A study was conducted to gather responses to the question "what is it like to be a black student on a traditionally or predominantly white campus in 1986?" Responses were gathered by 22 black student leaders from 13 predominantly white campuses in North Carolina, using random samples of black first-year students at their institutions. This study replicates a study involving the same institutions in 1969-70. Following a description of the background and procedures of both studies, responses are discussed under the following categories: reasons for choice, contacts with the college of choice prior to entry, the high school experience, the first-year experience in college, perception of institutional policies and climate, plans for the future, and the black student's advice to prospective students. Conclusions include the following: (1) advancements have been made by all parties since 1970, including students, faculty and administrators of both races; (2) as before, black students come with fairly pragmatic career interests that their programs are perceived to serve; (3) there seems to be a greater sophistication about white colleges, the social climate, and the need for hard work; (4) for black students who are not athletes, the black athlete seems to be more a member of the athletic community than of the black student community; (5) the negative reactions of the group to traditional black institutions may offer reasons for the continued erosion of black student admissions in traditionally black institutions; (6) the importance of black faculty is underscored in both studies; and (7) black students in 1986 appear less uncomfortable, less likely to blame and attack the environment, and more adept at fitting in. The following are appended: a list of the institutions and their student interviewers; selected statistics on minority enrollment and interviews in the sample institutions, and the interview guide. (KM)