such programs are discriminatory.

AB 715 creates the nation’s first statewide antisemitism prevention coordinator, a position dedicated to helping schools respond to incidents, train educators, track data and recommend future reforms. It also requires swift responses when bias occurs and promotes inclusive learning environments so that all students can learn without fear. 

Since creating California's reparations task force five years ago, Newsom has signed few of its bills while slowing most that would have directed money or benefits to Black Californians.