Most city planners and governmental agencies are White and have a "laissez faire" attitude toward poor Blacks. Black citizens, professionals, city planners, and social change agents can and must play an active role in the Black community's self-planning efforts. (Author/MC)

Planning and the appropriate role of planners are vital elements for black community development in the South. In enhancing the community development activities of Southern black communities, planning would direct new challenges and cooperation between blacks and whites in the region. One of the challenges would be to influence directed social…