Using the Steinmetz and Straus Systems Model, the author determines which variables may contribute to violence within black families. Societal variables include poverty, a large number of households headed by women, and residence in high crime neighborhoods. Factors of family-kin-community organization possibly affecting abuse rates are prevalence of multigenerational households, presence of nonnuclear family members in the home, social isolation from support systems, and a shared value system with proviolent attitudes common among low income groups. The tendency of older black respondents to be in poorer health than white respondents may also be a factor contributing to the risk of abuse for elderly blacks. Prevention of abuse in black families requires fundamental changes in their social situation: a guaranteed annual income, low-cost national health insurance, adequate housing, Federal assistance to the frail elderly, tax incentives for caregivers, and a variety of other specific measures. Efforts to date have been limited to mandatory reporting laws and establishment of a few experimental service programs, which do not get to the root of the problem. Footnotes and about 45 references are supplied.