I have seen television shows discussing this problem (black bear attacking humans in recreational areas). Surprisingly, a number of them were found to be young male bears who were very thin. The supposition is that they have recently left the company of their mothers and had a difficult time finding enough to eat by themselves. Increasingly desperate for food, they turn to humans as on-hand and relatively easy prey. Previously, humans were either not in the wilderness areas in large numbers and were usually armed when there. As a consequence, the bears either starved to death or were killed outright. However, a present-day unarmed recreational camper is just food on the table for these desperate, dangerous animals.
We have a growing population of Black Bears here in Missouri down in the Ozarks along with Arkansas. The population was estimated back in 1998 to number around 200. By now we probably have maybe a thousand. Except for when I was a Boy Scout I've never camped without being armed. Just too many bitey things out there. Anyone who hand feeds a wild bear is being extremely foolish.