Black was born in Miami, Florida, and graduated from Miami Killian Senior High with a scholarship to North Carolina Central University. Larry's coach at Miami Killian was Leroy Daniels. While studying there he won the NCAA {{convert|220|yd|abbr=on}} championships in 1971. At the 1972 Olympics, Black ran the opening leg in the American 4 × 100 m relay team. The team won a gold medal and equalled the United States' own world record of 38.19 seconds. His cousin Gerald Tinker, also from the Miami area (rival Coral Gables High School), ran the third leg in that same gold medal winning race.
After retiring from sport Black returned to Miami and became director of its parks and recreation department.[ He died from an aneurysm in Miami on February 8, 2006 at the age of 54.]
References
{{Footer Olympic Champions 4x100 m Men|1972}}{{Footer USA Track & Field 1972 Summer Olympics}}{{Authority control}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Black, Larry}}{{US-athletics-Olympic-medalist-stub}} 12 : 1951 births|2006 deaths|Sportspeople from Miami|American male sprinters|African-American male track and field athletes|North Carolina Central University alumni|Athletes (track and field) at the 1972 Summer Olympics|Olympic track and field athletes of the United States|Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field|Olympic silver medalists for the United States in track and field|Medalists at the 1972 Summer Olympics|Deaths from aneurysm