The evidence: Census figures that reveal a swell in the number of blacks moving to Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties; a shift in the power structure in cities like Miramar, Lauderdale Lakes and North Miami Beach, where officials of Caribbean descent are routinely elected to office; and a wave of well-attended networking and social events geared toward black professionals.

''It used to be a time when this was a tough place for young single black professionals,'' said Sam Hines, president of the South Florida Black MBA Association, whose membership rolls, at 300 strong, have tripled in recent years.

''I have witnessed more black professionals and executives coming and, more importantly, staying,'' said Hines, a former Ryder employee who moved to Miami from Chicago 13 years ago.