The following four areas relating to black literature courses were explored in this study: course content, methods of instruction, instructor background and effectiveness, and effect of the course on the students. Instructors and students involved in black literature courses offered at institutions of higher education in New York State during 1972-1973 were chosen as the population. Approximately 40 percent of all eligible instructors participated in the study. These instructors received, by mail, during the last two or three weeks of the semester an instructor questionnaire and as many student questionnaires as requested to be filled out and returned to the investigator by mail. It was found that white instructors tended to teach mainly well-known authors and works, whereas black instructors tended to be more experimental and innovative. The methods of instruction in black literature courses were very similar to those used in traditional literature courses. The majority of instructors prepared themselves to teach the black literature course exclusively through independent study. The majority of students indicated that taking a black literature course had been a positive experience. (Author/TS)