Reports of polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis in blacks are rare. We analyzed five cases of polymyalgia rheumatica and one case of temporal arteritis appearing in blacks. Polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis in blacks have the same presentation, course, and response to treatment as in Caucasians. A previously unrecorded case of polymyalgia rheumatica and biopsy-proven temporal arteritis in a black had a similar presentation and course as cases in whites. HLA typing of five cases of polymyalgia rheumatica in blacks revealed an increased incidence of AW30 and BW16 in comparison to whites and polymyalgia.