How can I fix this
 

I am creating a new custom style. For some reason I am seeing a black background with dark text in a couple of places where there should be my custom Orange background, like the footer and a few other places with subforums.

Also, I noticed that my username is invisible against the black background in posts, as well as below the What's Going On? strip at the bottom of the forums. I am the only Admin, and everyone elses username is white. I am attaching screenshots. How can I fix these issues? I have been playing around with the style and have yet to find a way to correct any of these issues.

I just thought I would add another attachment. I just noticed that the More link below my smilies is also black background with black text so that it cannot be viewed.

Most likely, these are CSS issues and we won't be able to suggest where to look by just viewing an image. We will need a link to the page.

<a href="http://www.theparentpack.org" target="_blank">http://www.theparentpack.org</a>

It is the Halloween style that is having the issues. The forums that are having the issues are all public so you should be able to see them. I changed the font to white so it would show up, but I can't get rid of the black background.

Most of your problem are caused by this class which has a black background:
.smallfont {background:none repeat scroll 0 0 #000000; }

Your name in the postbit is black because you set it to black here:
<font color="black">Tina</font>

Get firebug for firefox and you'll easily be able to see this.

I have fixed all but the black background behind what should be my orange category strips image. I am fairly new to custom styling, so is there any way you could be more specific in helping me trouble shoot this? I am not sure how to fix this issue specifically.

I have corrected the text by changing it to a white font, as reflected in the first attachment. This allows it to show up on the intruding black background. However as I have indicated with red arrows in the 2nd attachment there are several areas that have a black rectangle background where the orange category strip image should be instead. I have also attached an image of what the customizations look like in the admin panel. This issue is not occurring in the other styles. How can I correct this?

Your black rectangles are caused by that same thing:

<span class="smallfont">&nbsp;</span>