The black student revolt did not start with the highly publicized activities of the black students at San Francisco State College. The roots of the revolt lie deeply imbedded within the history and structure of the overall black liberation struggle in America. The beginnings of this revolt can be found in the students of Southern Negro colleges in the late 1950's and early 1960's. The central task of this book is to present the historical development of the black student movement: the factors underlying the emergence and waning of its various phases, the characteristics and philosophies of the movement's present participants, and, its possible future directions. Also discussed are: the estrangement of liberal white "allies" from the black student movement and the potential for future black-white coalitions, the relationships between black students and American colleges and universities, institutionalized racism in American education, and, the feasibility and legitimacy of developing functional and distinguishable black curricula throughout all levels of the American educational system. Discussion of the confrontation at Cornell between black students and the faculty and an appendix on black studies programs are also included. (Author/JW)