In the 1928 election, aged only 24, he stood as a United Party candidate and follower of Sir Joseph Ward and was successful.

[3] He unexpectedly beat the Reform Party incumbent of 14 years,[4] Richard Hudson, and became the youngest MP at the time.

[5] In Parliament, Black refused to support the Finance Bill that proposed cuts to public service salaries and voted with the Labour Party,[6] and in January 1931 he also opposed the decision to suspend construction of the Kawatiri–Inangahua railway line that ran through his electorate.

[7][8] Black was expelled from the United Party the day after voting against the Finance Bill in March 1931, saying that "no genuine supporter of the late Prime Minister", Sir Joseph Ward, could uphold such measures.

[10] On 17 October 1932 aged 28, Black committed suicide with cyanide poison at Mākara Beach.