African-Americans are disproportionately represented among victims and perpetrators of domestic violence, particularly intimate partner violence (IPV). Research identifies a number of risk factors associated with IPV among African-Americans, including poverty, high rates of unemployment, alcohol abuse, use of illegal drugs, and exposure to community or family violence. Contributors in this special issue acknowledge progress in the field of domestic violence relative to addressing these disturbing trends and encourage efforts that seek to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and situational context in which domestic violence occurs among African-Americans. The goal is to continue to unpack the consequences and the complexities of how domestic violence affects the African-American community. In order to reduce the levels of IPV with the African-American community, broad examination of the issues and holistic perspectives on how the community understands the problem and its consequences and heals it is imperative. The contributors of this journal explore how the intersection of social, economic, health, and cultural context require deeper consideration of how domestic violence is understood and responded to among African-American men and women. The overall purpose of this special issue is discussed and brief summaries of each of the articles published in this issue are provided. References