This book consists of 12 papers on current issues affecting black Americans. Titles (and authors) are the following: (1) "Black America 1986: An Overview" (John E. Jacob); (2) "The Law and Black Americans: Retreat from Civil Rights" (Julius L. Chambers); (3) "Taking Charge: An Approach to Making the Educational Problems of Blacks Comprehensible and Manageable" (Sharon P. Robinson); (4) "The Future of School Desegregation" (Charles V. Willie); (5) "Economic Status of Blacks 1986" (David Swinton); (6) "Blacks, Budgets, and Taxes: Assessing the Impact of Budget Deficit Reduction and Tax Reform on Blacks" (Lenneal J. Henderson); (7) "Black Families in a Changing Society" (Andrew Billingsley); (8) "Social Welfare Reform" (Barbara Bryant Solomon); (9) "The Black Underclass in Perspective" (Douglas Glasgow); (10) "Drug Use: Special Implications for Black America" (Beny J. Primm); (11) "AIDS: A Special Report" (Beny J. Primm); (12) "Blacks in State and Local Government: Progress and Constraints" (Georgia A. Persons). A concluding section offers ten Urban League recommendations for reform of programs and activities addressing the following: racism, civil rights, affirmative action, full employment, social welfare reform, education, health, housing, legislation and advocacy, and the responsibility of black America. Notes on authors are included, as well as a chronology of 1986 events of particular interest to blacks, and an appended article, "A Profile of the Black Unemployed" by Billy J. Tidwell. Extensive footnotes complete the document. (KH)