The objective of this paper was to analyze the homicide rate by racial/ethnic origin in Greater Metropolitan São Paulo, Brazil, after controlling for schooling, gender, and age. Based on available vital statistics for São Paulo and from the National Census, the homicide rates for blacks and non-blacks in Greater Metropolitan São Paulo in 2000 were calculated for 134 units (38 municipalities and 96 capital districts). In addition, two categories (reference and exposure) were created for each of the following death certificate socio-demographic data: race, schooling, gender, and age. The research used descriptive and logistic regression analyses. Although homicide rates were invariably higher for blacks than for non-blacks, the race variable was not statistically significant when schooling, gender, and age were controlled. The higher homicide rate for blacks in Greater Metropolitan São Paulo results from overrepresentation of blacks both among individuals with low schooling and in the young male population, the principal exposure categories for homicide.