Merle Black

P. Merle Black (born 1942) is an academic and Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Political Science at Emory University. He specializes in Southern politics, particularly since the mid-20th century. Together with his twin brother, Earl Black, a professor at Rice University, the two men have published several books on politics in the Southern US, including Politics and Society in the South and The Vital South.

Black was President of the Southern Political Science Association, 2002-2003.

He has a bachelor's degree from Harvard University; he earned a master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.