Recent articles have challenged the conception that violent crimes in the United States are disproportionately intraracial. They contend that black offenders tend to seek out white victims because of black rage and point out the desirable characteristics of white victims. This analysis shows that a substantial percentage of black offenders' crimes are committed against white victims, except in homicide cases. Such findings, however, do not necessarily reflect a special motivation in blacks to seek out white victims. In addition, assaults involving black offenders and white victims are much more common than those involving white offenders and black victims. The paper suggests that the primary explanation for the intraracial nature of violent crimes is structural, involving the physical and social segregation of blacks and whites. 6 tables, 12 footnotes, approximately 30 references. (Author abstract modified)