This collection examines the history and current status of the economic, political, social, and psychological factors that influence the academic achievement of low-income African Americans. The introduction, "Afro-American Students and Academic Achievement" (J. K. Asamen), outlines the historical development of black education and previews the studies included. The following chapters examine social and psychological factors: (1) "Prenatal and Postnatal Influences on Cognitive Development" (K. Sanders-Phillips); (2) "Motivation in Afro-Americans" (S. Graham); (3) "Defining Self-Concept as a Dimension of Academic Achievement for Inner-City Youth" (G. J. Powell); and (4) "The School Learning Environment and Academic Success" (J. Hale-Benson). The following chapters examine family and community factors: (5) "Inner-City Social Dislocations and School Outcomes: A Structural Interpretation" (R. A. Mickelson and S. S. Smith); (6) "The Community and Academic Achievement" (W. D. Parham and T. A. Parham); (7) "The Black Family and Academic Achievement" (L. E. Jenkins); and (8) "Academic Success and the School Dropout: A Minority Perspective" (R. Tidwell). The following chapters examine personal adjustment and programmatic factors in higher education: (9) "Race Consciousness Among African-American College Students" (M. L. Hall and W. R. Allen); (10) "Stress, Well-Being, and Academic Achievement in College" (S. L. Prillerman, H. F. Myers, and B. D. Smedley); and (11) "What Would We Do if We Really Loved the Students?" (E. Anderson). The following chapters examine psychological interventions and educational leadership strategies: (12) "Critical Leadership Mandates in Mainly Black Schools: Implications for School Performance and Achievement" (H. J. Scott); (13) "The School Development Program: A Psychosocial Model of School Intervention" (J. P. Comer); and (14) "Afro-Americans and Academic Achievement: Pathways to Excellence" (G. L. Berry). In the epilogue, "Unity in Diversity: Thirty-Three Years of Stress," C. M. Pierce discusses how race has influenced his professional accomplishments and status. Each study includes a list of references. (FMW)