Scholarly publishing by Blacks is placed in an historical and socio-political perspective. Reasons are given to show how racial discrimination and other factors have impeded the work of Black scholars and intellectuals. The concerns of Black writers are discussed, and the importance of the Black experience, as exemplified in the works of these writers, is emphasized. Growth in the number of Black journals over the past twenty years' time is examined, and the founding, early history and future of The Western Journal of Black Studies are outlined.