This document reports on a conference, concerning rural blacks in four Southern states, that has as its theme the definition of the problem and research priorities relating to the development of a sense of community. A section on formal presentations includes topics such as democracy, economic progress, and research in the southern region, the university's role in rural development and research, the conditions in rural black Arkansas in 1973, the emergent or extant black community, and adolescent pregnancy. A separate section summarizes conference proceedings, followed by discussion summaries organized into four research areas, which include suggestions for both research and action. The conference is considered to have been valuable and worthwhile in that, to some extent, it provides information and action to improve the quality of life for urban blacks and guidelines and priorities for research thereof. Appendices include basic social, economic and demographic characteristics of the black rural residents in the four states considered, project information, an evaluation of the conference by participants, and a bibliography. (Author/AM)