Black was born in Houston, Texas and graduated from San Jacinto High School.

He was in the United States Army Military Police from 1955 to 1957, where he was stationed in Berlin, Germany and became a specialist 4th class.

[1] He was then a law clerk to Judge Ben Clarkson Connally of the Southern District of Texas from 1957 to 1958.

[2] Black served as a United States magistrate judge for the Southern District of Texas from 1976 to 1979.

Black was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 10, 1979, and received his commission on May 11, 1979.