What is the reason to go to B&W?

[BabyHopes]

I'm typing one handed (sleeping baby) but wanted to add that some photography is just too graphic in nature to be shown in color without the color eclipsing the emotion of the image. (Birth photography stands out as one example where judicious use of B&W or split-tone images is prudent.) And then there are times when color correction is beyond the scope of the image. A recent bereavement session comes to mind. The man was in the late stages of cancer and his skin was quite jaundice. Paired with his spouse, the contrast in skin tone was almost startling and would have certainly been a distraction had the images been processed in color.

[venchka]

Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho".

'Nuff said.

[sharper]

although sometimes I just think it looks better in b&w, but

my personal beginner motto:
if i can't get the color right, must go black & white

lol :)

[SCone]

To quote John Prine,

"Do you know what blood looks like in a black and white video?
Shadows, shadows"

[studiocygnet]

Among all the other answers, no one has mentioned the first simple fact: B&W is one more step removed from reality, so it can remove some preconceived prejudices that viewing a color photograph engenders - such as "the sky is blue". Leaves more open to interpretation in the development process.