The goal of this research study was to find factual information on the status and trends of black landownership in Tennessee. Information was collected on institutional practices associated with land transfers. One hundred forty-seven black landowners from three predominately black counties participated in the study. A questionnaire was developed to collect research data on the attitudes of blacks toward rural land ownership, the perceptions of blacks regarding institutional transfer practices of rural land, and the perceptions of blacks toward rural landownership. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the data according to demography, sex, age, and attitude agreement or disagreement. The results of the report led to several conclusions. Black landowners are in dire need of more knowledge regarding real estate legal matters. A large percentage of black owner rural land was lost by illegal means. The illiteracy among rural blacks contributed to land loss, primarily because of their inability to effectively negotiate real estate transactions. Also, black rural landowners did not identify with the local courthouse establishment. One hundred one tables and an appendix of special or unusal landownership case studies is included. (Author/JP)