Last Updated on: 10th May 2025, 12:27 pm
Angela Black is a television news anchor and reporter, best known for her work at KABC-TV in Los Angeles during the late 1970s and 1980s. She holds a significant place in broadcast history as one of the earliest prominent African-American newscasters in Los Angeles television news. (Kiddle)
Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Angela Black is the daughter of Army Major Bennie L. Canty and schoolteacher Bess Canty. Her upbringing included time on military bases in Whittier, Alaska, and Fort Eustis, Virginia, before the family settled back in Jacksonville. She graduated from Bishop Kenny Catholic School and initially attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville. She later transferred to Jacksonville University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English. (Listen Notes, Los Angeles Sentinel)
Angela Black joined KABC-TV in Los Angeles in 1979, where she served as a field reporter and weekend anchor for 12 years. She occasionally co-anchored weeknight broadcasts alongside Jerry Dunphy. During her tenure, she covered significant events, including a Ku Klux Klan triple cross burning, and produced a documentary on African Americans in Hollywood. She also hosted the nationwide “Evening of the Stars” telethon for the United Negro College Fund and trained as a firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Despite her contributions, Black faced challenges in advancing to a permanent weeknight anchor position, a reflection of the racial barriers in the industry at the time. She publicly addressed these issues, highlighting the systemic obstacles that limited opportunities for African-American journalists in major markets like Los Angeles. (Our Weekly)
After her time at KABC-TV, Black continued her journalism career with roles at KCBS-TV in Los Angeles, as well as national outlets including Headline News, PBS, and Turner Entertainment.
Angela Black has focused on writing a memoir detailing her experiences as a trailblazing journalist. She has also been involved in documentary filmmaking and continues to engage in creative endeavors related to news, publishing, and film.
WORK
KABC-TV, KCBS-TV