Homicide is an important and increasing cause of death for blacks. In 1974, almost 11,000 of the 237,000 deaths of nonwhites in the United States, the overwhelming majority of whom were black, were from homicide. Historically, trends in homicide rates have been different for blacks and whites. Why homicide rates, like other crime rates, have increased so sharply over the last 20 years is difficult to explain. Much of the increase occurred in years of great prosperity for the Nation. However, much of the increase occurred during the years of crisis and disillusionment. The Vietnam War, the deterioration of the public school system, the inability of youths to find jobs, and the increase in illegitimacy and broken families have all been cited as possible causes. Homicide among blacks continues to rank among the leading causes of death when all ages are taken together, and may account for almost one-third of the deaths among young black males. Black females are less likely to be homicide victims, but even for this group the toll is far greater than that caused by all types of infectious or parasitic diseases. Given a continuance of current rates, the probability that a black male baby will eventually be a victim of homicide is nearly 5 percent while for black females, it is about 1 percent. Society's ability to reduce homicide rates depends upon understanding the social and economic factors which are associated with it. It occurs most often among the poor, the uneducated, and those who have the greatest difficulty finding and keeping a job. Two tables and eight footnotes are provided. (Author abstract modified)