Educational progress for black people requires elimination of racial prejudice and discrimination against the poor. Several issues relating to the education of black people are discussed: (1) blacks continue to be incorrectly stereotyped as intellectually inferior; (2) historically, blacks suffered from discriminatory educational practices; (3) parents, friends, and relatives of some black students, as well as the students themselves, need to provide educational motivation because it is evident that achievement is possible despite the obstacles set up by others; (4) the academic environment needs attention--with efforts being made toward making learning as interesting and enjoyable as possible; (5) failing students should be retained until they learn a given grade level's material--past problems in this area have caused many students to be unprepared for high school and college work; (6) universities should be relatively flexible in their admissions policies, denying admission only to those students with no possibility of successfully performing college work; (7) a return to the basics in education can be based on a national or core curriculum; (8) both the minds and bodies of athletes need to be developed in colleges; (9) standard English, not black English, should be stressed in all schools; and (10) affirmative action efforts should continue, since they have generally been helpful. (DCS)