SEVERAL times recently, TIME has offered its readers special supplements on subjects so vast as to require extraordinary treatment. "To Heal a Nation" (Jan. 24, 1969) assessed the quality of U.S. life and how a new Administration might improve it. "From the '60s to the '70s" (Dec. 19) appraised the character of one decade as it sought clues to the next.

This week, for the first time, the editors have devoted virtually the entire magazine to one overriding problem: the role of the black in America today. We have reported extensively on this in the past and will do so in the future. But the editors believe that the issue of race relations has become so crucial to American survival that it demands unusual efforts of analysis and understanding. But in assembling this special edition, we have retained our usual newsmagazine format, which we consider an invaluable tool in organizing the growing complexity of events. Practically every section deals with some significant aspect in the life of the American black, including his progress--or the lack thereof.

The issue was reported, written and edited by TIME's regular staff, under the direction of the managing editor. Senior Editor Robert Shnayerson, with Correspondent Karsten Prager and Researcher Eleanor Robbins, was responsible for much of the early planning. Every U.S. bureau contributed material. Chicago Correspondent Jacob Simms interviewed his fraternity brother, the man on the cover, Jesse Jackson. Washington's Jess Cook, who is white, and Paul Hathaway, who is black, made the "Journey Through Two Americas." Contributing Editor James Randall provided firsthand impressions of the extra difficulties of relocating when one is black. Denton L. Watson covered politics in black communities, and Bryant Mason dealt with black reporters in the news media. Wallace H. Terry, at Harvard on a Nieman fellowship, returned to help.

In addition, in the later stages of the project we sought out the skills of nine distinguished black consultants: Clifford Alexander Jr., attorney; Darwin Bolden, a director of the Interracial Council for Business Opportunity; Lisle Carter, professor of public administration, Cornell University; Marian Wright Edelman, director, Washington Research Project; M. Carl Holman, vice president, National Urban Coalition; James Nabrit III, deputy director, N.A.A.C.P. Legal Defense Fund; Austin Scott, journalist, Associated Press; Edward Sylvester Jr., president, The Cooperative Assistance Fund, and Roger Wilkins, director of the Ford Foundation. Each contributed his own special awareness and expertise. But the judgments made, and the final responsibility for the issue, of course are entirely those of TIME's editors.

The Cover: Gouache by Jacob Lawrence, the noted black artist.

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