The 1997 edition of the Index to Black Periodicals provides a comprehensive catalog of scholarly and general interest articles published in 34 prominent black American journals. This volume, with G.K. Hall as the editorial responsibility, continues a long-standing tradition of indexing literature relevant to the Black experience. It features approximately 2,000 citations, meticulously interfiled by author, subject, and title, offering researchers a single alphabetical access point to a diverse range of topics and publications.

This volume serves as a crucial bibliographic tool for researchers and scholars focusing on African American studies and related fields. Its detailed indexing of a wide array of black American journals ensures comprehensive access to a significant body of literature. The continuity of editorial responsibility under G.K. Hall suggests a consistent and reliable approach to cataloging. The inclusion of specific journal titles and the range of citations indicate its value for tracking scholarly and cultural discourse within the Black community.