Because of their lack or misuse of information on unemployment rates, demographics, and crime rates of black youths in the United States, a number of prominent urban theorists have drawn erroneous conclusions concerning the interrelationship among these factors. An analysis of certain statements shows them to be based on incorrect data or faulty interpretation. These statements are (1) unemployment rates for black youths dropped in the 1960's; (2) crime will decrease significantly in the 1980's because there will be fewer youths in the critical crime-prone age range; (3) the simultaneous improvement in blacks' economic condition in the 1960's and rapid rise in the crime rate indicates that there is no immediate relationship between economic factors and crime, at least among blacks, and (4) concerning street crime, there is something inherent in the black culture that differentiates it from other cultures in the United States. A reexamination of the data shows that crime by black youths does bear a close relationship to prevailing economic conditions. Employment programs concentrated on this subgroup of the unemployed make more sense as a crime prevention tactic than do the more punitive measures currently fashionable. One table and 22 footnotes are included. (Author abstract modified)