Analyses the history of the portraiture of blacks in the media, notes the effect of behavioral scientific findings as represented in the media, and argues that the media have functioned to reinforce cultural norms, create new forms, and influence the modes of conduct of blacks. (JM)

The black press has a long history of service and struggle in the United States. The young black journalists of today, employed in mainstream media, owe a great debt to their predecessors in black newspapers that date back to 1827. A brief history describes their development. (SLD)

The ability of the "Amsterdam News" to mold public opinion out of all proportion to its size is replicated by black newspapers all over the country. This discussion of major black newspapers, namely weeklies, shows how they are an important outlet for black urban communities. (SLD)