This guide urges all black adults and all caring Americans to join the crusade of the Children's Defense Fund to protect black children. Chapter 1, "Why Everyone in America Must Care about Black Children--and All Children," sets for key facts about the status of black children and suggests a personal audit each adult should perform to ensure that he or she is part of the solution rather than part of the problem children face. A community action agenda and a public policy agenda are suggested to help ensure fair opportunities for all children. Chapter 2, "An Unfair Contract with America's Children," examines some key unfair and antichild aspects of the "Contract with America" and their implications for black children. In chapter 3, "Myths that Cloak Injustice," myths now circulating that have been used to justify harmful budget cuts are explored. Chapter 4 presents five examples of promising programs for children. Chapter 5, "Data on the Status of Black Children," includes 50 state and big-city tables on the status of black children. An appendix includes a copy of the Black Community Crusade for Children manifesto drafted by John Hope Franklin. (Contains 1 figure and 38 tables.) (SLD)