This book portrays conditions and details problems facing millions of black children and families across the United States. Specific action steps are proposed in seven areas: child health, education, foster and institutional care, housing, youth employment and jobs, and family support and services. Part I draws a composite portrait of the inequality facing black children in America today and suggests how to change the portrait by discussing 11 principles of effective advocacy. This discussion is followed by an action agenda of specific, practical goals for improving conditions for black children, youth, and families. The most recent statistical data available to document the persistent disparities between black and white children, youth and families are presented in tabular form in Part II. The data are organized under these section headings: numbers of black and white children and families; family structure; poverty; unemployment; maternal employment and child care; education; child health; housing; children without homes; and crime and arrests. Each of these sections contains a short summary of the principal facts in the relevant tables. (Author/MP)