The symposium of primarily black scholars was held to gather information and focus attention on this problem of homicide in black communities. Statistics for 1977 show that homicide is the leading cause of death among black males between the ages of 25 and 44 years. According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, the average life expectancy of males 'other than white' (some 87 percent of these are black) age 20 or younger declined by about 1 year from 1960 to 1970. Furthermore, data for 1977 show 125.2 homicide deaths per 100,000 among black males aged 25-44, compared with about 14.2 per 100,000 among white males in the same age group. The presentations discuss homicide statistics, the pitfalls of homicide data collection systems, the role of alcohol and drug abuse in homicide, and other causal factors, including employment-related ones. Social costs to families and communities, a macrocosmic view of crime in African-American communities, and HUD's crime prevention program are also reviewed. Other papers focus on priorities for prevention, and the views of the Office of Health Promotion on prevention. Among the numerous recommendations which emerged were the reform of the mental health training and treatment system, the development of unconventional outreach programs, and action to reduce unemployment among black youth. Data charts and references are included.