When looking at a black bear from the side, from the forehead to the nose, it will slope in a straight line. While the same profile of a grizzly will have a dished out appearance, similar to most dogs. Also when looking at the back of ol' blackie, it will have a straight profile, while the grizz will have a distinct hump on it's back above the shoulders. Do not rely on the color of the bear to distinguish if it is a black bear or a grizzly bear. Not all black bears are black in color.
Black bears do indeed come in various shades of brown.
They may be cinnamon, dark brown, reddish brown, chocolate, light brown, and all shades of brown in between, and may even be blonde. The average black bear stands between 2 and 3 feet at the shoulders, and in the vegetation may be overlooked very easily. Because of their shortness, they will stand on their hind legs to enable them to see. They will also stand on stumps and tree trunks. They can run in spurts over 30 mph, and can swim very well also.