Intended primarily for use as a research guide, this paper surveys and analyzes the extant social science research on black leadership in America. The focus of the study is divided between the old "Negro" leadership literature (1930-66) and the new "Black" leadership literature (1966-82), and factors affecting the transformation in the 1960s from "Negro" to "Black" leadership are specified and analyzed. The survey is organized around the following major categories of analysis: (1) the structure of power in the black community; (2) the social background characteristics of black leaders; (3) black political organizations; and (4) black leadership ideologies and strategies. In addition, basic research and theory problems are discussed, and a prescriptive statement on the continuing struggle for racial justice is presented. An extensive bibliography is included. (KH)