This paper represents an analysis of three models of education for black students: racist, liberal, and democratic. The racist model, exemplified in segregated schools, held sway in this country until the Supreme Court's 1954 decision against segregated education sounded what was thought to be its death knell. It was in part replaced by a liberal model characterized by desegregated and integrated schools. Today there is difficulty in developing and maintaining either of these models. This points to the necessity for developing a third model, one which stresses the individual black student. This democratic model is the relevant one for the future education of black students.