A telling firearms death map from the BBC

Their article includes the Top states for gun deaths rate including major cities

1. DC (12.5) - Washington (50% black)
2. Louisiana (8.8) - New Orleans (67% black), Baton Rouge (45% black)
3. South Carolina (4.8) - Columbia (42% black), South Charleston (7% black)
4. Maryland (4.7) - Baltimore (63% black)
5. Missouri (4.6) - Kansas City (30% black), Saint Louis (35%)
6. Mississippi (4.6) - Jackson (79% black)
7. Michigan (4.6) - Detroit (82% black), Grand Rapids (20%)
8. Georgia (3.8) - Atlanta (54% black), Augusta (55% black)
9. Tennessee (3.8) - Memphis (62% black), Nashville (28% black)
10. Arkansas (3.7) - Little Rock (42% black)

This tells you that the gun death rate is highest in states with major cities with a substantial black population - note that out of the top 10 US cities by population : NYC NY - 25% black, LA CA - 10% black, Chicago IL - 32% black, Houston TX - 25% black, Philadelphia PA - 44% black, Phoenix TX - 7% black, San Antonio TX - 7% black, San Diego CA - 7% black, Dallas TX - 26%, San Jose CA - 3%; none appear.

As a note, the overall % of the USA population that identifies as black is 12%.