The role of the black reading specialist is here defined on the basis of informal observations and on surveys distributed to reading specialists in predominantly black colleges and to deans of predominantly black graduate programs. Though the role of the black reading specialist includes all the tasks of the typical reading specialist, the black reading specialist has the following additional major responsibilities: (1) becoming more involved in the activities and functions of the major reading organizations, (2) contributing to research efforts to discover better ways of teaching disadvantaged children to read, (3) recruiting and training black potential reading specialists, (4) working with community groups and agencies, and (5) serving as consultants to local school districts and institutions of higher learning. The black reading specialist should attempt to work within existing organizations (reading, college, community) to strengthen the black role in these organizations. Special interest groups within organizations such as the International Reading Association could, it is suggested, help pool resources of black reading specialists. Black college students, particularly males, should be encouraged to go into the field of reading. (References are included.) (AL)