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Zooxanthellae

Zooxanthellae ( zooxanthella) is a colloquial term for single-celled dinoflagellates that are able to live in symbiosis with diverse marine invertebrates including demosponges, corals, jellyfish, and nudibranchs. Most known zooxanthellae are in the genus Symbiodinium, but some are known from the genus Amphidinium, and other taxa, as yet unidentified, may have similar endosymbiont affinities. The true Zooxanthella K.brandt is a mutualist of the radiolarian Collozoum inerme (Joh.Müll., 1856) and systematically placed in Peridiniales. Another group of unicellular eukaryotes that partake in similar endosymbiotic relationships in both marine and freshwater habitats are green algae zoochlorellae.

Zooxanthellae are photosynthetic organisms, which contain chlorophyll a and chlorophyll c, as well as the dinoflagellate pigments peridinin and diadinoxanthin. These provide the yellowish and brownish colours typical of many of the host species. During the day, they provide their host with the organic carbon products of photosynthesis, sometimes providing up to 90% of their host's energy needs for metabolism, growth and reproduction. In return, they receive nutrients, carbon dioxide, and an elevated position with access to sunshine.

Morphology and classification
Zooxanthellae can be grouped in the classes of Bacillariophyceae, Cryptophyceae, Dinophyceae, and Rhodophycaeae and of the genera Amphidinium, Gymnodinium, Aureodinium, Gyrodinium, Prorocentrum, Scrippsiella, Gloeodinium, and most commonly, Symbiodinium. Zooxanthellae of genus Symbiodinium belong to a total of eight phylogenetic clades A-H, differentiated via their nuclear ribosomal DNA and chloroplast DNA.

Zooxanthellae are autotrophs containing chloroplasts composed of thylakoids present in clusters of three. A pyrenoid protrudes from each chloroplast and is encased along with the chloroplast by a thick, starchy covering. Within the cell’s cytoplasm also exists lipid vacuoles, calcium oxalate crystals, dictyosomes, and mitochondria. The cell wall of zooxanthellae varies in structure across species. One structure consists of an outer membrane, middle layer compact with electrons, and a thin inner layer. In other species, the characteristics of this low-density inner layer make up the cell wall’s entire structure. Beneath the cell wall is the cell membrane, and beneath the cell membrane are thecal vesicles.

DNA in the cell exists in the form of chromatin coils tightly compacted together. It is condensed in the nucleus alongside an atypical histone complement. The DNA possesses ribosomal RNA (rRNA) that is folded and of similar morphology to rRNA in archaeobacteria. This indicates that RNA is important for DNA packaging in zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae, in addition to all other dinoflagellates, possess 5-hydroxymethyluracil and thymidine in their genomes, unlike any other eukaryotic genome.

Life history
Zooxanthellae alternate between life phases expressed as cysts and as motile organisms in the water column. In zooxanthellae of the genus Gymnodinium, one possible life cycle of the cell begins as an immature cyst which reaches maturity then divides to form an immature cyst once more. Once growing into an older cell, it becomes no longer useful. In the life cycle of a motile zooxanthellae cell, its youngest stage is known as a zoosporangium, which matures into a zoospore capable of motility. This motile cell produces and releases gametes for reproduction.

Vegetative phase
The vegetative phase in the life cycle of a zooxanthellae is the predominant form of the organism. In this form, the single-celled organism has a thin cell wall. As opposed to the zoospore, the zooxanthella contains numerous chloroplasts. Once the cell continues growing, however, chloroplasts decrease in abundance. The vegetative cell will either divide into two separate daughter cells or transition into a cyst stage.

Cyst stages
The most common phases in the life history of zooxanthellae following the vegetative phase are cysts, dividing cysts, and degenerate cysts. Cysts possess a thick cell wall yet retain the composition of the cytoplasm and constitute the majority of clustered zooxanthellae in host tissues. This stage of the cell provides the host with a reddish-brown hue. Dividing cysts make up a fourth of the composition of zooxanthellae clusters in host tissues and are expressed as cell stages where two daughter cells remain adjoined but possess individual cell walls. Degenerate cysts are present in clusters, though rare, and lose much of their mutualistic benefit to the host they reside in due to a decrease in photosynthetic efficiency. The young zoosporangium and motile zoospore stages, though seen in zooxanthellae life cycles, are much rarer amongst clades. The zoospore resides in the zoosporangium until the cell wall of the cyst bursts. Zooxanthellae is only motile if it originates as a zoospore.

Motility
Zooxanthellae in the zoospore stage exhibit motility as forward movement or gyratory movement. In moving forward, the organism rotates on the posterior flagellum’s axis whilst simultaneously propelling through the water column. The zoospore gyrates through the water column via attachment of the posterior flagellum to a substrate.

Endosymbiont acquisition
Zooxanthellae are particularly associated with reef-building corals but they also inhabit other invertebrates and protists; their hosts include many sea anemones, jellyfish, nudibranchs, certain bivalve molluscs like the giant clam Tridacna, sponges and flatworms as well as some species of radiolarians and foraminiferans. Many different species of zooxanthellae are present in host organisms, each species with its own adaptive capabilities and degree of tolerance of varying environmental factors.

A juvenile organism or newly established colony can acquire its zooxanthellae via sexual reproduction or directly from the environment. The egg from which the individual developed may have already been infected by zooxanthellae at the time of fertilization, or cells of the symbiont may have been transferred from the mother in a period during which the larva was brooded by its parent. Alternatively, the new individual may acquire the zooxanthellae direct from sea water in which the dinoflagellates freely live at some stages of their life cycle. Some stony corals use chemotaxis, with infection occurring as a result of the emission by the coral of a chemical attractant. Infection may also occur after ingestion of infected faecal matter by the host, or of prey that already houses the symbionts. Such indirect acquisition can result in the new host being infected by a species of zooxanthella different from that present in its parent.

Symbiosis with coral
A zooxanthella in symbiosis with coral is contained in vacuoles of the host’s gastrodermal cells and is of the genus Symbiodinium. Zooxanthellae provide nutrients to their host cnidarians in the form of sugars, glycerol, and amino acids and in return gain carbon dioxide, phosphates, and nitrogen compounds. A coral exposed to environmental stressors can result in expulsion of zooxanthellae from host tissues. This in turn strips the coral of its color, in this phenomenon known as coral bleaching, where the now-transparent tissues of the coral reveal its white internal skeletal structure. Variations in salinity, light intensity, temperature, pollution, sedimentation, and disease can all impact the photosynthetic efficiency of zooxanthellae or result in expulsion from their mutualistic relationships.

The physiological mechanisms behind endosymbiont expulsion remain under research but are speculated to involve various means of detachment of zooxanthellae or gastrodermal cells from host corals. During a bleaching event, entire gastrodermal cells containing zooxanthellae may leave the host. In other cases, gastrodermal cells will remain in the host tissues, but zooxanthellae contained in vacuoles may separately undergo damage or may physically leave the cells and enter the surrounding environment.

Clams and Zooxanthellae
Coral is not the only aquatic organism to be affected by bleaching and the expulsion of zooxanthellae; clams have also been found to undergo a similar process when temperatures become too high. However, clams discard zooxanthellae that are still alive and have been observed being able to recover them. This not only has positive indications for the clams themselves, but also the surrounding ecosystem. For many organisms, clams are a vital part of the food chain. Not only can they themselves be eaten, but excrement from giant clams contains live zooxanthellae. Opportunistic feeders and clams alike use excreted zooxanthellae as a nutrient source. The consumption of zooxanthellae is especially vital for a clam in its veliger stage as it encourages growth. Zooxanthellae are not only found in clam excrement, but in the mantle tissue as well where they take up ammonia and nitrate. They are also found in the eyes of clams like Tridacna where they act as a lens. Different clades of zooxanthellae have an impact on clam morphology. Clade E1 of zooxanthellae seems to influence or favor smaller offspring from clams when compared to clams harboring other clades and all five clades appear to be needed in order for larval settlement to occur.

Jellyfish and Zooxanthellae
Jellyfish and zooxanthellae have a history together in the scientific world as Symbiodinium was first cultured from the jellyfish Cassiopea, a model jellyfish species. Many different types of zooxanthellae have been observed forming relationships with jellyfish across many different phylogenetic branches, and the roles they play will change throughout the jellyfish’s life cycle. However, as the jellyfishes ages, the diversity of zooxanthellae attaching to them decreases, suggesting that zooxanthellae compete with each other to form relationships with the jellyfish. Not all jellyfish form relationships with these microbes and for the most part the ones that do are found in tropic and subtropic waters. The relationship between jellyfish and zooxanthellae is affected a little differently than coral in terms of climate change despite both of them being a part of the cnidaria family. One study suggested that certain species of jellyfish and their symbiotic zooxanthellae may have some type of resistance to decreasing pH caused by climate change to a certain point. Although, jellyfish bleaching events have been documented during extreme heat events. While the causal factors that normally seem to affect the relationship between zooxanthellae and their host may not apply to jellyfish, light intensity does. Light availability can affect the lipid production of zooxanthellae that the jellyfish then utilize. To maximize their light uptake, jellyfish will both swim near the surface and do very specific migrations. The migration patterns also assist with helping the zooxanthellae access specific nutrients. Many of these jellyfish appear to be mixotrophic consuming both live prey and utilizing phototrophy. This may be what helps jellyfish survive climate change and bleaching as they could switch feeding methods rather than attempting to recover lost zooxanthellae quickly. There are many unknowns in when it comes to the relationship between zooxanthellae and jellyfish that scientists look to answer.

title: Zooxanthellae


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The Books of Homilies

The Books of Homilies (1547, 1562, and 1571) are two books together containing thirty-three sermons developing the authorized reformed doctrines of the Church of England in depth and detail, as appointed for use in the 35th Article of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion. The longer title of the collection is Certain Sermons or Homilies Appointed to Be Read in Churches. They belong to the basic formularies of the Church of England.

Revision and reform
Following the secession of the Church of England from the jurisdiction of the Church of Rome in 1530, and the designation of the monarch, Henry VIII of England, as the chief power in both the civil and ecclesiastical estates of the realm, it was needed for the establishment of the English Reformation that the reformed Christian doctrines, theology, piety, and practice should be explained and taught as widely as possible among all congregations throughout the realm. Although the liturgy had formerly been conducted entirely in Latin, and holy communion (consisting only of the consecrated bread) was administered twice a year, the progress of reformed faith had long been developing unofficially among the populace at all levels, as much through the Wycliffite tradition, as through the new learning in the universities in its wider European context.

The Bishops' Book and King's Book
Attempts to reformulate the doctrine of the English Church, led by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer under Thomas Cromwell as Vicegerent, begun with the adoption of the (partly Lutheran) Ten Articles in 1536, was augmented in 1537 by a volume of disquisitions known as the Bishops' Book, or The Institution of a Christen Man. This book was divided into four sections as follows:"* The exposition of the Apostles' Creed * The declaration of the Seven Sacraments
 * The exposition of the Ten Commandments
 * The exposition of the Pater noster and the Ave, with the articles of Justification and Purgatory." Dedicated by the bishops to King Henry, this was first ordered to be read from the pulpits, but then suppressed with a view to revision. In 1539 the Six Articles were enacted in law, a reactionary formula with severe penalties for violation.

The revised work called the King's Book, or The Necessary Doctrine and Erudition for Any Christen Man, was deliberated upon at the Convocation of 1540 (at the time of Cromwell's fall) and published in 1543. The King's Book contained sections as follows, as in the Bishops' Book giving lengthy paraphrases or expositions on each of the various articles within the sections, line by line:"* The declaration of Faith
 * The articles of our belief, called the Creed
 * The seven sacraments
 * The ten commandments of almighty god
 * Our lord's prayer called the Pater noster
 * The salutation of the angel, called the Ave Maria
 * An article of free will
 * An article of justification
 * An article of good works
 * Of prayer for souls departed."

Edwardian Reform: the First Book of Homilies (1547)
It was under Thomas Cranmer, the reformist Archbishop of Canterbury through the later reign of King Henry (Defender of the Faith) and that of Edward VI (ruled 1547–1553), that the doctrine presented in the first volume (1547) of the Homilies, Certayne Sermons, or Homelies appoynted by the kynges Maiestie, was formulated. The Six Articles were repealed in the same year. An authorized, unified and clearly expressed statement of doctrine for public understanding was needed, to be placed in the hands of the priesthood at large to deliver it. The preface to the first edition, as under King Edward's authority advised by his Protector, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, takes as its premise the need to cast off the "manifold enormities" and "ungodly doctrine" of the adherents of the "Bishoppe of Rome", which (it says) has led so many away "from doing the commandments of God, unto voluntary works and fantasies invented of men". It was the king's command that the parsons, vicars and curates should read through the homilies Sunday by Sunday (except when a sermon was to be delivered) until the whole book was read, and then to begin again.

This volume therefore preceded the publication of the reformed liturgy in the Edwardian Book of Common Prayer of 1549, its revision of 1552, and the issuing of the Forty-two Articles in 1553. Volume I contains twelve sermons and was mainly written by Cranmer. They focus strongly upon the character of God and Justification by Faith and were printed by the King's Printers, Richard Grafton and Edward Whitchurch. The homilies are:   A Fruitful exhortation to the reading of holy Scripture.  Of the misery of all mankind.  Of the salvation of all mankind.  Of the true and lively faith.  Of good works.  Of Christian love and charity.  Against swearing and perjury.  Of the declining from GOD.

 An exhortation against the fear of death.

 An exhortation to obedience.

 Against whoredom and adultery.

 Against strife and contention.

At the end of the first volume appeared the following statement:"'Hereafter shall follow Homilies of Fasting, Prayer, Almose-deeds, of the Nativity, Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of our Saviour Christ: of the due Receiving of his Body and Blood, under the form of Bread and Wine: against Idleness, against Gluttony and Drunkenness, against Couetousness, against Envy, Ire and Malice: with many other matters, as well fruitful and necessary to the edifying of Christian people, and the increase of godly living. GOD SAVE THE KING.'" In this way the completion of the work was projected in 1547.

Elizabethan Reform: the Second Book of Homilies (1563, completed 1571)
The First Book saw a new edition in 1562, the homilies divided into parts for better understanding: in its preface, the Queen's injunction for them to be read was given. This, and the editions of 1563, 1567 and of 1571, in which the Second Book of homilies and sermons was added, belong to the time of Matthew Parker as archbishop, from the commencement of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I until his death in 1575. They followed that interruption to the Reforms occasioned by Queen Mary I (ruled 1553–1558) and the Roman Catholic Archbishop Reginald Pole (1556–1558), and the execution of Thomas Cranmer (author of much of the first volume) as a heretic in 1556. The Forty-two Articles had not been enforced during Mary's reign, during which the English Church was reunited with that of Rome, but at once regained importance in Elizabeth's religious settlement.

1563
The Second Book, mainly written by Matthew Parker with Bishop John Jewel and others, was printed perhaps in two or more editions by Richarde Iugge and John Cawood, "printers to the Queenes Maiestie". According to Parker, the Homilies had already been printed in 1562 and only awaited the Queen's approval at Midsummer 1563 for final publication. Entitled Certayne Sermons appoynted by the Queenes Maiestie, it contained twenty sermons. Reprints appeared in succeeding years. The publication followed the Convocation's approval of Thirty-Nine Articles, from which the Queen removed a further article to pacify objections from her Catholic subjects. These complete the promised scope of the Homilies as projected in the final notice of the First Book.

1571
The full second series of twenty-one homilies, entitled The Second Tome of Homilees, was published in 1571. The reinstatement of the Thirty-ninth Article, and the publication of the Second Book of Homilies containing the final, twenty-first homily (against Disobedience and wilful Rebellion), followed the excommunication of Queen Elizabeth by the papal bull named Regnans in Excelsis. The Thirty-fifth Article (still so mandated today) states:"'The second Book of Homilies, the several Titles whereof we have joined under this Article, doth contain a godly and wholsom Doctrine, and necessary for these Times, as doth the former Book of Homilies, which were set forth in the time of Edward the Sixth; and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers, diligently and distinctly, that they may be understanded of the People.'"

This volume includes:

 Of the right use of the Church.

 Against peril of Idolatry.

 For repairing and keeping clean the Church.

 Of good works. And first of Fasting.

 Against gluttony and drunkenness.

 Against excess of apparel.

 An homily of Prayer.

 Of the place and time of Prayer.

 Of Common Prayer and Sacraments

 An information of them which take offence at certain places of holy Scripture.

 Of alms deeds.

 Of the Nativity.

 Of the Passion for good Friday.

 Of the Resurrection for Easter day.

 Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament.

 An Homily concerning the coming down of the holy Ghost, for Whitsunday.

 An Homily for Rogation week.

 Of the state of Matrimony.

 Against Idleness.

 Of Repentance and true Reconciliation unto God.

 An Homily against disobedience and willful rebellion.

Character of the Homilies
Many of the sermons are straightforward exhortations to read scripture daily and lead a life of prayer and faith in Jesus Christ; the other works are lengthy scholarly treatises intended to inform church leaders in theology, church history, the fall of the Byzantine Empire and those aspects of the Roman Catholic Church and doctrine from which the Reformed Anglican faith had turned away. Each homily is heavily annotated with references to holy scripture, the Church Fathers and other primary sources.

The longest homily is the second of the second book, "Against Peril of Idolatry", which runs to about 136 printed pages (pp. 25–161 in the 1571 edition) and is divided into three parts. The first part elaborates the Mosaic law against the worship of images, and down to St Paul's condemnations: the second part follows the patristic writings on the same point, and traces from the Iconoclastic Controversy (which underlay the schism between Western and Eastern churches, and aroused Rome's hostility towards the parts of Christendom not under papal authority). The third part presents, from the perspective of the Reformed Church, a history of such Roman Catholic religious teachings and practices as were deemed to have led to idolatrous observances, as, for instance:"'And where one saint hath images in divers places, the same saint hath divers names thereof, moste lyke to the Gentiles. When you heare of our Lady of Walsingham, our Lady of Ipswich, our Lady of Wilsdon, and suche other: what is it but an imitation of the Gentiles idolaters? Diana Agrotera, Diana Coriphea, Diana Ephesia, etc., Venus Cipria, Venus Paphia, Venus Gnidia. Whereby is evidently meant, that the saint for the image sake, shoulde in those places, yea in the images them selves, have a dwellyng, whiche is the grounde of theyr idolatrie. For where no images be, they have no such meanes' (at p. 99)."

The homilies contain many historical spellings, based on the Vulgate and Septuagint, of Biblical names such as Noe for Noah and Esay for Isaiah. The colourful expression "mummishe massyng" appears in the fifteenth sermon of the second book (Of the worthy receaving of the Sacrament), not to characterize the Mass itself, but (on the contrary) to describe those who come to the Lord's Supper "unreverentlye, not discerning the Lordes bodye" (like the Corinthians blamed by St Paul, I Corinthians, xi, 27–29), with "rude and unreverent ignoraunce", as if it were a mime-show.

Editions
The following recensions were issued down to 1623, some under public authority:
 * Richard Jugge, Queen's Printer (died 1577): Volumes I and II (1574); Volumes I and II (1576–1577), in quarto
 * Christopher Barker, Queen's Printer and Henry Middleton: Volumes I and II (1582), in quarto
 * John Charlewood and Thomas East: Volumes I and II (1587), in quarto
 * Edward Allde: Volumes I and II (1595), in quarto
 * John Bill, King's Printer: Both parts (with numerous revisions) united (1623), in folio

Some later recensions include:
 * John Norton, for Joyce Norton and Richard Whitaker (London, 1633/1635)
 * Ralph Hodkinson and John Norton for Richard Whitaker (London 1640 [1650])
 * Thomas Roycroft, for Andrew Crooke, Samuel Mearne and Robert Powlet (London 1673)
 * Thomas Roycroft, for Samuel Mearne and Robert Powlet (London 1676)
 * Ann Mearn and Blanch Pawlet (London 1683)
 * For Moses Pitt, Peter Parkins and Thomas Guy (The Theatre, Oxford 1683)
 * George Wells, Abel Swall and George Pawlett (London 1687), "for use of private families"

The edition of the Homilies most widely available today is that edited in 1859 by John Griffiths and originally published by Oxford University Press. An earlier edition published by Oxford in 1822 has been criticised for its heavy editing.

A critical edition of the Homilies appeared in 2015, edited by Gerald Bray. An edition of the First Book of Homilies in modern English was published in 2021 for the Church Society, edited by Lee Gatiss.

Reception in the United States
The Episcopal Church's version of the Articles endorses the content of the Homilies, but states that it suspends the order for reading them until they can be updated.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: The Books of Homilies


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Annette Strauss

Annette Louise Greenfield Strauss (January 26, 1924 – December 14, 1998) was an American philanthropist and politician who served as the 54th mayor of Dallas. The Annette Strauss Artist Square in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas is named in honor of her. She was the second female mayor and the second Jewish mayor of Dallas (Adlene Harrison was first; Laura Miller was the third). She was also the first woman elected to the post in her own right; Harrison served as a caretaker for the last months of Wes Wise's term after Wise resigned to run for Congress.

Life
Born in Houston, Texas, Annette Strauss graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1944. She moved to New York City where she received master's degrees in sociology and psychology from Columbia University. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society and Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority. She worked as a Red Cross social worker in Houston for a year until she married Ted Strauss, Sr. Managing Director of Bear Stearns, in 1946 and moved to Dallas in 1947.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Strauss worked tirelessly as a fundraiser for various charities and organizations and also as a volunteer for a number of other organizations. She worked on behalf of the Dallas Symphony, the Crystal Charity Ball, Southern Methodist University, the United Way of America, the United Jewish Appeal, the Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Baylor University Medical Center and many other groups. Her efforts helped to raise millions for the arts in Dallas. Strauss was also one of the founding members of the Volunteer Center of North Texas.

Using her many connections in the city, Strauss was elected to a Dallas City Council seat in 1983. She became deputy mayor pro tem and then mayor pro tem in 1984. In 1987, Strauss ran for mayor of Dallas and won with 56 percent of the vote. Her opponents included the Texas Republican state chairman, Fred Meyer, a Dallas businessman originally from suburban Chicago.

During her tenure as mayor, Strauss helped to lead a city suffering from a sharp economic downturn.

While Mayor-Pro Tem, Annette spearheaded the effort to build a refuge for an increasing number of families living on the streets, victims of the collapsed Texas economy. The vision was a facility where homeless families could stay together as a family unit. A coalition of congregations responded, and Family Gateway was born. Originally named the Downtown Family Shelter, the S. St. Paul, 30-room facility was rededicated as the Annette. G. Strauss Family Gateway Center in 2000. The Center provides a private room, food and clothing for homeless families with children; coupled with the child care, educational and employment resources they need to recover from crisis and make positive choices for their future. Today, Family Gateway has grown to include transitional housing and permanent supportive housing units in the community to serve the growing number of homeless families. After 25 years Annette's original vision for Family Gateway continues today; to empower homeless families to break the cycle of homelessness and embrace a life of hope and promise.

In 1991, Strauss left the mayoral position and worked as a consultant and trustee for a number of boards and foundations, including the Children's Medical Center Foundation, the Dallas Methodist Hospitals Foundation, the St. Paul Hospital Foundation, the Timberlawn Foundation and the Texas Historical Foundation. She was also appointed "Ambassador-at-large" for the city of Dallas, an honorary position she held until her death from cancer in 1998. She was interred at Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery. Her husband Ted Strauss died on September 5, 2014.

Awards
Strauss was awarded the H. Neil Mallon Award by the World Affairs Council in 1995. The H. Neil Mallon Award, hosted by the World Affair Council of Dallas/ Fort Worth, is presented annually to individuals who have excelled at promoting the international focus of North Texas. The prestigious Mallon Award is named after the Council’s founder and is presented annually to individuals who have excelled in promoting our region’s international profile. Funds raised from this event support the World Affair Council’s public and education programming, international exchanges, and diplomatic services.

Legacy
In recognition of her many years of humanitarian service, many things have been named for Annette Strauss, including the Annette G. Strauss Family Gateway Center, the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life at the University of Texas at Austin and also the Annette Strauss Artist Square, an open-air Performing Arts area in downtown Dallas.

title: Annette Strauss


text:
List of U.S. communities with African-American majority populations in 2000

The following is a list of United States cities, towns and unincorporated areas (Census Designated Places) in which a majority (over 50%) of the population is African American or Black, according to data from the 2000 Census. This list does not include cities such as Chicago, Illinois or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in which, according to the 2000 Census, merely a plurality (as opposed to a majority) of the residents are African American. The list below is organized by state and, within each state, by population size. The percentage of each city's population that is African American is listed in parentheses next to the city's name.

Alabama
Population over 200,000
 * Birmingham (2000, 73.19%)

Population 25,000 to 50,000
 * Bessemer (69.6%)
 * Prichard (84.5%)

Population 10,000 to 24,999
 * Fairfield (90.2%)
 * Selma (69.7%)
 * Tuskegee (95.5%)

Population 5,000 to 9,999
 * Demopolis (50.9%)
 * Lanett (53.6%)
 * Midfield (59.5%)

Population 1,000 to 4,999
 * Aliceville (66.5%)
 * Brent (50.0%)
 * Brighton (89.1%)
 * Brundidge (63.5%)
 * Camden (54.2%)
 * Camp Hill (84.9%)
 * Clayton (64.0%)
 * Clio (57.2%)
 * Eutaw (66.0%)
 * Evergreen (52.8%)
 * Fort Deposit (68.2%)
 * Georgiana (61.8%)
 * Goodwater (73.3%)
 * Greensboro (60.9%)
 * Hayneville (85.5%)
 * La Fayette (67.3%)
 * Lipscomb (65.6%)
 * Livingston (60.8%)
 * Marion (62.5%)
 * Mosses (97.8%)
 * Selmont-West Selmont (91.4%)
 * Union Springs (74.4%)
 * White Hall (98.0%)
 * York (78.3%)

Population 100 to 999
 * Akron (86.5%)
 * Autaugaville (66.0%)
 * Beatrice (72.6%)
 * Boligee (88.9%)
 * Colony (93.5%)
 * Edgewater (61.1%)
 * Epes (84.0%)
 * Five Points (52.1%)
 * Forkland (89.2%)
 * Franklin (56.4%)
 * Geiger (70.2%)
 * Gordon (74.0%)
 * Gordonville (95.9%)
 * Hillsboro (82.2%)
 * Hobson City (92.7%)
 * Hurtsboro (70.3%)
 * Lisman (91.4%)
 * Loachapoka (61.2%)
 * Macedonia (91.8%)
 * Midway (88.8%)
 * Mount Vernon (53.0%)
 * Pickensville (63.0%)
 * Ridgeville (79.1%)
 * Shorter (81.7%)
 * Thomaston (50.1%)
 * Triana (86.5%)
 * Union (92.1%)
 * Uniontown (88.2%)
 * Vredenburgh (89.0%)
 * Yellow Bluff (92.8%)

Population under 100
 * Dayton (65.0%)
 * Emelle (93.6%)
 * Faunsdale (57.02%)
 * McMullen (100.0%)
 * Memphis (97.0%)
 * Newbern (77.1%)
 * North Courtland (97.5%)
 * Oak Hill (64.9%)

Arkansas
Population over 50,000
 * Pine Bluff (65.9%)

Population 25,000 to 49,999
 * West Memphis (55.9%)

Population 10,000 to 24,999
 * Blytheville (56.0%)
 * Forrest City (60.9%)
 * West Helena (65.7%)

Population 5,000 to 9,999
 * Osceola (51.0%)
 * Dumas (60.0%)
 * Helena (67.9%)

Population 1,000 to 4,999
 * Altheimer (2000, 87.42%)
 * Dermott (73.3%)
 * Earle (75.2%)
 * Edmondson (2000, 80.81%)
 * Eudora (84.5%)
 * Gould (78.0%)
 * Hughes (67.8%)
 * Lake Village (56.2%)
 * Luxora (56.0%)
 * Marianna (74.1%)
 * Marvell (2000, 57.49%)
 * McAlmont (70.5%)
 * Parkin (68.5%)
 * Stamps (54.5%)
 * Sweet Home (74.0%)
 * Waldo (58.7%)
 * Wrightsville (74.6%)

Population 100 to 999
 * Allport (94.5%)
 * Anthonyville (2000, 96.40%)
 * Bluff City (2000, 71.52%)
 * Bradley (2000, 51.69%)
 * Carthage (2000, 82.13%)
 * Chidester (62.4%)
 * College Station (91.8%)
 * Cotton Plant (74.1%)
 * Elaine (2000, 54.34%)
 * Fredonia (2000, 58.19%)★
 * Garland (69.9%)
 * Gilmore (79.1%)
 * Grady (65.8%)
 * Gum Springs (55.2%)
 * Harrell (2000, 56.31%)★
 * Haynes (2000, 85.05%)
 * Hensley (2000, 64.67%)
 * Holly Grove (72.6%)
 * Jennette (87.9%)
 * Jericho (92.9%)
 * LaGrange (56.6%)
 * Lake View (2000, 91.71%)
 * Madison (2000, 88.96%)
 * McNeil (2000, 56.95%)
 * Menifee (84.6%)
 * Mitchellville (2000, 97.99%)
 * Montrose (71.9%)
 * Parkdale (66.8%)
 * Perla (63.5%)
 * Reed (2000, 96.00%)
 * Rondo (2000, 70.04%)
 * Rosston (2000, 57.74%)
 * Strong (2000, 53.15%)
 * Sunset (2000, 89.94%)
 * Tollette (98.5%)
 * Turrell (78.8%)
 * Twin Groves (2000, 72.10%)
 * Wabbaseka (2000, 84.21%)
 * Washington (2000, 61.49%)★
 * Widener (67.2%)
 * Wilmar (2000, 71.80%)
 * Wilmot (75.2%)
 * Winchester (2000, 64.92%)
 * Woodson (73.9%)

Population under 100
 * Birdsong (70.7%)

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census

California
Population 25,000 to 99,999
 * Westmont CDP (58.0%)★

Population 10,000 to 24,999
 * View Park-Windsor Hills CDP (2000, 87.21%)

Population 5,000 to 9,999
 * Ladera Heights CDP (2000, 70.07%)
 * West Athens CDP (65.1%)★
 * West Rancho Dominguez CDP (61.9%)★

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census ★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census

Connecticut
Population 10,000 to 24,999
 * Bloomfield (2000, 53.33%)

Delaware
Population 25,000 to 99,999
 * Wilmington (2000, 55.80%)

District of Columbia
Population over 500,000
 * Washington D.C. (2000, 59.45%)★

Florida
Population over 50,000
 * Lauderhill (2000, 57.92%)
 * North Miami (58.9%)

Population 25,000 to 49,999
 * Golden Glades CDP (72.8%)
 * Lauderdale Lakes (67.74%)
 * Pine Hills CDP (67.6%)
 * Riviera Beach (65.9%)
 * West Little River CDP (57.2%)★

Population 10,000 to 24,999
 * Andover CDP (2000, 68.83%)★
 * Belle Glade (56.3%)
 * Brownsville CDP (74.7%)
 * East Dunbar CDP
 * Florida City (52.4%)
 * Gladeview CDP (75.2%)
 * Norland CDP★
 * Opa-locka (65.8%)★
 * Pinewood CDP (75.3%)
 * Quincy (2000, 64.01%)
 * Scott Lake CDP★
 * West Park (57.9%)

Population 5,000 to 9,999
 * Lake Lucerne CDP★
 * Fort Pierce North (70.6%)
 * Goulds CDP (55.2%)★
 * Lake Park (55.0%)
 * Opa-locka North CDP★
 * Pahokee (56.1%)
 * Pembroke Park (55.3%)
 * Richmond Heights CDP (72.1%)
 * South Apopka CDP (64.1%)
 * West Perrine CDP (62.7%)★
 * Westview CDP (69.5%)

Population 1,000 to 4,999
 * Belle Glade Camp CDP (69.6%)
 * Boulevard Gardens CDP (94.3%)
 * Bunche Park CDP★
 * Century (56.1%)
 * Chattahoochee (51.5%)
 * Cypress Quarters CDP (2000, 65.83%)
 * DeLand Southwest CDP (2000, 70.40%)
 * Eatonville (84.5%)
 * El Portal (50.1%)★
 * Fremd Village-Padgett Island CDP (2000, 91.43%)★
 * Goulding CDP (2000, 71.90%)
 * Gretna (83.8%)
 * Harlem CDP (2000, 94.76%)
 * Havana (53.6%)
 * Madison (66.0%)
 * Mangonia Park (83.1%)
 * Midway (Gadsden County) (2000, 94.12%)
 * Midway CDP (Seminole County) (2000, 93.52%)
 * Monticello (54.2%)★
 * Naranja CDP (57.5%)★
 * Progress Village CDP (51.7%)★
 * Ridgecrest CDP (67.9%)
 * Roosevelt Gardens CDP (96.5%)
 * South Bay (65.0%)
 * Tangelo Park CDP (2000, 88.44%)
 * Washington Park CDP (94.9%)

Population 100 to 999
 * Campbellton (64.8%)
 * Charleston Park CDP (2000, 82.00%)
 * East Williston CDP (2000, 83.33%)
 * Franklin Park CDP (97.9%)
 * Greenville (70.7%)
 * Homestead Base CDP (55.4%)
 * Jacob City (2000, 85.02%)
 * Limestone Creek CDP (2000, 77.15%)★
 * Tildenville CDP (2000, 80.31%)

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census ★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census ★ CDP dissolved prior to the 2010 U.S. Census ★For the 2010 census, the CDPs of Carol City, Andover, Bunche Park, Lake Lucerne, Norland, Opa-locka North, and Scott Lake merged to form the city of Miami Gardens

Georgia
Population over 100,000
 * Atlanta (2000, 61.00%)★
 * Savannah (2000, 56.79%)★

Population 25,000 to 99,999
 * Albany (71.6%)
 * Candler-McAfee CDP (2000, 94.73%)
 * East Point (78.2%)
 * Macon (2000, 62.21%)
 * Redan CDP (2000, 90.62%)
 * Stonecrest (92.6)
 * Valdosta (51.1%)

Population 10,000 to 24,999
 * Americus (58.3%)
 * Bainbridge (50.3%)
 * Belvedere Park CDP (2000, 82.04%)
 * Brunswick (59.8%)
 * College Park (81.8%)
 * Cordele (65.0%)
 * Dublin (51.4%)
 * Moultrie (50.2%)
 * Panthersville CDP (2000, 95.62%)
 * Riverdale (67.4%)
 * Thomasville (55.4%)
 * Union City (69.3%)
 * Waycross (53.5%)

Population 5,000 to 9,999
 * Blakely (60.0%)
 * Cairo (51.3%)★
 * Camilla (65.2%)
 * Clarkston (55.7%)
 * Conley (2000, 52.54%)
 * Eatonton (59.3%)
 * Fort Valley (74.7%)
 * Gresham Park CDP (2000, 95.04%)
 * Midway-Hardwick CDP (2000, 72.31%)
 * Quitman (66.4%)
 * Sandersville (59.0%)
 * Stone Mountain (69.2%)
 * Sylvester (60.0%)
 * Thomson (56.3%)
 * Waynesboro (62.6%)

Population 1,000 to 4,999
 * Abbeville (58.4%)
 * Alamo (52.6%)★
 * Arlington (69.9%)
 * Ashburn (65.2%)
 * Boston (67.6%)
 * Broxton (50.4%)★
 * Buena Vista (63.4%)
 * Cuthbert (74.2%)
 * Davisboro (61.3%)
 * Dawson (77.3%)
 * Donalsonville (58.7%)
 * Edison (67.7%)
 * Experiment CDP (2000, 52.40%)
 * Folkston (51.5%)
 * Forsyth (57.6%)
 * Fort Gaines (67.9%)
 * Gordon (51.6%)
 * Greensboro (62.0%)
 * Helena (54.2%)
 * Jeffersonville (62.4%)
 * Lincoln Park CDP (2000, 94.30%)
 * Lithonia (79.6%)
 * Louisville (65.9%)
 * Lumber City (51.4%)
 * Lumpkin (70.4%)
 * Marshallville (78.4%)
 * Meigs (66.8%)
 * Millen (59.3%)
 * Montezuma (69.8%)
 * Monticello (53.5%)
 * Morgan (66.5%)
 * Ocilla (59.4%)
 * Oglethorpe (2000, 70.17%)
 * Pelham (56.1%)
 * Reynolds (50.6%)
 * Richland (62.5%)
 * Rochelle (52.8%)
 * Sardis (55.3%)
 * Shellman (68.9%)
 * Soperton (51.8%)
 * Sparta (83.7%)
 * Talbotton (77.8%)
 * Tennille (56.9%)
 * Twin City (53.6%)
 * Unadilla (62.1%)
 * Unionville CDP (2000, 96.62%)
 * Vienna (66.9%)
 * Wadley (77.1%)
 * Walthourville (55.1%)
 * Warrenton (69.4%)
 * Washington (60.8%)
 * West Point (57.8%)
 * Woodbury (56.5%)
 * Wrens (65.2%)
 * Wrightsville (53.5%)

Population under 1,000
 * Alapaha (62.8%)
 * Baconton (59.8%)
 * Bartow (59.6%)
 * Bronwood (65.7%)
 * Byromville (51.6%)★
 * Camak (53.3%)★
 * Coleman (2000, 61.74%)
 * Crawfordville (57.0%)
 * Culloden (70.9%)★
 * Damascus (63.5%)
 * Danville (51.2%)★
 * De Soto (2000, 65.42%)
 * Dooling (66.9%)
 * Flovilla (51.5%)
 * Geneva (52.6%)
 * Georgetown ( Quitman County) (60.0%)★
 * Greenville (73.2%)
 * Harrison (2000, 79.37%)
 * Hilltop CDP (2000, 87.78%)
 * Hiltonia (2000, 69.83%)
 * Ideal (66.2%)
 * Irwinton (57.1%)
 * Junction City (2000, 60.34%)
 * Keysville (2000, 62.22%)
 * Luthersville (51.9%)
 * Manassas (59.0%)
 * McIntyre (2000, 57.52%)
 * Midville (2000, 66.74%)★
 * Morven (2000, 52.05%)
 * Newton (53.9%)
 * Norwood (2000, 62.54%)
 * Oliver (2000, 50.59%)
 * Phillipsburg CDP (2000, 94.36%)
 * Pineview (62.8%)
 * Plains (2000, 59.50%)★
 * Riceboro (88.7%)
 * Salem CDP (2000, 95.87%)
 * Sharon (2000, 71.43%)
 * Siloam (2000, 73.11%)
 * Smithville (70.3%)
 * Toomsboro (2000, 53.70%)★
 * Warwick (61.2%)
 * Woodland (2000, 77.78%)
 * Woodville (2000, 62.12%)

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census ★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census

Illinois
Population over 25,000
 * Calumet City (2000, 52.55%)
 * Dolton (2000, 81.88%)
 * East St. Louis (2000, 97.34%)
 * Harvey (2000, 79.11%)
 * Maywood (2000, 82.29%)

Population 10,000 to 24,999
 * Bellwood (2000, 81.19%)
 * Country Club Hills (81.8%)
 * Hazel Crest (76.1%)
 * Markham (78.8%)
 * Matteson (62.3%)
 * Richton Park (60.0%)
 * Riverdale (2000, 85.96%)
 * South Holland (2000, 50.55%)

Population 5,000 to 9,999
 * Broadview (73.1%)
 * Calumet Park (2000, 82.62%)
 * Centreville (95.8%)
 * Robbins (2000, 94.77%)
 * University Park (83.3%)
 * Washington Park (91.9%)

Population 1,000 to 4,999
 * Alorton (97.1%)
 * Baldwin (58.9%)
 * Burnham (54.2%)
 * Cairo (61.7%)
 * Dixmoor (2000, 56.53%)★
 * Fairmont (53.6%)★
 * Ford Heights (2000, 95.37%)
 * Mounds (2000, 59.89%)
 * Oak Grove (2000, 57.74%)★
 * Olympia Fields (52.1%)
 * Phoenix (2000, 93.14%)
 * Preston Heights (2000, 63.24%)★
 * Venice (2000, 93.04%)

Population under 1,000
 * Brooklyn (2000, 98.22%)
 * Hopkins Park (2000, 92.12%)
 * Pulaski (70.8%)
 * Royal Lakes (80.5%)
 * Sun River Terrace (88.3%)

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census ★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census ★ The Black population count for Oak Grove erroneously included part of East Moline for the 2000 Census and was not Black majority despite being listed as such in the U.S. Census

Indiana
Population 25,000 to 99,999
 * Gary (2000, 83.41%)

Kentucky
Population 10,000 to 24,999
 * Newburg CDP (2000, 57.75%)★

Population under 1,000
 * Poplar Hills (55.3%)★

★ Merged into the newly formed Louisville-Jefferson County unified government in 2003 ★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census

Louisiana
Population over 100,000
 * New Orleans (2000, 66.72%)
 * Shreveport (2000, 50.57%)

Population 25,000 to 99,999
 * Alexandria (54.8%)
 * Monroe (61.1%)

Population 10,000 to 24,999
 * Baker (52.4%)
 * Bastrop (64.5%)
 * Donaldsonville (69.1%)
 * Merrydale (90.2%)
 * Minden (52.2%)
 * Natchitoches (53.0%)
 * Opelousas (69.1%)
 * Woodmere CDP (2000, 65.05%)

Population 5,000 to 9,999
 * Brownfields CDP (2000, 51.67%)
 * Franklin (50.0%)
 * Gardere CDP (2000, 70.63%)★
 * Jeanerette (59.7%)
 * Lake Providence (79.5%)
 * Mansfield (64.3%)
 * Monticello (63.8%)
 * Port Allen (54.0%)
 * Reserve CDP (2000, 53.88%)
 * St. Gabriel (2000, 71.74%)★
 * St. Martinville (62.8%)
 * Tallulah (74.8%)
 * Ville Platte (58.7%)
 * Waggaman (54.4%)
 * Winnsboro (58.5%)

Population 1,000 to 4,999
 * Amite City (51.8%)
 * Arcadia (60.6%)
 * Baldwin (64.5%)
 * Belle Rose (59.8%)
 * Boutte (64.1%)
 * Boyce (74.4%)
 * Bunkie (50.3%)
 * Campti (74.5%)
 * Clinton (58.3%)
 * Colfax (67.81%)
 * Coushatta (65.4%)
 * Cullen (84.9%)
 * Delhi (56.8%)
 * Edgard (94.8%)
 * Epps (63.1%)
 * Farmerville (63.5%)
 * Ferriday (74.9%)
 * Franklinton (51.9%)
 * Garyville (2000, 52.04%)★
 * Gibsland (82.8%)
 * Grambling (97.1%)
 * Grand Coteau (67.7%)
 * Hahnville (50.9%)
 * Homer (61.3%)
 * Jackson (52.3%)
 * Jonesville (59.2%)
 * Kentwood (64.85%)
 * Lecompte (74.3%)
 * Mansura (60.3%)
 * Maringouin (79.4%)
 * New Roads (59.3%)
 * New Sarpy (51.6%)
 * Newellton (64.7%)
 * North Vacherie CDP (2000, 74.99%)
 * Rayville (67.3%)
 * Richwood (88.2%)
 * Ringgold (55.3%)
 * Roseland (65.0%)
 * St. Joseph (68.6%)
 * Sunset (52.4%)
 * Supreme (84.4%)
 * Washington (56.3%)
 * West Ferriday (57.6%)
 * White Castle (76.8%)

Population under 1,000
 * Bonita (2000, 55.52%)
 * Cheneyville (65.7%)
 * Clarence (74.03%)
 * Clayton (67.3%)
 * East Hodge (95.1%)
 * Fenton (52.4%)
 * Harrisonburg (54.8%)
 * Killona CDP (2000, 91.34%)
 * Lucky (69.3%)
 * Marion (54.1%)
 * Napoleonville (69.8%)
 * Natchez (91.9%)
 * Palmetto (2000, 57.45%)★
 * Pioneer (2000, 52.63%)★
 * Powhatan (78.7%)
 * Sicily Island (54.5%)
 * South Mansfield (73.9%)
 * Tangipahoa (91.6%)
 * Wallace (2000, 93.68%)
 * Waterproof (87.4%)
 * Wilson (79.8%)

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census ★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census

Maryland
Population over 500,000
 * Baltimore (2000, 64.04%)

Population 25,000 to 50,000
 * Chillum (62.7%)★
 * Clinton (73.7%)
 * Lochearn (78.4%)
 * Milford Mill (79.1%)
 * Oxon Hill-Glassmanor (86.7%)
 * Randallstown (2000, 71.63%)
 * Suitland-Silver Hill (93.0%)★
 * Waldorf (53.4%)
 * Woodlawn CDP ( Baltimore County ) (2000, 51.18%)

Population 10,000 to 24,999
 * Camp Springs (74.3%)
 * Coral Hills (93.7%)
 * Forestville (85.8%)
 * Fort Washington (67.2%)
 * Greater Landover (92.0%)
 * Greater Upper Marlboro (75.5%)
 * Hillcrest Heights (93.2%)
 * Kettering (90.6%)
 * Lanham-Seabrook (63.6%)
 * Largo (92.7%)
 * Owings Mills (51%)
 * New Carrollton (67.5%)
 * Rosaryville (59.6%)
 * Walker Mill (95.0%)

Population 5,000 to 9,999
 * Bladensburg (70.9%)
 * Carmody Hills-Pepper Mill Village (96.9%)
 * Cheverly (56.8%)★
 * District Heights (88.0%)
 * Friendly (77.7%)
 * Glenarden (95.8%)
 * Goddard (53.3%)
 * Jessup (67.7%)
 * Lake Arbor (88.7%)
 * Marlow Heights (88.5%)
 * Marlton (55.5%)
 * Mitchellville (78.5%)
 * Mount Rainier (62.1%)★
 * Temple Hills (85.0%)
 * Woodlawn ( Prince George's County) (72.3%)★
 * Woodmore (64.9%)

Population 1,000 to 4,999
 * Capitol Heights (92.9%)
 * Cottage City (54.8%)★
 * Fairmount Heights (95.8%)
 * Forest Heights (79.1%)
 * Landover Hills (64.2%)★
 * Morningside (51.3%)★
 * Princess Anne (62.9%)
 * Seat Pleasant (96.7%)
 * Springdale (92.8%)

Population 100 to 999
 * Highland Beach (70.2%)
 * North Brentwood (82.1%)★

Population under 100
 * Eagle Harbor (65.5%)

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census ★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census ★ divided into Silver Hill and Suitland for the 2020 Census

Michigan
Population over 500,000
 * Detroit (2000, 81.15%)

Population 100,000 to 499,999
 * Flint (2000, 53.01%)

Population 25,000 to 99,999
 * Southfield (54.22%)
 * Inkster (2000, 67.30%)

Population 10,000 to 24,999
 * Beecher CDP (2000, 65.61%)
 * Benton Harbor (92.4%)
 * Benton Charter Township (51.9%)★
 * Buena Vista Charter Township (55.6%)
 * Highland Park (2000, 93.14%)
 * Muskegon Heights (2000, 77.31%)

Population 5,000 to 9,999
 * Benton Heights (65.6%)
 * Buena Vista CDP (2000, 68.63%)

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census ★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census

Mississippi
Population over 100,000
 * Jackson (2000, 70.34%)

Population 25,000 to 99,999
 * Columbus (54.4%)
 * Greenville (69.6%)
 * Meridian (54.4%)
 * Hattiesburg (52.8%)
 * Vicksburg (60.4%)

Population 10,000 to 24,999
 * Clarksdale (68.5%)
 * Greenwood (65.4%)
 * Indianola (73.4%)
 * Laurel (55.0%)
 * McComb (58.4%)
 * Moss Point (70.6%)
 * Natchez (54.5%)
 * West Point (56.2%)
 * Yazoo City (69.7%)

Population 5,000 to 9,999
 * Aberdeen (60.2%)
 * Brookhaven (50.9%)
 * Canton (80.3%)
 * Crystal Springs (55.8%)
 * Forest (50.9%)
 * Hollandale (83.2%)
 * Holly Springs (76.2%)
 * Leland (67.0%)
 * Louisville (52.5%)
 * Waynesboro (57.3%)
 * Winona (50.7%)

Population 1,000 to 4,999
 * Belzoni (68.1%)
 * Brooksville (79.6%)
 * Bude (55.1%)
 * Centreville (67.4%)
 * Charleston (59.7%)
 * Coldwater (69.7%)
 * Collins (52.4%)
 * Como (71.8%)
 * Derma (57.7%)
 * Drew (73.6%)
 * Durant (70.2%)
 * Edwards (78.9%)
 * Fayette (2000, 96.79%)
 * Friars Point (93.9%)
 * Gloster (55.0%)
 * Goodman (65.8%)
 * Hazlehurst (68.6%)
 * Inverness (59.4%)
 * Itta Bena (81.3%)
 * Jonestown ( Coahoma County ) (96.3%)
 * Lambert (82.8%)
 * Lexington (67.3%)
 * Lumberton (53.6%)
 * Macon (2000, 67.21%)
 * Magnolia (53.8%)
 * Marks (64.7%)
 * Metcalfe (97.6%)
 * Moorhead (79.0%)
 * Mound Bayou (2000, 98.05%)
 * Newton (54.7%)
 * Okolona (59.6%)
 * Pickens (87.7%)
 * Port Gibson (80.0%)
 * Rolling Fork (69.2%)
 * Rosedale (82.0%)
 * Ruleville (80.8%)
 * Sardis (56.4%)
 * Shannon (54.2%)
 * Shaw (92.1%)
 * Shelby (2000, 90.64%)
 * Summit (66.2%)
 * Tchula (95.9%)
 * Tutwiler (87.3%)
 * Verona (57.7%)
 * Woodville (74.6%)

Population 100 to 999
 * Alligator (77.3%)
 * Anguilla (77.0%)
 * Arcola (95.0%)
 * Artesia (2000, 79.32%)
 * Beauregard (2000, 53.58%)★
 * Benoit (76.3%)
 * Beulah (96.0%)
 * Bolton (66.8%)
 * Cary (64.4%)
 * Coahoma (98.2%)
 * Coffeeville (54.5%)
 * Crawford (2000, 92.67%)
 * Crenshaw (71.5%)
 * Crosby (71.9%)
 * Cruger (74.2%)
 * De Kalb (50.3%)
 * Doddsville (67.6%)
 * Duck Hill (63.3%)
 * Duncan (77.5%)
 * Falcon (2000, 99.68%)
 * Glendora (2000, 89.12%)
 * Gunnison (86.7%)
 * Heidelberg (73.3%)
 * Hickory (55.1%)
 * Isola (2000, 63.67%)
 * Kilmichael (53.4%)
 * Lake (55.2%)
 * Louise (2000, 54.29%)★
 * Lula (77.3%)
 * Maben (57.9%)
 * Mayersville (88.1%)
 * Merigold (56.9%)
 * Morgan City (2000, 80.33%)
 * Mount Olive (52.0%)
 * North Tunica (94.9%)
 * Oakland (75.9%)
 * Pace (82.7%)
 * Renova (96.0%)
 * Roxie (58.9%)
 * Schlater (2000, 60.57%)
 * Scooba (54.9%)
 * Shubuta (73.9%)
 * Shuqualak (69.6%)
 * Sidon (2000, 83.18%)
 * Silver City (2000, 78.34%)
 * Sledge (76.0%)
 * State Line (56.9%)
 * Sunflower (71.3%)
 * Terry (50.5%)
 * Utica (66.4%)
 * Vaiden (71.1%)
 * Webb (2000, 61.33%)
 * Weir (53.7%)
 * Winstonville (97.8%)

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census

Missouri
Population over 300,000
 * St. Louis (2000, 50.96%)★

Population 10,000 to 25,000
 * Ferguson (2000, 52.30%)
 * Jennings (78.6%)
 * Spanish Lake CDP (54.8%)

Population 5,000 to 9,999
 * Berkeley (76.7%)
 * Black Jack (2000, 71.16%)
 * Dellwood (2000, 58.15%)
 * Normandy (2000, 66.41%)

Population 1,000 to 4,999
 * Bel-Ridge (2000, 79.43%)
 * Castle Point CDP (2000, 88.57%)
 * Cool Valley (2000, 76.04%)
 * Country Club Hills (2000, 80.81%)
 * Hanley Hills (2000, 76.60%)
 * Hillsdale (2000, 95.33%)
 * Moline Acres (2000, 85.42%)
 * Northwoods (2000, 92.46%)
 * Norwood Court (92.7%)
 * Pagedale (2000, 91.79%)
 * Pasadena Hills (67.4%)
 * Pine Lawn (2000, 95.69%)
 * Riverview (69.9%)
 * Velda City (2000, 95.48%)
 * Velda Village Hills (2000, 97.98%)
 * Vinita Park (2000, 61.54%)
 * Wellston (2000, 91.26%)

Population 100 to 999
 * Beverly Hills (94.5%)
 * Flordell Hills (82.1%)
 * Glen Echo Park (88.0%)
 * Greendale (64.4%)
 * Hayti Heights (98.3%)
 * Haywood City (95.0%)
 * Homestown (89.0%)
 * Howardville (92.4%)
 * Kinloch (96.4%)
 * Pasadena Park (53.4%)
 * Uplands Park (97.4%)
 * Vinita Terrace (2000, 73.63%)
 * Wilson City (2000, 96.36%)

Population under 100
 * North Lilbourn (2000, 93.68%)
 * Pinhook (2000, 87.50%)
 * Penermon (2000, 84.00%)

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census

New Jersey
Population over 100,000
 * Newark (2000, 51.94%)★

Population 25,000 to 99,999
 * East Orange (2000, 88.23%)
 * Irvington (2000, 80.49%)
 * Orange (2000, 73.99%)
 * Plainfield (2000, 60.00%)★
 * Trenton (2000, 50.93%)★
 * Willingboro (2000, 65.49%)

Population 10,000 to 24,999
 * Asbury Park (67.1%)★
 * Pleasantville (57.7%)★
 * Roselle (2000, 50.15%)★

Population 5,000 to 9,999
 * Salem (2000, 55.66%)

Population 1,000 to 4,999
 * Chesilhurst (56.0%)★
 * Lawnside (2000, 92.79%)

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census ★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census

New York
Population over 50,000
 * Hempstead (52.5%)★
 * Mount Vernon (2000, 58.33%)

Places with fewer than 25,000 people

 * Hillcrest (51.1%)★
 * Lakeview CDP (2000, 83.36%)
 * North Amityville (68.7%)★
 * Roosevelt (79.2%)★
 * South Floral Park (59.1%)★
 * Uniondale (55.5%)★
 * Wyandanch (77.7%)★
 * Gordon Heights (62.1%)★
 * Fairview CDP ( Westchester County) (73.1%)★

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census ★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census

Places with between 25,000 and 100,000 people

 * Goldsboro (52.2%)
 * Rocky Mount (61.3%)

Places with fewer than 25,000 people

 * Ahoskie (58.9%)
 * Ansonville (76.4%)
 * Belhaven (60.7%)
 * Bethel (58.1%)
 * Bolton (63.8%)
 * Bowmore (57.9%)
 * Brogden (56.9%)
 * Brunswick (55.0%)
 * Chadbourn (53.5%)
 * Cofield (80.7%)
 * Columbia (52.3%)
 * Conetoe (63.6%)
 * East Arcadia (92.2%)
 * East Spencer (85.8%)
 * Edenton (55.2%)
 * Elizabeth City (56.6%)
 * Elm City (53.9%)
 * Enfield (79.3%)
 * Fair Bluff (59.3%)
 * Fairmont (58.7%)
 * Farmville (50.1%)
 * Fountain (50.5%)
 * Fremont (50.7%)
 * Garysburg (96.1%)
 * Green Level (2000, 73.41%)
 * Hamilton (53.3%)
 * Hassell (2000, 62.50%)
 * Henderson (59.2%)
 * Hobgood (52.2%)
 * Kelford (65.3%)
 * Kingstown (92.8%)
 * Kinston (62.7%)
 * Lewiston Woodville (66.7%)
 * Light Oak (82.2%)
 * Maxton (64.1%)
 * Middleburg (63.6%)
 * Morven (76.9%)
 * Mount Olive (54.3%)
 * Navassa (86.6%)
 * Northwest (71.8%)
 * Oxford (51.4%)
 * Parmele (85.9%)
 * Pinetops (57.2%)
 * Plymouth (63.1%)
 * Polkton (56.3%)
 * Princeville (97.5%)
 * Rich Square (55.9%)
 * Robersonville (2000, 61.47%)
 * Roper (75.2%)
 * Rowland (68.0%)
 * Scotland Neck (68.0%)
 * Seaboard (71.2%)
 * Sharpsburg (58.7%)
 * Silver City (94.6%)
 * South Weldon (84.5%)
 * Spring Lake (51.1%)
 * Wadesboro (56.4%)
 * Washington (50.5%)
 * Weldon (62.7%)
 * Whitakers (58.3%)
 * Williamston (57.5%)
 * Windsor (53.0%)
 * Winton (68.0%)

Ohio
Population over 100,000
 * Cleveland (50.48%)★

Population 25,000 to 99,999
 * East Cleveland (2000, 92.92%)
 * Trotwood (2000, 58.18%)

Population 10,000 to 24,999 people
 * Bedford Heights (2000, 66.95%)
 * Forest Park (56.3%)
 * Warrensville Heights (90.4%)

Population 5,000 to 9,999
 * Silverton (2000, 50.17%)★

Population 1,000 to 4,999
 * Fort McKinley (2000, 53.00%)
 * Golf Manor (62.9%)
 * Highland Hills (65.1%)
 * Lincoln Heights (97.9%)
 * Oakwood (56.2%)
 * Wilberforce (84.2%)
 * Woodlawn (68.4%)

Population less than 1,000
 * Maplewood Park (58.3%)
 * North Randall (71.7%)
 * Urbancrest (2000, 57.95%)

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census ★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census

Oklahoma
Population 1,000 to 5,000
 * Boley (54.7%)★
 * Forest Park (72.1%)
 * Langston (93.3%)
 * Spencer (51.8%)

Population 100 to 999
 * Arcadia (2000, 55.56%)★
 * Boynton (55.1%)
 * Fort Coffee (62.9%)
 * Grayson (61.9%)
 * Redbird (87.6%)
 * Rentiesville (64.7%)
 * Summit (84.1%)
 * Taft (85.4%)
 * Tatums (78.5%)

Population less than 100
 * Clearview (75.0%)
 * Meridian ( Logan County) (83.3%)

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census ★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census

Pennsylvania
Population over 25,000
 * Chester (2000, 74.62%)
 * Harrisburg (2000, 53.71%)★

Places with fewer than 25,000 people

 * Braddock (2000, 65.64%)
 * Chester Township (2000, 72.85%)
 * Colwyn (52.1%)
 * Darby (2000, 59.65%)
 * Homestead (51.3%)
 * Rankin (69.3%)
 * South Coatesville (2000, 55.57%)★
 * Wilkinsburg (66.5%)
 * Yeadon (80.8%)

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census ★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census

Places with fewer than 25,000 people

 * Allendale (80.0%)
 * Andrews (60.8%)
 * Atlantic Beach (82.1%)
 * Awendaw (64.6%)
 * Bamberg (53.6%)
 * Bennettsville (63.2%)
 * Bishopville (65.8%)
 * Blackville (75.6%)
 * Blenheim (54.7%)
 * Bowman (68.9%)
 * Brookdale CDP (2000, 97.80%)
 * Bucksport (96.6%)
 * Calhoun Falls (52.7%)
 * Carlisle (92.1%)
 * Cheraw (52.2%)
 * Chester (62.3%)
 * Clarks Hill (85.6%)
 * Clio (57.1%)
 * Cokesbury (72.8%)
 * Cope (58.9%)
 * Cross Hill (55.6%)
 * Darlington (56.0%)
 * Denmark (85.9%)
 * Dentsville (58.3%)
 * Eastover (92.4%)
 * Edgefield (59.9%)
 * Edisto (69.6%)
 * Ehrhardt (56.8%)
 * Elko (58.5%)
 * Estill (79.4%)
 * Fairfax (73.5%)
 * Furman (72.4%)
 * Gantt (63.1%)
 * Georgetown (57.0%)
 * Gifford (92.7%)
 * Gray Court (54.7%)
 * Greeleyville (58.2%)
 * Heath Springs (51.0%)
 * Holly Hill (50.0%)
 * Hollywood (68.8%)
 * Johnston (62.6%)
 * Judson (56.7%)
 * Kingstree (64.7%)
 * Kline (57.6%)
 * Lake City (71.4%)
 * Lancaster Mill (53.3%)
 * Lane (90.4%)
 * Lynchburg (73.6%)
 * Manning (62.4%)
 * Marion (66.2%)
 * Mayesville (86.0%)
 * McCormick (64.1%)
 * Mount Carmel (89.9%)
 * Mullins (61.6%)
 * Orangeburg (2000, 67.19%)
 * Pamplico (52.5%)
 * Pinewood (56.4%)
 * Promised Land (95.9%)
 * Quinby (56.2%)
 * Rembert (75.6%)
 * Richburg (74.7%)
 * Ridge Spring (63.9%)
 * Ridgeville (2000, 58.64%)
 * Rowesville (60.9%)
 * St. Andrews (52.7%)
 * St. Matthews (61.5%)
 * St. Stephen (58.2%)
 * Santee (70.7%)
 * Scotia (73.6%)
 * Scranton (56.1%)
 * Sellers (85.6%)
 * Shiloh (58.3%)
 * Society Hill (54.0%)
 * South Sumter (89.9%)
 * Stuckey (79.5%)
 * Summerton (57.2%)
 * Timmonsville (77.3%)
 * Vance (84.6%)
 * Varnville (60.3%)
 * Wagener (61.5%)
 * Waterloo (56.2%)
 * Wilkinson Heights (95.7%)
 * Willington (82.5%)
 * Winnsboro (58.5%)
 * Woodford (50.5%)
 * Yemassee (55.3%)

Tennessee
Population over 500,000
 * Memphis (2000, 61.18%)

Population 10,000 to 25,000
 * Brownsville (60.7%)

Population 5,000 to 9,999
 * Bolivar (2000, 56.26%)

Population 1,000 to 4,999
 * Mason (51.5%)
 * Whiteville (60.9%)

Population less than 1,000
 * Gallaway (2000, 59.01%)★
 * Gates (2000, 53.27%)★
 * Henning (74.9%)
 * Stanton (67.8%)

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census ★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census

Places with between 25,000 and 100,000 people

 * Cedar Hill (51.4%)
 * Lancaster (68.7%)

Places with fewer than 25,000 people

 * Ames (89.3%)
 * Barrett (86.6%)★
 * Browndell (60.7%)
 * Calvert (52.4%)
 * Cuney (83.5%)
 * Domino (63.5%)
 * Easton (67.0%)
 * Forest Hill (57.1%)
 * Goodlow (95.1%)
 * Kendleton (79.0%)
 * Moore Station (98.9%)
 * Neylandville (96.4%)★
 * Prairie View (93.5%)
 * San Augustine (57.9%)
 * Seven Oaks (58.0%)★
 * Scottsville (54.8%)★
 * Toco (76.4%)

★No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census ★No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census

Virginia
Population over 100,000
 * Portsmouth (2000, 50.28%)
 * Richmond (2000, 56.86%)★

Population 25,000 to 50,000
 * Petersburg (79.0%)

Population below 25,000

 * Dendron (51.2%)
 * East Highland Park (79.4%)
 * Emporia (56.2%)
 * Ettrick (75.1%)
 * Franklin (52.3%)
 * Highland Springs (51.8%)
 * Laurel Park (64.4%)
 * Lawrenceville (64.6%)
 * Nassawadox (54.9%)★
 * Rushmere (62.1%)★
 * Sandy Level (73.3%)
 * Wakefield (51.3%)★
 * Waverly (61.8%)

★No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census ★No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census

West Virginia
Population under 1,000
 * Keystone
 * Kimball
 * Northfork (2000, 53.56%)

Alabama

 * Bullock County (2000, 72.44%)
 * Dallas County (2000, 62.98%)
 * Greene County (2000, 79.85%)
 * Hale County (2000, 58.62%)
 * Lowndes County (2000, 73.04%)
 * Macon County (2000, 84.21%)
 * Marengo County (2000, 51.38%)
 * Perry County (2000, 67.93%)
 * Sumter County (2000, 72.43%)
 * Wilcox County (2000, 71.48%)

Arkansas

 * Chicot County
 * Crittenden County
 * Jefferson County
 * Lee County
 * Phillips County
 * St. Francis County

Florida

 * Gadsden County (2000, 56.85%)

Georgia

 * Calhoun County (2000, 58.96%)
 * Clay County (2000, 59.85%)
 * Clayton County (2000, 51.08%)
 * DeKalb County (2000, 53.82%)
 * Dougherty County (2000, 59.88%)
 * Hancock County (2000, 77.61%)
 * Jefferson County (2000, 55.97%)
 * Macon County (2000, 59.24%)
 * Randolph County (2000, 59.16%)
 * Talbot County (2000, 61.16%)
 * Taliaferro County (2000, 60.23%)
 * Terrell County
 * Warren County
 * Washington County (2000, 53.05%)

Louisiana

 * East Carroll Parish (2000, 66.84%)
 * Madison Parish (2000, 60.16%)
 * Orleans Parish (2000, 66.72%)
 * St. Helena Parish
 * Tensas Parish (2000, 55.03%)

Maryland

 * Prince George's County (2000, 62.17%)

Mississippi

 * Adams County
 * Bolivar County
 * Claiborne County
 * Clay County
 * Coahoma County
 * Copiah County
 * Hinds County
 * Holmes County
 * Humphreys County
 * Issaquena County
 * Jasper County
 * Jefferson County
 * Jefferson Davis County
 * Kemper County
 * Leflore County
 * Marshall County
 * Noxubee County
 * Pike County
 * Quitman County
 * Sharkey County
 * Sunflower County
 * Tallahatchie County
 * Tunica County
 * Washington County
 * Wilkinson County
 * Yazoo County

North Carolina

 * Bertie County
 * Edgecombe County
 * Halifax County
 * Hertford County
 * Northampton County
 * Warren County★

South Carolina

 * Allendale County
 * Bamberg County
 * Clarendon County (2000, 52.90%)★
 * Fairfield County
 * Hampton County
 * Jasper County (2000, 52.48%)★
 * Lee County
 * Marion County
 * Marlboro County
 * McCormick County
 * Orangeburg County
 * Williamsburg County

Tennessee

 * Haywood County

Virginia

 * Brunswick County
 * Greensville County
 * Sussex County (2000, 61.98%)

★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2010 Census ★ No longer African-American majority as of the 2020 Census


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Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is an American private, 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization founded in 1912. BBB's self-described mission is to focus on advancing marketplace trust, consisting of 92 independently incorporated local BBB organizations in the United States and Canada, coordinated under the International Association of Better Business Bureaus (IABBB) in Arlington, Virginia.

The Better Business Bureau is not affiliated with any governmental agency. Businesses that affiliate with BBB and adhere to its standards do so through industry self-regulation. To avoid bias, BBB's policy is to refrain from recommending or endorsing any specific business, product or service even though they still advocate for business interests.

The BBB rating system uses an A+ through F letter-grade scale. The grades represent BBB's degree of confidence that the business is operating in good faith and will resolve customer concerns filed with BBB. BBB's ratings are explained on its Ratings Overview page. BBB employees evaluate a business's behavior when assigning a rating.

According to BBB, nearly 400,000 local businesses in North America were accredited as of July 2022. BBB prospects successfully vetted businesses to become dues-paying 'accredited businesses' that pledge and continue to adhere to the BBB Code of Business Practices. In return, BBB allows accredited businesses in good standing to use its trademarked logo in marketing materials.

History
The concept of the Better Business Bureau has been credited to several court cases, such as United States v. Forty Barrels and Twenty Kegs of Coca-Cola, initiated by the government against a number of organizations, including the Coca-Cola Company in 1906.

In 1909, Samuel Candler Dobbs became president of the Associated Advertising Clubs of America, now the American Advertising Federation (AAF), and began to make speeches on the subject. In 1911, he was involved in the adoption of the "Ten Commandments of Advertising," one of the first codes of advertising developed by groups of advertising firms and individual businesses. Similar organizations in succeeding decades, such as the National Better Business Commission, Inc. of the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World (1921), and the National Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. (1933), merged to become the Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc., in 1946. In 1970, the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) was established by a merger of the Association of Better Business Bureaus and the National Better Business Bureau. The Council of BBBs included the Philanthropic Advisory Service (PAS), which advised donors about national charities. PAS later merged with the National Charities Information Bureau to form the BBB Wise Giving Alliance.

In 2019 the Council of BBBs split into three entities - the BBB Wise Giving Alliance (advice for donors to charities), BBB National Programs (national industry self-regulatory programs), and the International Association of Better Business Bureaus (BBB's self-governing organization.)

Structure and funding
Each BBB is overseen by its own board of directors and chief executive officer. Each must meet international BBB standards, which are monitored by the IABBB. The IABBB is governed by leaders of local BBBs, as well as several independent subject matter experts such as academics and legal experts. BBBs are chiefly funded by local accredited businesses, which also make up BBB boards of directors. A study by a business school dean at Marquette University found that ninety percent of BBB board members are from business.

Businesses that move from one BBB jurisdiction to another may need to apply for BBB accreditation in the new BBB location unless they have a system-wide accreditation. IABBB is funded primarily by membership dues from BBBs, which vary from year to year.

Dispute resolution procedures
BBB handles complaints from consumers about their marketplace experiences with businesses, and also publishes customer reviews both positive and negative. The organization provides dispute resolution through procedures established by the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, and implemented by local BBBs. Usually, disputes can be resolved through mediation; when appropriate, low- or no‑cost arbitration may also be offered and provided through the BBB. BBB acts as a neutral party when providing dispute resolution services.

Complaints about the practice of professions like medicine and law are usually not handled by BBB and are referred to associations regulating those professions. BBB does not handle complaints that have gone to court or are in the process of going to court as the complaint is already being handled by an alternate entity.

If BBB receives a consumer dispute, BBB contacts the business in question and offers to mediate the dispute. A business does not need to be a member of BBB to use its mediation services. BBB accreditation, or membership, is completely optional for a business to accept and participate in through the payment of dues. Past complaints allege that BBB compiles ratings based upon their ability to collect money from businesses, and not entirely upon business performance. However, since 2010, no relationship exists between a business's rating and its accreditation status.

Rating system and accreditation
Until 2008, BBB rated companies "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory." On January 1, 2009, BBB moved to a new system based on a school-style A+ to F rating system. The 16 factors have been posted on each business profile since the program's inception and the details on the points awarded as well. Initially there was a 17th factor worth 4 points for businesses that were Accredited. That process was changed in November 2010 in response to criticism in the media and from the Connecticut attorney general who accused BBB of using "pay to play" tactics. The Attorney General of Connecticut demanded that BBB stop using its weighted letter grade system, calling it "potentially harmful and misleading" to consumers. In response, the Council of Better Business Bureaus changed the BBB ratings system to cease awarding points to businesses for being BBB members, and to institute closer monitoring of BBB sales practices.

If a business chooses not to provide basic information, such as size and start date, BBB may assign a not-rated (NR) rating. An "NR" rating due solely to a company not providing information would state: "BBB does not have sufficient background information on this business."

A business is eligible for BBB accreditation if it meets, in the opinion of BBB, "BBB Standards for Trust". There are eight BBB Standards for Trust that BBB expects its accredited businesses to adhere to: build trust ("maintain a positive track record in the marketplace"), advertise honestly, tell the truth, be transparent, honor promises, be responsive (address marketplace disputes), safeguard privacy (protect consumer data) and embody integrity.

Criticism
In 2010 ABC's 20/20 reported in a segment titled "The Best Ratings Money Can Buy" about the irregularities in BBB ratings. They reported that a man created two dummy companies which received A+ ratings as soon as he had paid the membership fee to the BBB of the Southland, serving the Los Angeles area. They also reported that business owners in Los Angeles were told that the only way to improve their rating was by paying the fee. In one case a C was turned to an A immediately after a payment and in another case a C‑minus became an A+. The chef Wolfgang Puck said that some of his L.A.-based businesses received F ratings because he refused to pay a fee. These allegations led to procedures against the BBB of the Southland from the BBB system. On March 12, 2013, the Council of Better Business Bureaus expelled the Los Angeles-based Better Business Bureau of the Southland, the largest local BBB, claiming that the group had not met the Council's "standards relating to accreditation, reporting on businesses, and handling complaints." The Los Angeles chapter disputed the charges and continued to operate under the new name of Business Consumer Alliance. From March to November 2013, BBB served the four-county Los Angeles area via a "Virtual BBB" staffed by volunteers from other BBBs. The effort won the American Society of Association Executives "Power of Association" award. In November 2013 the Council of Better Business Bureaus reassigned the Los Angeles area to three established California BBBs.

In 2011, a New York Times columnist described a complaint from a consumer that the Austin chapter of the Better Business Bureau refused to resolve complaints against companies if customers do not pay a $70 mediation fee.

Integration of US and Canadian operations
On August 16, 2011, the then-named Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) announced the formal integration of operations in the United States & Canada, effective immediately.

According to the statement, integration marks the way "for an improved customer experience for those who purchase goods and services across the border". Stephen A. Cox, President and CEO of CBBB, said: "The U.S. and Canada remain each other's largest trading partners. We are really one North American marketplace, and the BBB system now reflects that. Not only will it be easier for consumers to check out businesses in either country, it will be simpler for them to file a complaint or resolve a dispute." The move was supported by the Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus (CCBBB). "Given the advances in technology and the globalization of services, it no longer makes sense to maintain two separate systems," said M. Jean Lemyre, chair of the CCBBB. "The vast majority of consumers initially contact BBB through the Internet. Aligning BBB services into one integrated system will be more efficient for businesses in Canada, and will ensure that consumers continue to receive the high quality of services they've come to expect from BBB."

BBB trademark authorization revoked from four Canadian offices
The then-named Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) revoked the BBB name & trademark from four Canadian Better Business Bureaus. The CBBB said it made the move to withdraw trademark authorization from the offices in Hamilton, Windsor, Montreal and St. John's after determining these four Canadian offices did not meet the defined standards of operation.

CBBB realigned the boundaries of its affected Canadian offices and folded them into larger offices. Hamilton has been gathered under the banner of the BBB's Kitchener office, while the territories in SW Ontario (including Windsor) are now part of the Western Ontario region based in London, ON.

The Hamilton, Montreal & St. John's offices have also changed their names or closed following what they termed a takeover by the U.S.-based Council of Better Business Bureaus. The Hamilton, Ontario BBB adopted the name Canadian Businesses and Charity Bureau. In May 2012, the Hamilton organization was locked out of its office by its landlord in a rent dispute and ceased to operate. The Montreal BBB changed its name to L'Office de Certification Commerciale du Québec or Québec Commercial Certification Office, while the BBB in St. John's, Newfoundland closed. These areas have since been picked up by others, and as of August 2022, all of Canada is served by 10 BBBs.

title: Better Business Bureau