This transcription of the keynote speech delivered at a conference on the black family is a discussion of the black family from an historical perspective. The presentation begins with quotations from ancient African literature and a discussion of the archaeological history of the African continent with references to authors who have used this historical information in their work on the modern black family. Parallels are drawn between the "healthy" black family and a common memory of historical and cultural values. Current problems confronting the black family are described including a change in the roles and potency of black social institutions, reduced control of black families over the socialization process of black children, and effects of popular media on the socialization of blacks. A greater institutional role is advocated to enhance black awareness and understanding of black culture and history: social institutions must combine resources and provide vehicles to communicate values, beliefs, ideas and history to blacks, and institutions must be developed to promote black economic development. (CG)