Though Harry Black was born in Wellington, his father Wolf Black had migrated as a young man from Poland to London, working there before coming to New Zealand. His retail clothing business was ruined in the Depression and Harry was one of those who had to work his way through university.

After leaving Rongotai College he entered the public service and, until this was no longer permitted, studied part-time for his BSc. Thereafter he switched to medicine which had been his original interest. After qualification, he was house surgeon in Wellington and registrar to the medical unit in Dunedin. He moved to Edinburgh, Leeds and London for postgraduate studies in dermatology and thereafter practised this specialty in Auckland. From the start he was involved in an academic and teaching role. He became a censor and council member of the Australian College of Dermatologists, and was president of the New Zealand Dermatological Society. He was convenor of postgraduate dermatological teaching at the Auckland medical school and, before his death, had moved to a full-time post as physician-in-charge of the department of dermatology.

Harry was not only one of New Zealand’s most distinguished dermatologists; he was a good swimmer and ball game player in his youth, and his favourite hobby was photography. He had his own dark room and printed and developed his own photos, some of which appeared in photographic magazines. His hundreds of clinical photographs are now in the Auckland Hospital collection. Music was also a great love and he was a lifelong member of the Chamber Music Society, and a regular attender at New Zealand Symphony Orchestra concerts. Coupled with his love of music was a great appreciation for the other good things of life, art, literature, good conversation and good food. He was deeply supportive of his wife Ruth’s involvement with the establishment of the family planning movement in New Zealand at a time when there was widespread public opposition. He was able to help care for his own family when Ruth Black became a council member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and travelled frequently abroad. The concept of 'house husband' was new to New Zealand at that time.

Harry’s deep interest in social affairs was reflected in the interest and care he gave to every facet of his patients’ difficulties. He loved nature and travelled and photographed every corner of his country. He was an environmentalist before this became fashionable. Throughout his life he maintained his ties with the Jewish community. His wife, Ruth, remains in practice in Auckland and, of his sons Peter and Michael, one has become a doctor.