The study examines the major determinants of the career patterns of black managers in white businesses and the effects of corporations on their black managers' identities and relationships to the black community. Analyzed were occupational mobility theories; white and black managers' career patterns, goals, and related factors; company employment policies and Affirmative Action Programs; managers' understanding of the companies' hiring and promoting policies and their influence on and agreement with those policies; racial attitudes; effects of social protest on black managers' career patterns; and the effect of black managers' position in white corporations on their relationship to their communities. One hundred fifty-six white managers and 116 black managers in eight firms were studied using a seven-part questionnaire. All the data indicate that racial discrimination is the major factor explaining the situation of blacks in the corporate world (only 1.9 per cent of the managers of participating firms) and in their own firms (low management positions not receiving equal employment opportunities). (A copy of the questionnaire, statistical tables, and a 10-page bibliography are included.) (AG)