2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/10189A new model for the formation of active galaxies is described. A key feature of this model is the idea that the birth of black holes in the centers of supergiant galaxies is strongly influenced by the large-scale distribution of matter in the universe. This conjecture can successfully explain two observed phenomena: the alignment of the radio, optical and infrared axes of high-redshift radio galaxies, and the alignment of present-day cD galaxies with their environs. Other recent observational tests of this theory are also discussed.13 pages, uuencoded compressed postscript (figures not included). Invited talk to be published in the proceedings of the Sixth Canadian Conference on General Relativity and Relativistic Astrophysics (held May 1995). Complete manuscript including figures can be obtained as single 1.7Mb compressed postscript file from http://apwww.stmarys.ca/~west/west.html or by anonymous ftp from ftp://apftp.stmarys.ca/pub/west/blackholes.ps.ZAstrophysicsGeneral Relativity and Quantum Cosmologytext