In an examination of employment patterns and the role of higher education, it is suggested that black Americans are in the curious position of making great strides forward in college labor market training while falling behind their white counterparts in the process. The situation should be addressed by both the government and higher education leadership and the imbalances corrected. Blacks must either keep pace in the accelerated training process or fall behind in an increasingly degreed and credentialed labor market. Implications of the situation are discussed with regard to college admissions, state and regional planning, shortages in the legal and medical professions as well as underrepresentation of blacks in other occupations, and financial problems. (LBH)