This study was undertaken to determine the extent to which college and university English departments are preparing their majors to teach black literature. Chapter 1 asserts that since English teachers receive their basic content courses from English departments, it is these departments that have the fundamental responsibilities to include black literature in their core curriculum. Chapter 2 explores the history and development of black studies during the past decade. Chapter 3 discusses black literature and its place within the English department. Chapter 4 relates the results of a questionnaire sent to a select group of college and university English departments. Among the specific findings are the following: (1) survey and fiction courses are the predominant way of offering black literature; (2) the same few black authors, Wright, Baldwin, and Ellison, are studied; (3) in general, methods courses in black literature are not offered; and (4) few courses in the literature of other ethnic writers are offered. Chapter 5 discusses the results of the survey further and offers English departments recommendations for preparing their majors in black literature. (Author/TS)