by Ayvaunn Penn, Your Black World
Yes, you read correctly. A 15-year-old African-American boy from Oakland, California, has been recognized for his talent of singing Chinese opera not only in the United States but also in China. According to the Associated Press, it is not merely Tyler Thompson’s ability to sing but his specific “ability to sing pitch-perfect Mandarin and perform the ancient Chinese art form.”
The origins of this extraordinary young man’s talent go all the way back to when he was a kindergarten student at Oakland Lincoln Elementary school. This particular school has a student population comprised of about 90 percent Asian students. It was at this time that he first began learning how to sing Chinese music in Sherlyn Chew’s class. Now that Thompson is at the age of 15, the Associated Press reports:
